Management of Attention

In the book Managing People is like Herding Cats, noted management and leadership author Warren Bennis (2000) identified four areas of competence: the management of attention, management of meaning, management of trust, and management of self. Attention management is the practice of controlling and monitoring attention or responsiveness; it is not to be confused with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior (Mayo Clinic, 2013). The goal of attention management is to keep our stafffocused on important, relevant tasks while avoiding distractions to maximize productivity (Wisegeek, 2014). To do this, managers and individuals must become aware there is straying from tasks. This is especially important for the crucial tasks of nurses.

Sometimes the most difficult thing to accomplish at work is our work. No matter what we do, we cannot stop time. Colan (2014) indicated we cannot manufacture time, reproduce time, slow time, or turn it around and make it run in the other direction. Nor can we trade bad hours for good hours. What we can do is manage the one resource that is ours - attention. Our attention reflects conscious decisions about what activities we choose to occupy our time. We all gravitate toward doing activities that are enjoyable and convenient or constitute an emergency. But, do those activities reflect our priorities? Reyes (2013) reminded us staying focused on tasks at hand is much more difficult than it ever was, due in part to a huge number of media sources vying for our attention. Some people can be very goal-driven and stay focused in spite of distractions, while others tend...