How to Build Your Focus to Enhance Your Learning, Performance, and Leadership — Part #1

Three Categories of Focus — “Inner, Other and Outer”

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Focus is not just selecting the right thing, but also saying no to the wrong ones.

Paying Attention

How well you pay attention affects every aspect of your life. Effective focusing skills enhance mental processes, including understanding, learning, listening, being creative and reading other people’s signals. Most people underestimate focus or overlook its importance.

You need to exercise all three categories of focus — “inner, other, and outer” — to function well in life. Inner focus refers to heeding your gut feelings, values, and decision-making abilities. Other focus pertains to how you relate to and connect with other people. Outer focus allows you to get by in the larger world.

“Selective Attention”

Someone writing poetry on a laptop in a busy coffeehouse is demonstrating selective attention — focusing on one task and ignoring external stimuli. Such distractions are either “sensory” or “emotional.” Sensory distractions like shapes, colors, and sounds stimulate your senses. Emotional lures cut through the clutter to draw your attention, like hearing your name…