THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT WORKPLACE DISTRACTIONS

These days everybody talks about distractions, but they don't always realize just what a big word it is. Distraction is beyond something preventing you from giving full attention to a particular task but rather is depriving you from making progress in many ways. When it comes to work place distractions it's easy to see how these could be negative and how even seemingly little things could create a huge problem for you in your work environment.

The truth is, we can't escape work place distractions, even if nobody else around us is working, the world around us is still very busy, but with self-control, or what psychologists call "operant conditioning", we can take charge of our work environment without allowing any external factor to rob us of our productive time. Below are few ugly truths about the negative effect of work place distractions…

Ugly Truth 1: Workplace distractions impact your efficiency

Workplace distractions have become a fact of life for many employees. From technology to social media to phones, there are so many ways people can be distracted at work that it can be difficult to stay focused. Distractions are a major reasons employees aren’t performing as they could be.

In fact, distractions cost employers more money than any other factor, including health care expenses and absenteeism.

Ugly Truth 2: Workplace distractions impact your reputation

However, when employees are distracted during the workday, it can lead to errors and poor decisions. These distractions can affect productivity, reduce customer satisfaction and negatively impact the organization and your reputation.

Ugly Truth 3: Workplace distractions are addictive

Distractions are a fact of life, but most people don't realize that they have a hidden addiction. Workplace distractions are like any other addiction, you can't control them, and you may not even be aware that you have an addiction until it's too late.

Workplace distractions are especially dangerous because they're often so easy to get caught up in, especially since technology has made it easier for us to be distracted than ever before. But even though work distractions feel like a natural part of life at work, they're actually very addictive, just like any other addiction or habit.

Ugly Truth 4: Workplace distractions can lead to more lost time, productivity, and money.

In a study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), it was found that nearly 60 percent of employees reported having some form of distraction at work during the past month. And these distractions were more than just simple interruptions with coworkers or interruptions by coworkers themselves; they also included mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops.

In fact, the APA reported that 67 percent of employees said that their smartphones were a distraction while at work (that’s a lot!). And this number jumps up to 80 percent if you add in laptops into the mix (but keep in mind that this only includes people who have access to both).

So what does this mean for companies? It means that for every lost time output is affected which will in turn affect the organizations finances.

Conclusion

As a podcaster and blogger I am often in contact with individuals who have difficulty staying focused on their job all day. I am just as guilty of losing track, and you should never feel bad if you are part of the millions who can't seem to stay focused at work. No matter what your profession is, no matter how much money you make, and no matter the circumstances. This is the reality for many of us, but there are ways we can overcome our distractions and be more productive so that we can serve our employer to the best of our abilities.