Overloaded Circuits: Why smart people underperform

I just got round to reading an article 'Overloaded Circuits: Why Smart People Underperform' on my kindle from the Harvard Business Review's 'On Managing Yourself' 10 Must reads on managing yourself. http://hbr.org/product/overloaded-circuits-why-smart-people-underperform/an/R0501E-PDF-ENG

In my new role as an account manager my success depends on my ability to focus on contacting potential and exisiting partners. Obviously there are plenty of things that can distract me from this core responsibility. Or trying to respond to multiple emails or phone calls at the one time can result in my effectiveness dropping. In the article, one executive had an OHIO policy. Only Handle It Once. There will be nothing revolutionary in this article, but probably a lot of things you're not doing that you know you should be.