Pinging smartphones, Netflix cliff-hangers, who’s going to do
the school run – the distractions of modern life are making it difficult to
stay focused in meetings and events, according to a new survey.
And the economic cost in lost productivity is staggering.
Research conducted by London conference and events
venue, The QEII Centre, has found that the cost of drifting off during events
has risen to £20.7bn.
Based on a survey of more than 1,000 desk-based workers, the
research builds on findings from The QEII Centre’s inaugural 2023 Distracted
Economy report.
It reveals that the cost of distraction in online and
face-to-face meetings and events is going up - from £19.9 billion in 2023, an
increase of £800m.
The main causes of distraction were boredom, tiredness, and
having a busy mind, with 80 per cent of workers admit to losing concentration
during meetings. But how people meet is significant.
In the 2024 report, more than half (55 per cent) were more likely to
be distracted in online meetings compared to just 16 per cent who found it
harder to concentrate in-person meetings.
Meanwhile almost a third (27 per cent) found both equally
distracting.
Senior managers were not immune, with 17 per cent of senior
managers and owners losing focus for half or more of in-person meetings
compared to 10 per cent of mid or junior managers.
And the report shone a light on generational
differences, too.
While being tired, hungry, or distracted by background noise
is a large source of distraction for younger people, 35-44 year-olds are more
easily distracted by email notifications, and the over 45s are more affected by
being bored or by the meeting being dominated by other people.
To maximise engagement, in-person meetings should be kept
short – under 45 minutes, or ideally half an hour. The results also show that
speakers who keep their presentations succinct (around 15 minutes) are more
likely to retain the attention of their audience. To stay focused, the reports
advised delegates should stay hydrated, take notes, and switch off their mobile
phone.
Mark Taylor, CEO, The QEII Centre, said: “When we initially
set out to research distraction back in 2023, it was because we noticed that
the attention problem had begun to affect the world of meetings and events. We
wanted to gather honest feedback from people of all ages and at all stages of
their careers to determine the scale of the issue, uncover particular
challenges, and provide useful insights and practical solutions to help event
planners and venues do their jobs.
"It is our hope that these findings inspire event
planners and venues to create exceptional experiences and design meetings and
events that engage delegates, enhance productivity and achieve business goals.”
Distracted Economy –
the highlights
- Eight in 10 desk-based workers lose concentration in
meetings for some of the time
- 24 per cent is the average proportion of time people are distracted
during in-person meetings
- 17 per cent of senior managers and owners lose focus or
concentration for half or more of in-person meetings compared to 10% of mid or
junior managers
- 55 per cent of people are more likely to be distracted in an online
meeting, vs 16 per cent in an in-person meeting and 27 per cent who find both equally
distracting
- The top three causes of distraction are boredom (25 per cent),
tiredness (24 per cent), and having a busy mind (23 per cent)
- 56 per cent of respondents expect to attend more in-person events in
2025 than they did in 2019
