No, it’s not just you. If you’ve ever doubted that you had your boss’s full attention while her laptop is open in front of her, stop doubting. In spite of her protests that “I’m listening, go ahead…,” she wasn’t. Decades ago, research settled the question of whether you and I can do two things at once. We can’t. But emerging research shows that even the simple presence of a cell phone — much less its glowing screen and constant beeps — interrupts our ability to connect.
How to Get Someone to Put Away Their Phone and Actually Listen
Studies have shown that we cannot pay attention to two things at once, but we still haven’t learned how to effectively prevent the distractions posed by our personal electronic devices. At work, distractions not only affect productivity, they can also damage relationships with coworkers. Social norms surrounding technology use have not caught up to these new social situations, and people are often unable or unwilling to confront coworkers, family members, and friends whose distracted behavior is getting in the way of work or a relationship. In order to get someone to put down their phone, you should share data that multitasking — and even the mere presence of a cell phone — decreases productivity, speak one-on-one with the person guilty of being distracted, and hold yourself to the same standards you set for others.