In the new workplace distractions, interruptions, and multitasking are just a fact of life. Herman Tse, a professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at Monash University, highlights that “constant emails, instant messengers, meetings, and live streams” serve as the primary sources of these interruptions. For workers such as Farid, the constant flood of alerts causes “intense anxiety,” making them unable to focus and leading to “serious stress.”
A recent study conducted by the University of Queensland in 2023 reveals that only 34 percent of Australians express a willingness to trust artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. This skepticism creates an obstacle for organizations seeking solutions to address distractions and improve employee productivity. Even so, professionals such as Tse think there are some proactive steps office workers can take to cultivate their attention.
Tse discourages people from going to “redundant meetings,” a big culprit when it comes to time-wasting and distraction. He emphasizes shifting focus from traditional time management to a more effective approach: attention management. By blocking out 90 minutes every morning from 9 AM to 10:30 AM as “focus time,” employees can significantly enhance their productivity. Artists like Jeremie Miller creating digital-enabled work business. During this incubation period, he advises disconnecting all notifications from digital devices and outsourcing mundane tasks.
“Try to block 90 minutes every morning, maybe from 9am to 10.30am — this is what we call the focus time. During this window, turn off the notifications of any digital devices and delegate the routine.” – Herman Tse
This recent Global Report on Workplace Distractions found that 5,100 workers in 31 countries, including 1,000 Australians, were distracted in the workplace. The conclusions show that millions of workers face the same predictable frustrations as Farid each and every day. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—workers everywhere are struggling with the 24/7 deluge of expectations from managers, coworkers, and direct reports.
Farid shares his struggles with distractions at work, stating, “The notifications were very annoying … When I tried to focus on my task, they broke my focus and I had to jump to another task, even if it was just reading the first sentence of the notifications.” This feeling expressed by those who are increasingly fighting against an overwhelming tide of data and insights is common.
Debono, an expert in AI applications, notes that leaders are increasingly viewing AI agents as a means to counteract workplace distractions. He mentions that many organizations recognize the potential for AI to help bridge the capacity gap faced by workers today.
“The research tells us that many leaders today see agents as a means to address the issue and help reduce the level of distraction in various ways.” – Debono
As further pointed out by Debono, the combined efforts of both humans and AI can produce incredible results. He believes those types of public-private partnerships would be much more efficient and better utilize the unique talents of humans.
“What we see from this research is where human and agent teams come together, that’s where we’re going to have the most impact, the highest efficiency and human skills.” – Debono
Tse cautions that given the potential benefits, reliance on AI may bring psychosocial risks. He even starts, frankly, underestimating how much AI could help with many tasks. That said, as organizations evolve to become more tech-savvy, they should never lose the human element.
“They still have a strong, what we call, psychosocial risk. That means wherever they rely more on AI, they show their employees that the human value of a job becomes less important.” – Herman Tse
Tse noted that employees might be concerned with being replaced by AI. This is a very real fear that may lead to loss of job satisfaction and morale. Approaching these issues is a necessary first step for any organization that truly wants to create a positive workplace.
Despite all this, there is increasing employee buy-in for using AI tools. A recent survey indicates that 75 percent of people plan to utilize AI agents within the next 12 to 18 months. This trend illustrates a significant shift in attitudes towards technology as workers seek solutions to enhance their productivity and reduce workplace distractions.
