Paying Attention

As trivial as it may seem, the ability to pay attention is one of the most important behaviors for success. But what does this really mean, particularly when we have so much competing for our attention, and when we invest so much in getting the attention of others?

Too often, it seems we focus more on the mechanics of what we do. losing sight of our purpose or what our actions mean–to ourselves and others.

The act of paying attention is one of focusing intensely and compassionately on the world and people around us. Our acts of attentiveness shape everything and everyone around us. And the absence of this results in our inability to deeply understand and impact those things for which we are responsible.

Regardless of whether we are leaders or individual contributors, attentiveness is the foundation of leadership. It is the active, deliberate, and empathetic engagement with others, whether it’s our people, our peers, our customers, our business partners. It’s deeply understanding their needs, aspirations, concerns, fears. Attentiveness makes people feel understood and valued.

Attentiveness is a form of empowerment. By paying close attention to those we engage. By acknowledging who they are, how they contribute, and what they seek to achieve, we help motivate them to move forward with greater confidence.

Attentiveness moves us from going through the motions to a deeper level of engagement and understanding. Paying attention requires us to devote ourselves, fully, to the situation or person in front of us.

It creates and environment of collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Where people feel supported and valued, they are more likely to invest themselves in the success of the efforts in which they are working. An interesting corollary of this is that attentiveness creates an atmosphere of reciprocity. When people feel valued, heard, cared for, they tend to mirror those behaviors. As a result, they are more engaged in contributing to the shared goals of the group. Everyone feels they are a greater part of the whole.

Nothing happens without us being attentive.

Are you paying attention?