How Leaders Eliminate Distraction | An Interview with Shawn Vanderhoven

Shawn Vanderhoven is the author of the USA Today bestseller Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World and a Partner at The Wiseman Group, where he leads the executive development practice for senior leaders and rising talent. A collaborator on the New York Times bestseller Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter (Second Edition), Shawn co-designs strategies that help organizations amplify their people, advising leaders at companies like Amazon, Alphabet, Adobe, Microsoft, and Salesforce. He holds a BS in History from Brigham Young University and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Anne, dedicated to helping leaders create the conditions where teams can focus on what matters most.

In the Church, Shawn has served as an Elders Quorum President and holds a deep passion for working with the rising generation, having served as a Young Men president four different times.

Links

Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World

LinkedIn: Shawn Vanderhoven

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Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

Shawn Vanderhoven discusses concepts from his book Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World. The conversation explores how leaders can help their teams avoid constant distractions, hyperconnectivity, and superficial busyness. Shawn highlights how shifting from an action-oriented mindset to an impact-oriented approach creates room for meaningful focus in both corporate and Church settings.

00:03:42 – The Moment of Inspiration for Writing the Book

00:04:52 – Chaos and Lack of Clarity in Leadership

00:06:46 – Research on Focus and Distraction