Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow: How great leaders cut through the noise of distractions

In today’s hyperconnected workplace, distraction is no longer a nuisance. It’s a leadership liability.

For many managers and executives, days are filled with digital dings, pop-up priorities and relentless multitasking. The result? Less clarity, lower performance and missed opportunities to lead with impact.

Many leaders operate in environments that actively undermine their focus and effectiveness. We have all been there: a quick glance at your phone during a meeting … and suddenly you are in a reply-all spiral about something that was not urgent to begin with. A Harvard Business Review study found that the average manager is interrupted every eight minutes. That is nearly 60 distractions per workday. This does not include self-imposed distractions like multitasking or checking social media.

These seemingly harmless interruptions add up. In fact, even a one-tenth-of-a-second distraction can reduce productivity by up to 40% over the course of a day, according to research cited by McKinsey & Co. Worse, it takes an average of 23 minutes to re-enter “the zone” after switching tasks, according to the same research.

That is no small cost for leaders whose role depends on clear thinking, strong decision-making and meaningful connection with their teams. Over time, distractions steal leaders of their most precious resource: focused attention. Without that, even the most talented manager can fall short of their potential.

The no-flow state

Psychologists refer to the most productive, creative and focused state of mind as “flow.” It is that moment when time fades, ideas click and meaningful work gets done.

Personally, I often experience flow when teaching a new course on the first day of class. The students are new, the questions come from unexpected angles and the material is just beginning to take shape. But as ideas start clicking and the conversation flows, everything blends—lecture, discussion, curiosity, insight—into a rhythm that feels both spontaneous and seamless. Time flies, surprises land softly and, in the swirl of it all, something meaningful takes flight.

But how often do leaders experience the state of flow anymore? Not often enough, says McKinsey. Its research shows that people in a flow state can be up to five times more productive—yet many of us spend little time there because we are too busy reacting, responding and redirecting our attention.

In other words: Distractions do not just cost time; they erode the very mindset leaders need to succeed.

The distracted leader

You might not notice it at first. But over time, distractions wear down leadership effectiveness. Here are a few common symptoms:

◗ Constant busyness without meaningful progress.

◗ A calendar full of meetings, but no space to think.

◗ Multitasking during conversations, leading to missed context or team frustration.

◗ Difficulty setting (or sticking to) clear priorities.

◗ A reactive leadership style that leaves teams confused or disengaged.

The good news? Focus is not a fixed trait—it is a discipline. And leaders who learn to eliminate distractions do not just improve their own performance—they create ripple effects across their teams and organizations.

Here are five ways to get started:

1. Audit your attention

Track where your time and energy go for a few days. Identify your biggest distractions—whether they include meetings you do not need to attend, an inbox that never sleeps or your own drive to do everything at once. Awareness is the first step toward change.

2. Time-block for thinking

Carve out “focus time” each day or week. Protect it like any other meeting. This is your space to plan, reflect, strategize—or just think deeply without interruption.

3. Be fully present

When you are in a meeting or one-on-one, be fully there. Close the laptop. Silence the phone. Your undivided attention is one of the most powerful signs of respectful leadership. This behavior becomes contagious when modeled by leaders.

4. Reclaim the flow

Make room in your schedule—and your environment—for deep work. Turn off notifications. Close unused tabs. Resist the urge to jump between tasks. Flow requires sustained attention, not constant switching.

5. Model what you preach

If you are always rushing, distracted, or working until midnight, your team will think that is what is expected. Instead, show them what healthy, focused leadership looks like: clear priorities, boundaries and the occasional deep breath.

Why it matters

Here is the deal: Distracted leaders create distracted teams. But focused leaders? They inspire clarity, trust and momentum.

When you eliminate the noise, you make better decisions. You connect more meaningfully. You move the needle on the things that matter. And here is an additional bonus: You might even get to the end of your day with energy left over for yourself. (Imagine that!)

In the battle for attention, distraction is loud, but intention is stronger. Reclaim your time, protect your focus and lead from a place of clarity. Because the most impactful leaders today are not the busiest—they are the most present.•

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Westerhaus-Renfrow is a clinical associate professor of management and business law at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business-Indianapolis.