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.
And the economic cost in lost productivity is staggering.
Research conducted by leading 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 over 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%) 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%) 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 there 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. Our 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%
is the average proportion of time people are distracted during in-person
meetings
- 17%
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%
of people are more likely to be distracted in an online meeting, vs 16% in
an in-person meeting and 27% who find both equally distracting
- The
top three causes of distraction are boredom (25%), tiredness (24%), and
having a busy mind (23%)
- 56%
of respondents expect to attend more in-person events in 2025 than they
did in 2019
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
