We already know that interrupting
a task to answer a cellphone call or
respond to a text message can cause
our focus to plummet. However, new
research from Florida State University
suggests that simply receiving a
notification on your cellphone can
negatively impact your ability to focus
on a task.
To conduct the study, a research
team led by FSU psychology doctoral
student Cary Stothart compared the
performance of participants on an
attention-demanding computer task
that was divided into two parts. First,
participants were asked to complete
the task. Then, without their knowledge,
they were randomly assigned to
one of three groups: Group one had
automated calls sent to their cellphones,
group two received automated texts,
and group three was the control group.
Participants in groups one and two did
not know that the notifications were
coming from the researchers.
6
Coaching World
The researchers found that participants
who received notifications were three
times more likely to make mistakes on
the computer task than participants who
didn’t, with participants receiving phone
call notifications making more mistakes
than those receiving text alerts.
When the researchers compared
their results to findings of studies
exploring the impact of cellphone use
on attention performance, they found
their results were similar, suggesting
that receiving but not responding to a
notification can be just as distracting
as replying to a text message or
answering a call.
The takeaway: Sharpen your focus
while you’re working on a project or
engaging with a client, colleague, family
member or friend by turning off your
ringtone and stowing your phone in
your desk drawer or bag.
“The best business leadership style
is far from, ‘Do this. Don’t do that,’”
Wayne says. “A servant leader looks
and sounds a lot more like, ‘Is there
anything I can do to help you?’ Or, ‘Let
me help you ….’ Or, ‘What do you need
to …?’ This approach helps employees
reach their full potential.”
When managers create a culture of
trust, caring, cooperation, fairness
and empathy, employees are more
likely to feel valued and, therefore,
give back to the organization and its
customers. Wayne says this leadership
style has a trickle-down effect: “It’s
contagious. The employees see their
leaders as role models and often mimic
those qualities, creating a culture of
servant leadership. This serving culture
drives the effectiveness of the business
as a whole.”
Wayne says Jason’s Deli locations with
servant leaders experienced the following
positive outcomes:
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Keeping Current
A Frequent Disruption
Stothart says this research, published in
the Journal of Experimental Psychology:
Human Perception and Performance,
is especially relevant to the issue of
distracted driving, and he is planning
to conduct follow-up research using a
driving simulator. However, Stothart’s
findings are also meaningful for anyone
who keeps a mobile phone visible
during daily activities.
The Servant
Leadership Difference
New research from the University of
Illinois at Chicago has reinforced the
value of cultivating a culture of servant
leadership in organizations. According
to a study by Robert Liden, Sandy
Wayne, Chenwei Liao and Jeremy
Meuser, when managers create a
culture where employees know the
boss puts their needs above his or her
own, organizations achieve improved
customer satisfaction, higher job
performance and lower turnover.
The study was conducted at the
Jason’s Deli restaurant chain, with a
sample including 961 employees and
71 restaurants in 10 metropolitan
areas. Findings were based on data
from corporate records, as well as
from surveys completed by managers,
employees and customers.
• Six percent higher job performance
• Eight percent more customerservice behaviors
• 50 percent less likely to leave
the company
The study was published in the
Academy of Management Journal.
The takeaway: Supporting clients in
cultivating a servant-leader approach can
pay dramatic dividends, not only for them
as individuals but for their subordinates
and their organizations.