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divided attention show that when we are distracted, we remember less, we perform worse, and it
decreases our brain power. But in today’s frenetic world, focusing purely on one thing at a time is not
always realistic. Think carefully about how you manage your tasks. What can you do simultaneously
without affecting your productivity? Don’t try to juggle several cognitively demanding tasks. Working on a
task that requires a lot of thinking alongside one that requires less brain energy is more feasible. If a task
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needs your intense concentration, treat yourself to a break by working on something more mindless.

Tips to develop Action oriented
1. Tend to procrastinate? Get an early start. Do you put things off until the last minute? Is there
always another day to get something started? Do you think you perform at your best when time is
tight and you have an “impossible” deadline? Some people genuinely do work more effectively under
pressure. Maybe it’s because they need a fire under them to get them moving. Having too much time
makes distractions tempting. Whatever the reason, pushing things to the last minute is risky. Things
can go wrong. Unexpected events present themselves with no warning. Plans get thrown off track.
Procrastinate and you reduce your ability to flex when unforeseen events come your way. Start early.
Always complete 10% of each task as soon as it’s assigned. Take some preemptive action to get you
moving. Make some notes. Call a stakeholder. Source some materials. Anything to get the ball rolling.
If you need to feel the heat, create some by breaking the task down into smaller stages, each with
their own tight deadline. If the overall task seems overwhelming, focus instead on each step that will
get you there.

2. Moving, but in the wrong direction? Get your priorities right. Some people take action but on the
wrong things. Effective leaders typically spend about half their time on two or three key priorities.
What should you spend half your time on? Can you name five things that you have to do that are less
critical? If you can’t, you’re not differentiating well. People without priorities see their jobs as 97 things
that need to be done right now—that will actually slow you down. Pick a few mission-critical things
and get them done. Don’t get diverted by trivia. Clear the clutter.

3. Perfectionist? Curb your appetite for 100%. Need everything to be just so before you can
progress? Do you worry when every “t” isn’t crossed? Perfectionism is tough to let go of, especially if
you pride yourself on it. Recognize what might be at the root of your perfectionism. Collecting
information to build your confidence? Recognize that you don’t have to be right all the time. Afraid of
criticism? Remember that others are unlikely to scrutinize as much as you do. Worried about being
mediocre? Celebrate your strengths. Each week let go of some of your need to be perfect—even just
a little. Practice tolerating less-than-perfect away from work. Resist ironing every wrinkle out of your
shirt. Accept that the paint on the back door is not quite streak free. Live with the picture that’s slightly
lopsided. Make similar allowances in the work environment. Let things go. Sometimes good enough is
good enough. You just need to be able to figure out when. The time you save striving for perfection
can be put toward actually getting things done.

4. Stuck in analysis paralysis? Balance thought with action. Break out of your “examine it to death”
mode and just do it. Sometimes you hold back on acting because you don’t have all the information.
You like to be sure before you act. The real test is who can act the soonest with a reasonable amount
of data, but not necessarily all of it. If you learn to make smaller decisions more quickly, you can
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