We may be physically present at a meeting, but spend half the conversation thinking about what to say or checking our messages. The other person is there, but isn’t getting our attention.
In leadership, this is especially evident when we rush to offer a solution before we’ve heard the problem in full. Sometimes a person needs a decision. Sometimes they first need the chance to explain what happened.
Being present doesn’t mean we have all the answers or unlimited time. It means that during the time we’ve set aside for the conversation, we’re truly listening to what the other person is saying and checking to see if we’ve understood them.
When was the last time I listened to someone like that, without carrying on a parallel conversation with my phone? That’s a more concrete question than how busy I appeared today.
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