\n\t\tOpinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.\t<\/p>\n
Jamie Dimon doesn\u2019t bring his phone to meetings.<\/p>\n
The CEO of the trillion-dollar firm, JPMorgan Chase, said recently<\/a> that he keeps his phone in his office during the workday, turning off all notifications except texts from his three daughters. When someone needs to reach him urgently, they call his office. During meetings, if he sees someone staring at an open screen, he tells them to close it, calling the behavior \u201cdisrespectful.\u201d<\/p>\n For Dimon, it isn\u2019t about control<\/a>. It\u2019s about something we\u2019ve lost in the age of constant connectivity: presence.<\/p>\n I learned about the importance of being present, both at work and in my personal life, the hard way<\/a>. Prior to the pandemic, I had all the hallmarks of success: running a highly successful, global organization; a loving family and a career that allowed me to share the stages around the world with icons like Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson. But I was also burned out, disconnected and running on empty.<\/p>\n One of the patterns I had to break? The illusion that I could do multiple things at once and do them well.<\/p>\n I tried to lead meetings, but my mind was thinking about getting to the airport on time or responding to follow-up messages about an earlier meeting. At home, I was on my phone, distracted and disconnected from my family. I was physically there, but I wasn\u2019t present. It made me miserable and my loved ones feel neglected.<\/p>\n At work, my staff followed my lead. We believed we were being effective by juggling multiple things at once. When I would look up during a meeting, half of the team was on their phone, while the rest tried in vain to accomplish even basic meeting objectives.<\/p>\n What we failed to understand and what science has since proven again and again is that the concept of multitasking is a myth.<\/p>\n Related: 5 Simple Productivity Hacks You\u2019ll Wish You Knew Sooner<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The human brain is incapable of completing more than one cognitive task at a time.<\/p>\n Responding to an email while listening to your colleague\u2019s presentation. Reviewing a contract while participating in a video call. Writing a report while monitoring your inbox. These aren\u2019t things you can truly do simultaneously. Instead, your brain rapidly switches back and forth among competing tasks, resulting in what\u2019s known as a \u201cswitch cost<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n Studies<\/a> show people almost always take longer to complete a task and make more errors when switching tasks than when they focus on a single task at a time. Research also shows that trying to rely on \u201cmultitasking\u201d can, ironically, lead to a 40 percent drop<\/a> in productivity.<\/p>\n According to neuropsychiatrist Dr. David Vago<\/a>, \u201cEvery time you switch tasks, your brain pays a toll. Those tiny lapses add up to hours of lost clarity and connection. Attention is the most intimate energy we have. When we give it fully, we transform distraction into purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n You know the feeling. You\u2019re talking to your child, and they\u2019re scrolling on their phone. You know instantly they aren\u2019t really hearing you. Your words are competing with the endless scroll.<\/p>\n If that\u2019s the experience at home, imagine what it looks like in a business setting.<\/p>\n When your CEO sees you glancing at your phone during a meeting, what message does that send? That the meeting isn\u2019t important. That their time isn\u2019t valuable. That whatever\u2019s on that screen matters more.<\/p>\n Or picture pitching a client who keeps checking their watch notifications, eyes darting down every few minutes. How confident do you feel about closing that deal?<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to realize at the time, but your divided attention communicates louder than your words. In an era where everyone is overwhelmed by information and starved for genuine connection, presence can become your competitive advantage.<\/p>\n Dimon explained that not having his phone on hand means he\u2019s fully present and \u201c100% focused\u201d during meetings, as opposed to being distracted and \u201cthinking about other things.\u201d<\/p>\n That level of focus<\/a> doesn\u2019t just benefit him. It transforms the culture of the entire organization.<\/p>\n When you, as a leader<\/a>, model presence, you give permission for everyone else to do the same. You signal that the work you\u2019re doing together in that moment matters more than anything happening outside that room. You create space for deeper thinking, better questions, and more creative solutions.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned about building a culture of presence:<\/p>\n Start your next meeting by putting your phone away, visibly. It sends that signal that the meeting is important and you\u2019re there to hear from your team. It\u2019s a small gesture with enormous impact.<\/p>\n Your team will mirror your behavior. If you\u2019re checking messages, they\u2019ll feel entitled to do the same. If you\u2019re fully present, they\u2019ll rise to match that standard.<\/p>\n In an interview with CNN<\/a>, Dimon said if someone sends him a text during the day, he probably won\u2019t read it. He\u2019s not avoiding communication, he\u2019s being strategic about when he engages with it.<\/p>\n Instead of checking email and messages hundreds of times a day, designate specific times for this work. Maybe it\u2019s 20 minutes at the start of your day, 20 minutes after lunch and 20 minutes before you leave. During focus time, close those windows entirely.<\/p>\n Developing the self-discipline to laser focus on a single task for 20 minutes can dramatically improve how much you accomplish.<\/p>\n Related: Being \u2018Busy\u2019 Isn\u2019t Helping You Be Productive \u2014 5 Tips to Become Truly Efficient at Work<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n When you\u2019re working on a complex problem or strategic initiative, eliminate distractions entirely. Turn off notifications. Close unnecessary browser tabs. Put your phone in another room if necessary.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just about productivity. It\u2019s about demonstrating that certain work deserves undivided attention. Your team will notice, and they\u2019ll start protecting their own focus time.<\/p>\n The irony of our hyperconnected age is that we\u2019ve never been more disconnected from what matters. We\u2019re available to everyone and fully present for no one.<\/p>\nYour brain can only do one thing at a time<\/h2>\n
Leading through presence<\/h2>\n
1. Set the tone from the top<\/h2>\n
2. Manage your connectivity<\/h2>\n
3. Model deep work<\/h2>\n
The fulfillment factor<\/h2>\n