We’re Interrupting Ourselves Into Ineffectiveness

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Hey Spark Family,

Some days, it feels like our attention span doesn’t stand a chance.

A Slack ping here.
A calendar invite there.
A “quick question” that turns into 30 minutes.

You finally sit down to think deeply, only to be pulled back into the swirl.

We call it multitasking.
But neuroscience calls it what it really is: cognitive sabotage.

The Research Is Clear

The latest Microsoft Work Index report reveals:

• The average worker is interrupted every 2 minutes​
• It takes 23 minutes to refocus after each interruption
• Even 2-3 second distractions double error rates

💡 And here’s the kicker: leaders aren’t just managing their own distractions they’re absorbing everyone else’s too.

This constant context-switching isn’t just draining your energy.
It’s silently eroding your effectiveness, creativity, and presence.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

I hear it every week:

This isn’t a time management problem.
It’s an attention management problem.

And when your brain is in fight-or-flight all day?
You lose the ability to coach, to think strategically, to connect.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Here’s how I help leaders get their focus back, without disconnecting from their teams:

Guard your mental bandwidth.​
Block out focused time. Your team will survive - and your strategy will thank you.

Interrupt the interruptions.​
Batch your messages. Silence the noise. Declare some tech-free zones.

Model calm, not chaos.​
If you respond to everything in real-time, your team will think they have to, too.

Create a rhythm that works.​
Set consistent communication patterns to reduce noise and boost deep work.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Take a beat and ask yourself:

➡ Where am I giving away my best thinking time?
​➡ What would it look like to lead with intention, not interruption?
​➡ What boundaries could I set to protect what matters most?

You don’t need to respond to every ping immediately to be a powerful leader.
You just need to reclaim your focus - and protect it like the asset it is.

Because the most impactful leaders aren’t the busiest.
​They’re the most present.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – Know a leader who’s always on, but rarely able to focus?Forward this newsletter their way. Let’s normalize the conversation about cognitive overload - and lead a little lighter, together. ✨

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