3 Outcomes Caused by a Distracted Leader (That You Don’t Want)
Distractions are everywhere nowadays. However, being fully present for people whether it is 1:1 or in meetings, is an important leadership skill, and it is hard to master with all the distractions around us. Are you fully present for your people or are you a distracted leader?
Many leaders are distracted during meetings, attempting to email, IM or even “do work” during times where their full presence is really needed.
Check out these 3 negative outcomes that come from being a distracted leader that just might motivate you to change your behavior.
It gives everyone else permission to do the same thing.
This causes meetings to be inefficient. When workers recognize a leader who is disengaged, everything eventually breaks down.
Employees who are talking to a distracted leader may get the impression they don’t matter.
This can make them feel disrespected and not heard. It is important to be in the moment when you are talking with some one. If you are distracted the other person may not feel like they can come to you with important information.
The leader misses important information.
This can lead to a breakdown in communication throughout a team. If the leader misses important information this can be certain tasks don’t get completed or don’t get completed in a timely manner. This can cause major issues later on.
Effective leaders build trust by being fully present. This includes actively listening, asking question, and providing thoughtful responses. If you are present for your team they will in turn be present for you. This also helps to build healthy rapport with your team.