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Hi,
Thanks for joining me this week.
As a reminder:
I’ll send you a useful tip each week to help you improve your communication skills.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Here's something I've noticed both in crisis negotiations and everyday life:
Focus has become our scarcest resource.
From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, we're bombarded with stimulation, information, and demands for our attention.
But here's the thing - while we think we're being productive by juggling all these urgent demands, there's a single, clear productivity killer that's wrecking the quality of our lives.
And no, it's not your smartphone.
It's multitasking.
But multitasking doesn't actually exist.
What you're really doing is rapidly shifting your attention back and forth between things.
The global leadership consultancy Potential Project calls this our 'PAID reality':
- Pressured
- Always-on
- Information overload
- Distracted
Quick side note before you read on…
I wanted to let you know that my new book "Eye of the Storm: How to Make Good Decisions in Bad Situations" is now available for pre-order.
If you've found these newsletters helpful, the book goes much deeper into everything we've been discussing.
Pre-order now and you'll:
- Get the book the day it launches
- Help support the newsletter (thank you!)
- Get access to some exclusive pre-launch content I'm putting together
Now, back to this week's insights...
KEY TAKEAWAY
When I'm training teams for high-pressure situations, I always share these sobering stats:
- It takes 23 minutes to regain focus after switching tasks
- You're losing 40% of your efficiency to task-switching
- Your error rate skyrockets when juggling complex tasks
- Your creativity and memory both take a massive hit
Here's what worked for me while writing my book ‘Order out of Chaos’ (despite a crazy schedule of travel, keynotes, and family life):
The Pomodoro Technique.
It's beautifully simple and surprisingly effective:
- Choose ONE task
- Set a timer for 25 minutes
- Work on just that task until the timer rings
- Take a 5-minute break
- Repeat
- After four rounds, take a longer 15-30 minute break
Why does this work?
It aligns with how our brains naturally function - in focused intervals.
For deeper work, you might extend to 45-90 minutes, but the principle stays the same.
Plus, as Parkinson's Law states, "work expands to fill the time available."
When you set clear time boundaries, it's amazing how much you can actually get done.
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
Next time you're feeling "busy," try this simple check-in:
Are you actually getting things done, or are you just switching between tasks?
What's one thing you could focus on completely for the next 25 minutes?
WORTH CHECKING OUT
"The Power of Single-Tasking"
I came across this brilliant TEDx talk by Dr. Lindsay Blooms.
After her life got turned upside down in 2019, she discovered something pretty amazing about the power of being present and focusing on one thing at a time.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or scattered (who isn't these days?), this is definitely worth 15 minutes of your time 👇
Until next week,
Scott
P.S. If you enjoyed my Sunday Times bestseller, Order Out of Chaos, you’ll love my follow-up, Eye of The Storm, out May 8th, 2025.
It’s packed with new insights and practical tools to help you stay calm, act decisively, and thrive under pressure.
Whether you're facing challenges at home, managing workplace demands, or dealing with daily stresses, this book will help you build resilience, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships.
I don’t know about you, but that seems like a great outcome for the year ahead!
Take advantage of early bird discounts and pre-order your copy here.
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