Mindfullness and project focus

Focus, it is a daily decision, maybe a moment by moment decision that project managers make and how well and how often you put your focus on the right things will influence the outcome of your project. Where do I focus my attention, my energy, what conversations do I need to have today? Do I focus on cost and schedule, do I focus on team morale?, do I focus on the client? Of course you have to do it all and you don't have time to do everything now. So you prioritize.


Sometimes you look at a report and spend five minutes and know everything is OK and go on to the next items on your list. Sometimes you see something that doesn't look right and you spend the next few hours reading in more depth and then making inquiries. Sometimes this investment of time and energy pays off big time and sometime you just feel better knowing you checked it out.  Sometimes you read the fifth report and know it is time, even though you don't see any indication, that it is just time to go deeper and make sure things are happening, the way the report shows.


 Sometimes you read these reports during a staff meeting. You glance at the report while listening to a speaker. You now what the report is suppose to say, if it sounds right you can move on quickly. You are also listening to the speaker. Allowing your subconscious to listen for key words that would peak your interest very quickly. You are multitasking. A good use of time, as long as you have the skills and know when it is OK to Multitask and when your shouldn't.

Maria Konnikova's interview and book may help.

Let me know what you think
Russ

I listened to a great discussion online about mindfullness and thought about its application to project management. http://www.pointofinquiry.org/maria_konnikova_how_to_think_like_sherlock_holmes/

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. Maria Konnikova, In addition to her new book, Konnikova writes the "Literally Psyched" column for Scientific American, and is a doctoral candidate in psychology at Columbia University.(from website; point of inquiry)