Attention theft

Your attention is the most valuable thing you own. And everyone wants it.

Technology companies engineer addiction into their products, notifying you about something every 5 seconds. AI tools promise efficiency and value whilst demanding your constant engagement. And disrespectful colleagues interrupt your flow with unnecessary calls, meetings or pointless messages.

All of which leaves you feeling perpetually distracted, chronically exhausted and increasingly unable to think deeply about the work you need to do.

American author Cal Newport calls this the attention economy. I call it for what it actually is - theft - and unfortunately we’ve been willing participants in it.

When it comes to work you cannot build a high-performance culture when nobody can focus for more than three minutes. Where there is no time to think. Where priorities change every day. Where people demand immediate responses. Or where the loudest voice in the room gets your time, not the most important work.

Treat your attention like your money. Don’t let anyone steal it.