Our CEO asked us during a meeting at the end of November to consider how we plan to maximise our last few days of 2024. You see we are all employed at Wauko because we possess certain superpowers. We all have certain specialised knowledge (and strengths!) that are the muscles we must flex to add the wow factor to our client experience.

If you read Cal Newport’s book “Deep Work” he describes the ability of knowledge workers to focus, without any distraction, for long periods of time on their professional activities and in the process stretching their abilities to the fullest capacity, a superpower. By exerting or exercising your mental capabilities you also enhance this ability, similar to exercising a muscle.

But why is the ability to focus considered a superpower? In today’s world we are connected more than ever. We are expected to be almost always available on WhatsApp, email, Teams, etc. for a quick meeting or question. The technology to be able to do this is fantastic. It enables us to know what happens on the other side of the world in an instant. It also helps us to deliver a spectacular service to clients and get help if needed instantly.

The downside however can be that we are constantly distracted or interrupted from our core knowledge work by feeling that emails, voice messages and tweets should be answered immediately as well as the need to stay up to date with the latest news events, whether it is actually newsworthy or just the latest gossip on some celebrity. In a distracted world it has therefore become an extraordinary ability to be able to spend quality focussed time in plying your trade.

How do we then become less distracted in a world that seems to promote distraction? Chris Bailey (TED)talks about how he went on a screen diet for a month after realising his life seemed to be a constant cycle from screen to screen. He made it his mission to study the effect all this screen time has on our ability to focus and other areas such as creativity. The distraction these screens provide, over stimulates our brains and gives our brains a dopamine shot. This however means our brains get worse at focusing on what we are supposed to do, and we get less creative which translates into less innovation.

The antidote for this overstimulation is what Chris calls boredom. You should intentionally let your mind wander. This is why you sometimes come up with your best ideas when completing some mundane task, like taking a shower or washing the dishes: your mind is not stimulated and has time to process and wander. His hot tip is to keep a notebook nearby to dot down all your brilliant ideas during those times that your mind is allowed to wander.

Not all those who wander are lost – JRR Tolkien

It is also not just important for your brain to wander but your body should also wander: A walk in nature may just be what the doctor ordered. Dr. Wendy Suzuki’s research indicates that physical activity is the most transformative thing you can do for your brain today. Exercise not only gives you a dopamine shot (that you would otherwise get from scrolling through social media), but it will also enhance your ability to focus. The effect of better focus due to exercise is not just a once off benefit, consistent exercise over a period of time also has a compounding effect.

And this ability to focus is what will enable you to flex your muscles of knowledge and exercise your superpower.
 

At wauko we work with our clients to enable them to flex their muscles of knowledge and focus on their superpower to help them grow. If you need help focusing on your superpower, contact Dale Petersen on 021 819 7802 or at dpetersen@wauko.com to connect with us.