Defining "focus time"
The term in question refers to the time an employee reserves for work on a specific project or task. During this time, they are not available to others as they need to concentrate on what they are doing; hence they should not be disturbed. Focus time serves as an antidote to constant distractions, multitasking and jumping from one task to another. It usually takes the form of time blocked off in the employee's calendar and it is often accompanied by the employee physically leaving the shared space. Focus time allows for deep work and full concentration.
Why should you promote this work method in your team?
As the Harvard Business Review states, you should support subordinates in planning their focus time. It should be standard practice for workers occasionally to have some such time and for this to be respected by their colleagues. If your subordinates do start using focus time for their work, team productivity could improve, and you may even see reduced error rates as well as lower stress levels of team members.
How to implement focus time in your team
- Explain the benefits to subordinates. Ensure everyone understands the benefits of the concept and why it is sometimes good to focus on one thing for a longer period of time rather than jumping from one task to another.
- Set an example. As a manager, you should lead by example. Not only by using focus time yourself, but also by respecting when your subordinates reserve focus time and not interrupting them.
- Teach subordinates to prioritise better. Focus time requires effective prioritisation so that employees know what task to attend to during the allotted period. Teach subordinates to identify these priorities well and effectively.
- Beware of micromanagement. Allowing subordinates to take focus time requires your giving them some freedom. You must not monitor their every step and constantly ask what exactly they are working on. Do not be a micromanager; instead, allow your subordinates space to work independently.
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