329: Why Your Team Can't Focus | Shawn Vanderhoven, PAUSE Author, Partner at Liz Wiseman's Firm
Shawn Vanderhoven, Partner at The Wiseman Group and USA Today bestselling author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, shares why some leaders create traction while others unknowingly amplify distraction. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and Shawn explore how seemingly small requests, messages, and interruptions can create a “digital wake” that keeps teams from doing their best work. Shawn explains how leaders can pause before handing off work, distinguish a bias for action from a bias for impact, and use AI to produce better work instead of simply creating more of it.
Read the full breakdown of Shawn Vanderhoven’s episode on Learnit.
Key Leadership Lessons from Shawn Vanderhoven’s Journey:
Tune In Before You Jump In – Learn why pausing before assigning work helps leaders understand what their teams are already carrying and prevents unnecessary distraction.
Pay Attention to Your Digital Wake – Discover how every email, message, and “quick” request can create additional work and disruption long after you hit send.
Choose Impact Over Action – Understand why being busy isn't the same as being effective and how leaders can focus their teams on the work that creates the greatest value.
Connect with Shawn Vanderhoven:
Shawn Vanderhoven is the author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World and a Partner at The Wiseman Group, where he leads the firm's development practice for senior executives and emerging leaders. He works with leading organizations including Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Tesla to develop strategies that help companies get more from their greatest asset: their talent. His work explores how leaders can reduce distraction, create greater focus, and help their teams produce brilliant work in an increasingly busy world.
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