The focus shifts slightly, the concentration intensifies as they scan an email that just popped up. It’s not a good look but, let’s be honest, we’ve all done it.
That’s one of the main reasons that I love to have my clients’ 90-day planning sessions in the flesh. Zoom was an excellent stop-gap solution, but there’s nothing quite getting everyone in the room with no distractions. And I do mean no distractions.
I use paper, whiteboards, and have a rule of no electronics in the full-day sessions. I want your leadership team to be 100% present as we work on the business, make plans, solve issues, and create a path for the next quarter.
A buzzing phone or a laptop within eyeshot is all it takes to derail a session as minds wander to missed messages. It’s not long before phones are being ‘subtly’ checked under the table.
So, switch the phone off and slam the laptop shut when you and your team are working on the business. Time seems to slow right down when electronics get kicked into touch, and the results are often quite fantastic.
Do you prefer to plan online or offline? Let me know in the comments.