47 seconds. That's how long the average person stays on one screen before switching to something else.

The number comes from Gloria Mark at the University of California, Irvine, who has spent two decades measuring what people actually do at their computers. When she started, the average was about two and a half minutes. It's been falling ever since.

In this episode, Dr. Donita Brown looks at what that means for anyone who runs a meeting. When you're presenting or giving feedback, you're competing with a brain trained to move every 47 seconds, and with the phone sitting face up on the table.

But the research says something hopeful too: attention isn't broken. People hold focus for long stretches when the task absorbs them and the interruptions stop. Attention is a resource, and your environment either spends it or protects it.

Two things you can do this week:
 Put one question at the top of your agenda, so attention has somewhere to land.
 Work in blocks, one task, notifications off, phone out of sight.

This week's reflection question: in the last meeting you ran, what was the one thing you needed people to walk out with? And if you couldn't name it, could they?

Under five minutes, one idea for your next meeting.

Let's connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donitabrown/

On a country road near Johnson City, Tennessee, a donkey ignored Donita and her dad completely. The next morning, all it took was his name and a pocketful of apples, and he crossed the whole field to reach them.

What changed wasn't the donkey. Somebody had told them what he cared about.

In this episode, Dr. Donita Brown turns a summer walk into a question for managers: who on your team is standing on the far side of the field, and have you called them by name in the way that counts? And who already knows what they care about, if you'd ask?

Two questions to carry into Monday. Under five minutes.

Two short emails a week, Thursday tip and Sunday reflection: https://tinyurl.com/r4bwesfc
Connect with Donita on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/DonitaBrown

The Management Minute is back, and it looks different.

After almost a year off, Dr. Donita Brown explains why the show went quiet, why she kept putting off the relaunch, and the line she teaches managers every week but had to learn again herself: perfect is the enemy of done.

The new format is two episodes a week, each under five minutes. One idea you can use before your next meeting. Self-edited, so you'll hear a breath or two, and that's on purpose.

This week's question for you: what have you paused that you could restart imperfectly, at 80 percent?

Connect with Donita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donitabrown/
 Two short emails a week, Thursday tip and Sunday reflection: https://tinyurl.com/r4bwesfc

This episode's interview is with Rob Massie, Vice President of Information Technology at Dollar General.

He shares stories and advice based on his management experiences, including the importance of:

• Looking beyond the technical skills of your employees and putting them in opportunities to grow and succeed
• Not compromising quality but addressing problems with compassion and from a place of understanding
• Using positive, future-based language instead of fear-based language
• Being courageous and speaking out 

He answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

This episode's interview is with Rebecca Whitehead, owner of Kidokinetics Nashville, Nashville Market Leader for The Gunter Group, and an award-winning author.

Rebecca shares stories and advice based on her management experiences, including the importance of:

• Connecting with people as a human first and understanding what drives them
• Asking for feedback in addition to giving feedback
• Helping your team understand the why
• Building trust and being vulnerable

She answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

This episode's interview is with Sarah Bellenger, the CEO and Founder of Manage You. She also served for over two decades as an Army nurse and spent three years at the White House providing medical support to the nation’s top leaders.

Sarah shares stories and advice based on her management experiences, including the importance of:

• Actively listening and checking in with employees to foster trust and support
• Noticing when something is off with one of your employees and responding with care and compassion
• Using structure and consistency, such as checklists, to enhance communication and team performance

She answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

This episode's interview is with Jason Elkins, a marketing coach, digital media specialist, and founder of 100 Cups Consulting.

Jason shares stories and advice based on his management experiences, including the importance of:

• Leading with empathy to build stronger connections with employees and clients
• Creating a culture where people feel valued, supported, and cared for
• Adapting your management style to meet each team member’s unique needs

He answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

This episode's interview is with Marshall Crawford, President and CEO of The Housing Fund.

Marshall shares stories and advice based on his management experiences, including the importance of:

• Providing both employees and clients with the resources and support they need to thrive
• Responding well in high-pressure situations
• Maintaining open and ongoing communication
• Adapting your approach to management as you grow

He answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

This episode's interview is with Dr. Allison Duke, Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University.

Dr. Duke shares stories and advice based on her management experiences, including the importance of:

• Recognizing and leveraging each person’s unique strengths
• Helping employees discover what they love and aligning roles to fit those strengths
• Building trust through consistent, meaningful one-on-one conversations
• Learning from a variety of leadership styles rather than following a single model
• Staying authentic and leading in a way that aligns with your own personality and values

She answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?

Learn more about The Management Minute.

This episode's interview is with Jon Puncochar, the Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Transformation at Lifepoint Health.

Jon shares stories and advice based on his management experiences, including the importance of:

• Taking a holistic approach to problem-solving and defining problems well
• Having alignment with key stakeholders across the organization
• Learning from others and the awareness that others are learning from you and the impression you leave on people
• Leaning into your strengths and pointing your team in the direction that uses their strengths best

He answers the same questions as each podcast guest:

• How do your values impact your management philosophy?
• Who or what has had the most impact on your management style?
• What book has made the biggest impact on you?