When someone speaks in a meeting, how much of your attention is with them? And how much is on a message, the response you’re preparing or the next meeting?
It’s easy to get distracted. Yet when people sense they don’t have your attention, they may leave a concern unspoken, a question unasked or a different perspective unexplored. What might you be missing that could change your next decision?
Listening with curiosity can open up a different conversation. A pause gives someone time to finish their thought. A question helps you look beyond your first interpretation. A different perspective may reveal something you hadn’t considered.
You don’t have to agree with everything you hear. Understanding what matters to others can help you address difficult issues, clarify expectations and find a way forward together.
What if you tried one small experiment in your next conversation? Before sharing your own view, ask: “Could you tell me more?” Then check your understanding: “Have I understood you correctly?”
Notice what you learn — and how the conversation changes.
What becomes possible when you give someone your undivided attention?