"Welcome to HBR On Leadership. These episodes are case studies and conversations with the world's top business and management experts, hand-selected to help you unlock the best in those around you. I'm HBR senior editor and producer Amanda Kersey. As a leader, noticing where your attention goes is a skill that affects your judgment, learning, listening-basically every aspect of how you think and show up."
"Great question. And I think you are absolutely not alone in that feeling of, you can't quite catch your full attention, even if you have every intention to. But it ends up that our brain was actually built for distractibility. So, the fact that we have this wandering mind that kind of roams around everywhere is a design, not a flaw."
Noticing where attention goes shapes judgment, learning, listening, and overall performance. The human brain evolved to wander; distractibility is a feature, not a flaw, making sustained focus challenging. Modern technology and social media amplify competing demands and actively target attention, increasing distraction. Attention falters particularly under strain. Mental training and deliberate attention practices can rebuild and strengthen attentional control. Regular practice supports better listening, decision-making, and learning. Leaders who cultivate intentional attention allocation can improve judgment and the ability to guide and develop others. Attention skills are trainable through focused exercises and practice.
Read at Harvard Business Review
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