I do it all the time: talk on the phone, and at the same time answer an e-mail on an entirely different topic. Or listen to a webinar while I am ironing, catching only a few of the slides
That makes me less productive, I read in articles that say true focus is key. They have a point, maybe. But being able to wonder a bit, to zoom in and out of focus, helps me see things in a better perspective.
How would that work at a conference, I wonder? Just a thought.
At most conferences, delegates with mobile devices constantly shift focus form mobile screen to keynote speaker, typing while listening, tweeting or checking mail. Nothing new here. But what if that was taken a step further?
Can you see attendants knitting during a keynote? Or husking corn while brainstorming in a breakout session? They could even cook their meal together. I don’t see why not, to be honest. Merge some social activity into the conference room. Business/leisure, old skool.
As I was writing just now, I started a fruit cobbler which is filling my kitchen with blueberry and cake smells. There is some butter on my Caps Lock and I forgot a few words, but otherwise both activities were truly rewarding. And that is a good feeling – not to mention that I get to eat some of the results.
