CEO Today Magazine December 2018 Edition

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 20 special feature I remember when it first happened to me. I was momentarily distracted by an incoming message from someone not in my meeting, when I was asked by those present, “What are your thoughts, Adam?” Good question. The meeting was a conference call with our 250 senior leaders and at that moment, I had no idea what they were talking about. Sounds familiar? In today’s workplace, advanced technologies and data-driven artificial intelligence are challenging us to rethink the style and pace at which we work, pulling us in different directions throughout the course of a day. While “keep moving or perish” could serve as a motto for the digital age, it also speaks to the increasing pressure to multitask our way through a variety of projects and meetings without giving our undivided attention to any one task. I don’t subscribe to the idea that just because business is 24/7, we must be too. Digital connections certainly make things easier, but we still need to show up and be present if we want to feel grounded in our work. Here is a bit more about how I stay present – as an employee, a team member, and a CEO. Protect Your Time I struggle, along with everyone else, to stay focused amidst a swirl of emails, texts, meetings, and social media. At a higher level, this only gets more difficult to do. To be productive, I have found that I need to protect my time. Each day, I set three goals for the things I want to achieve. This sounds simple, but it really helps me stay focused and push through the myriad distractions that threaten to eat up my time. No matter where my travels may take me during the week, I try to be home for a Saturday morning tennis game. And I unplug in my rose garden, where change happens at a different pace than the technology world. Show Up for Your Team However much we talk about virtual communication, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. When it comes to staying grounded in business, digital connections Why Showing Up Still Matters in a Digital-First World Adam Warby, CEO Avanade