Attention is the process of selectively concentrating thinking on one aspect or task whilst ignoring other things. The ability to maintain attention in order to focus on learning new information and/or focus on carrying out tasks and activities is a general work requirement across all industries.
Most people have the capacity to maintain attention adequately at work, but sometimes thoughts can wander or jump from one thing to another, particularly if tired or distracted by things such as co-workers talking, noise or telephone calls. For people with some form of cognitive impairment such as a specific learning disability or acquired brain injury, the ability to focus is often compromised. This can cause people to feel frustrated with themselves and others, become overwhelmed and easily confused when trying to learn new information. They can potentially withdraw from others and ultimately underperform in their role at work.
It is important to recognise that difficulty maintaining attention can be related to disability and that understanding and support in the workplace should be made available.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
On the job strategies
While at work, a number of strategies can be used to assist people who experience difficulty focusing their attention on the task at hand. These include:
- breaking down job tasks into small steps and using visual prompts for each step in order to assist workers to refocus and continue with tasks if they forget what comes next, for example, use a pin up board or white board displaying task flow charts
- providing workers with to do lists and scheduling regular breaks to accommodate a reduced attention span
- aiming to schedule the early part of the working day for ‘attention demanding’ tasks or activities, with less demanding tasks scheduled later in the day —the following link can provide more information on this:
- enabling rotation between tasks to increase interest and reduce monotony as sometimes boredom can lead to lack of concentration
- establishing a buddy programme with a co-worker to provide extra support and encouragement for workers who experience concentration problems and need assistance to keep on task
- minimising potential distractions to concentration by partitioning off the workspace, having a workstation away from other colleagues and reducing noise or other distracting factors
- fostering a healthy lifestyle for workers, for example, being conscious of stress levels in the workplace, encouraging physical fitness and if lunches are provided, making healthy foods available:
(University of Cambridge 2008; Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc. 2009)
Aids and Products
There are also various aids and products available that can assist in providing a quiet work environment, free from visual distractions which may be helpful in improving the ability for workers to focus their attention. Examples include:
Providing ergonomic equipment such as desks, chairs and adjustable workstations may further assist by enabling workers to focus their attention for longer periods without strain or discomfort.
References :
Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc. 2009, Attention and Concentration—Fact Sheet, Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc., Brisbane, viewed 24 April 2009, <http://braininjury.org.au/portal/content/view/47/266/>.
University of Cambridge 2008, Concentration, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, viewed 24 April 2009, <http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/concen.html>.