“The mere presence of your phone affects cognitive capacity” says Dr Adrian Ward, of the University of Texas. In a study, he and his team asked participants to learn something and then tested them. “We had people come in with their phone, then put it on the desk or in their bag. The closer the phone was, the worse they did, even if they weren’t using it.”
The AFR this morning reported on a survey of 12,500 people that showed 68 per cent lost track of a television programme after checking their mobile phones. It’s not just our ability to enjoy our favourite shows that’s being affected by our screen habits. A growing body of evidence suggests smartphone and tablet addiction is wrecking attention spans, navigational skills and long-term memories.
So does your board have a policy about phone use in meetings? Should it? What might your company achieve if not for the cost of inattentive distracted directors?
Is it time to train your board?
Julie Garland McLellan is a boardroom trends forecaster, experienced company director and professional conference speaker.
She features frequently as a commentator on TV and radio and is the bestselling author of 6 books. Her most recent book Not For Profit Board Dilemmas is a practical guide to thriving in boardrooms as the non-profit sector faces immense disruption.
To see Julie speaking live, click here.
For more information on Julie’s keynote speaking topics, visit www.directorsdilemma.com.
Julie Garland-McLellan is a boardroom expert with a difference; she has over 20 years of real-life board experience (including chairing a listed company board) as well as the latest governance theory from leading international institutions. She is the author of six books of practical wisdom for boards and directors.
Her newsletter The Director’s Dilemma is read in 68 countries and enjoyed by directors from government-owned, commercial, and not-for-profit boards. Hire Julie to speak at your next board retreat or conference.
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