EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING:

Managers are executives, of course, and good managers have what psychologists call good executive functioning. This is a psychological term, rather than a workplace one and it involves the ability to manage oneself and ones resources in order to achieve a goal. Specifically, this means the ability to focus your thoughts, control your impulses and avoid distractions. This is particularly true for managers, who, as one article notes: must routinely block out distractions and exercise reasoning and problem-solving skills.

GEN Z. The approximately 20 million people born from the mid-90s to the mid-2000s are known as Generation Z, or the Net Generation. This likely includes you - who were practically born with a smartphone in their hand. Indeed, one study found that 92% of college undergraduates are cell-phone or tablet users. How good is your executive functioning?

The typical college student plays with his or her digital device an average of 11 times a day while in class and more than 80% admit that their use of smartphones, tablets and laptops can interfere with their learning. More than a fourth say their grades suffer. In addition, students do a lot of multitasking - as in checking out Facebook and listening to music while reading a textbook. You may think youre simultaneously doing three separate tasks, but youre really not. Its like playing tennis with three balls, says one expert.

THE FINITE BRAIN. Life, says one author, is the sum of what you focus on. Another writer says, You can drive yourself crazy trying to multitask and answer every email message instantly. Or you can recognize your brains finite capacity for processing information. To be successful not only in school but in the workplace especially as a manager you need to learn to direct your attention. This is known as focus or mindfulness.

YOUR CALL. Do you procrastinate about getting your work done? Most people do and in fact the problem has worsened over the years: Today about 26% of Americans think of themselves as chronic procrastinators, up from 5% in 1978, and 80% - 90% of college students procrastinate on a regular basis. The major reason: too many tempting diversions, especially electronic

What can you do to improve your executive functioning?