Nowadays, we are inundated with an endless flow of distractions. Sometimes it can seem like five minutes spent without an interruption – whether it’s a phone call, email, text, social media interaction, or any of a thousand other intrusions – is a luxury. Remaining on task in the face of this onslaught can be a challenge.
But is it more of a challenge for some than it is for others?
To answer this question, we asked our readers whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement “Outside interference rarely interrupts your train of thought.” There was a noticeable difference between most of the trait pairings, as seen in the chart below:
The largest disparity occurred between Assertive and Turbulent personality types (54% vs. 36% agreeing, respectively), but that’s only part of the story, and not visible here. Which groups have the easiest time maintaining their concentration? Let’s find out:
Roles
Analysts (51% agreeing)
Analysts were the only Role with a majority of respondents who agreed that their concentration was difficult to break – but it was a very slim majority. As personality types that tend to thrive on the resolution of complex problems, Analysts may become so engrossed in a project that they can easily ignore distractions – a dominant Thinking trait makes it that much easier to tune out other people. That said, the sometimes obsessive nature of their pursuit of a goal can also make distractions even more frustrating when outside influences do manage to have an effect.
Sentinels and Diplomats (45% and 42%)
Sentinels and Diplomats were separated by only a three-point margin on the question of concentration. Sentinels tend to work according to strict areas of focus, which may explain why they would find unexpected deviations difficult to deal with. Tangents and sidetracks, whether or not they’re important, can prove a potent distraction.
Diplomats, for their part, may find it difficult to keep their mind on the matter at hand when they feel that their attention is needed elsewhere. A text from a troubled friend may derail a Diplomat’s concentration for much longer than the time they spend responding to it.
Explorers (37%)
Of the four Roles, Explorers were the least likely to agree with the statement “Outside interference rarely interrupts your train of thought.” Explorers, who often have an uncanny knack for reacting well to rapidly developing events, may do so at the expense of keeping track of where it all started. Whether these distractions are unwelcome is another matter entirely, though.
Strategies
People Mastery and Confident Individualism (both agreeing 54%)
Both of the Assertive Strategies held a slight majority who agreed that outside interruptions rarely broke their train of thought. One of the most important components of Assertiveness is the degree to which one is affected by or worried about the criticism or judgment of others. Like the Analysts, it’s easier for these personality types to set aside others’ worries in favor of focusing on their own goals, whatever they may be.
Speaking of Analysts, Assertive Commanders (ENTJ-A) agreed most with the statement (69%). These bold, even ruthless personality types pride themselves on their intellectual strength, and holding focus on something against all odds is the perfect way to demonstrate this power. With this attitude, Commanders rarely have a problem saying “call back in an hour” when they want to finish what they started.
Social Engagement and Constant Improvement (37% and 36%)
The two Turbulent Strategies, on the other hand, had a clear minority of respondents who agreed that their concentration was not easily broken. The sensitivity to stress that characterizes both of these Strategies may make it more difficult for them to shake off interruptions – impulsivity, welcome or not, runs strong. If something is going wrong, or may go wrong, they feel compelled to put out the fire, which can lead to a nearly endless string of interruptions. This tendency is particularly unfortunate when one considers how important productivity is to success-seeking Turbulent personality types.
Turbulent Adventurers (ISFP-T) were the least likely to agree with the statement (24%). Incredibly sensitive and usually eager to please, Adventurers are no strangers to putting their own objectives on hold when an emergency crops up. This can be a real struggle for them, especially when it comes to the workplace – helping a coworker catch up or fix something can easily bring the ire of a boss as Adventurers fall behind on their own projects.
Conclusions
Although being able to switch fluidly from one task to another may feel de rigueur these days, this style of working or living may be easier said than done. While some personality types may snap to focus more quickly than others, there will always be some lag time to account for before our minds can settle back into the necessary groove.
The complete elimination of distractions is perhaps an unrealistic goal, but it’s equally unrealistic to pretend that distractions have absolutely no power over us. As admirable as it may be to retain focus in the face of obstacles, it may be more useful, in the end, to remove what obstacles we can.
Do distractions affect your concentration? If so, how do you handle them? (If not, share the secret!) Tell us about it in the comments!