Michael Virardi’s quick tips to stay focused in a world full of distractions 

Leadership coach Michael Virardi offers a succinct take on the challenge of staying focused in a world built for distraction.

Mr Virardi – who has given talks at a the Google, Microsoft and McDonald’s – said on the WhosWho Talks podcast that people now carry their worlds with them wherever they go through their phones.

“In the past you would walk into a conference room with a pen and paper and the clothes on your back. Now you walk in with your filing cabinet, your personal assistant, your songs, your maps and your secretary,” he said.

“The onus is on us to keep people on their toes through the way we present, by our intonation, the examples we bring, and how we make it interesting all the time.”

Mr Virardi said that the first trick to regaining focus is to simply switch off your phone.

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“It is possible to focus with our phones on, but then we risk losing it if someone calls and we either pick up or it disturbs our flow,” he pointed out. 

Secondly, he advised people that cleaning their desks can mentally help them focus on the task at hand.

“Cleaning your desk helps you focus on one priority. Raise that priority up, work on it, and then put it down and start working on another one.”

And finally, he said the importance of breaks and holidays in terms of maintaining and regaining mental clarity should never be underestimated.

“Take a break, take a holiday and keep that mobile locked in the safe,” he said.

“Keep one mobile between yourself and your partner, and relax by the sea or a pool while reading a book – looking up and not always looking down when on your phone. They are simple things that we have forgotten all about.”