In today's distraction-filled world, it has become commonplace for leaders to multitask during meetings - checking emails, texting, scanning social media, and more. However, this behavior has seriously detrimental impacts on relationships, trust, and performance. As a leader, being fully present and engaged during meetings is essential to demonstrate respect, improve focus, foster stronger bonds with your team, and model effective habits. Avoid multitasking and be mindful in meetings to create a collaborative environment where people feel valued.
The Damaging Perceptions of Multitasking Leaders
When leaders frequently divide their attention during meetings by looking at devices, teammates often draw very negative conclusions that erode trust and morale over time:
You don't value their time or insights. Checking your phone or laptop conveys that whatever they are discussing is not important enough to warrant your full attention. This breeds resentment.
You lack focus, discipline and self-control. The inability to stay focused, even for short meetings, hints at poor time management skills and lack of leadership capability.
You're not an active listener or participant. Mentally and emotionally checking out prevents you from absorbing information fully or contributing meaningfully to discussions.
You don't care about relationship building. Multitasking shuts down opportunities for bonding, vulnerability and creating psychological safety.
You're reactive, overwhelmed or incompetent. The inability to focus or be present without constant task switching makes you seem generally unfit for leadership.
The Damaging Reality of Distracted Leaders
Beyond just poor optics, multitasking leaders also suffer very real consequences that diminish their performance and cognition:
Missing critical details that inform decisions. With split attention, leaders fail to absorb nuances, data points, and other key information that should guide choices.
Failure to read emotional cues and body language. Being distracted impairs ability to pick up on nonverbal signals that are crucial for relating to others and influencing effectively.
Diminished meeting productivity. Trying to track multiple conversations fractures cognitive focus, which leads to stuck discussions and limited insights.
Increased mental fatigue and overwhelm. The exertion required to multitask degrades mindful presence. This drains mental resources fast.
Weaker relationships and team cohesion. People are exceedingly unlikely to open up authentically or be vulnerable when leaders appear disengaged. Trust and morale decline.
Techniques for Honing Mindful Presence
Here are some methods leaders can employ to avoid multitasking and be fully mentally engaged during meetings:
Set expectations upfront that you aim for no outside distractions so you can be fully present. Ask others to commit to this as well.
Physically close laptops, turn off phone notifications, disable wifi, and remove other tempting distractions. Out of sight, out of mind.
Prioritize active listening, engagement, and eye contact over quick responses to messages. Catch up on emails later.
Ask periodic clarifying questions to reinforce understanding and involvement. This shows others you're listening closely.
After intensive or lengthy meetings, build in adequate space on the calendar to process takeaways fully and allow your cognition to recover.
Consciously model the undivided attention you want your team to display. Lead by example and others will mimic your behavior.
Mastering the art of mindful presence during meetings while eliminating multitasking takes practice but offers immense rewards. Leaders who remain fully engaged demonstrate respect, unlock their best thinking and decisions, and build trust. To transform meeting focus on your team, I offer science-based coaching tailored to boosting leadership presence, time management, and culture shaping. Let's connect to explore customized solutions!