MEDIA RELEASE 30 April 2012
Gai Foskett, Executive and Leadership Coach presents at Women in Business
The Women in Business Network hosted Gai Foskett on Tuesday 24 April at Southward Car Museum.
Gai presented an excellent session drawing on scientific findings about the human brain and how we operate at our peak
when it comes to multi-tasking and mindfulness. She assured everyone present that multi-tasking is a myth as all you
really can do is switch tasks. She made the point that switching tasks takes longer, increases mistakes and stress
levels and damages relationships.
She stressed the importance of writing stuff down and not using the brain as a gathering point and planning time to
plan. Other great tips included meetings not lasting more than 45 minutes and that you should start and finish on time
and make sure that all digital devices are turned off as they are distracting. She reminded everyone of the importance
of taking real and regular vacations to recharge and to stop demanding or expecting instant responsiveness at every
moment of the day.
Gai says “that mindfulness assists our capacity to manage stress and depression, maintain focus and clarity, assimilate
information, make decisions and prioritise, generate empathy and diminish preoccupation with self”. She encouraged
everyone present to practice being mindful.
Jane Stevenson, Chair of the Women in Business Committee commented that the “the practical exercises that Gai made
everyone do really did dispel the myth about how we are able to multi task. It was fascinating to hear about the
Amygdala Hijack and how it can limit our capacity when under stress. Everyone took away some excellent tips”.
The Woman in Business network is a joint initiative between the Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce and the district’s
Economic Development Agency – Nature Coast Enterprise. The network is open to all women in the Kapiti and Horowhenua
region, who have their own business, or are either contractors or employed.
ends