Many of us get caught in “shallow work” cycles – multitasking, bouncing between online and offline distractions, endless meetings. We're left feeling that what we need to do just hasn’t been achieved.
It is work performed in a state of focused concentration – the state you need to be in to do significant, meaningful work. Flocks are virtual deep work sessions, where people come together to focus on tasks.
Run on Zoom by trained facilitators, Flocks are a fun and empowering way to achieve focus.
Take-Off
How it works
Begin with a short meditation
Journaling with a prompt
Share your goals for the day
Leave the session calm and ready to focus
What to expect
🗣 Small group of fellow members
🎤 Microphone required
📷 Camera recommended
📝 You will need a pen and paper
💻 Run on Zoom
Deep Dive
How it works
Welcome from your facilitator
Goal setting in breakout rooms
50 minutes of silent focus
Optional guided break activity
50 minutes of silent focus
Goal reflection in breakout rooms
Leave the session feeling a sense of progress
What to expect
🗣 20-60 fellow members
🗣 Breakout rooms of 3-4 members
🎤 Microphone required
📷 Camera recommended
💻 Run on Zoom
Power Hour
How it works
Welcome from your facilitator
Goal setting in the chat
55 minutes of silent focus
Moment of reflection
Leave the session motivated
What to expect
🗣 20-60 fellow members
🎤 Microphone not required
📷 Camera recommended
💻 Run on Zoom
Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
1. Pick your sessions
Choose the sessions and dates you'd like to attend, and we'll send you calendar invites so your deep work time is blocked out. No pesky meetings eat into your work day.
2. Join the Flock
Using the Zoom link in your calendar invite to join a Flock. One click and you'll be part of a session with other like-minded professionals and our vibrant Flocks facilitators.
3. State your goals
At the start, briefly state what you'll work on in the session, to a small group of fellow ‘Flockers’. Then it's time to focus and work, in the silent presence of your Flock.
4. Keep your camera on
You’ll be amazed at the effect seeing other people work has on your own productivity. The positive presence can make you perform better and helps you focus.
5. Take a break
Deep focus requires a lot of mental energy, so halfway through - your facilitator will lead a short, fun interlude. This will give your brain and body the right kind of invigoration.
6. Share your achievements
At the end of the Flock share how much of your session goals you got done. Knowing you have to do this is a great incentive to stay focused throughout.
Multitasking is a myth. Each extra task or ‘context’ you switch between eats up 20–80% of your productivity. Commit to doing one task at a time instead.
Blocking time each day to do deep work and removing distractions makes you much more likely to get important and meaningful work done!
By joining a Flock, you’ll have a virtual community to work-alongside. You’ll also discover many other professionals who share your challenges.
That’s sort of the point. If you don't have time to join Flocks, it means you probably aren't getting time to do your actual work. Flocks aren’t about taking time off – they’re about making time to do the work that’s going to make the biggest difference. We recommend booking sessions in a week or more ahead of time, so your precious deep work time is locked in, and your day isn't eaten up with meetings, calls and emails. In the end, you'll get more done this way.
You don’t have to be if you really don’t want to… but if everybody turned their cameras off it wouldn’t work so well. Actually seeing your accountability group makes a massive difference – it triggers motivation, and puts you under a positive kind of pressure to succeed.
We can relate. But we don’t care, and nor do your fellow Flockers! The pandemic means that everybody is used to people working in messy kitchens or with dogs, kids, and flatmates poking their noses into their meetings. Flocks improve your focus and productivity. Zone out your environment and do some deep work!
Your fellow Flockers are NOT your boss. Flocks are about supportive accountability – so you don’t need a sophisticated presentation in your intentions. On Deep Dive sessions, just talk for a minute about what you intend to get done. The very act of sharing it is scientifically proven to improve your chances of actually doing it. Oh, and we don't do breakout rooms in Power Hour Flocks, so why not try one of those out first?