In meetings with colleagues, are you fully focused and engaged in the moment? Or do distractions — like an incoming email, a phone on the table, or a recent disagreement — pull you away from the conversation? And do you realize how your divided attention may come across to others?
Interestingly, while 78% of leaders believe they are engaging well with their teams, 88% of employees feel their leaders aren’t fully connecting. In their book, The Mind of the Leader (2018), Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter describe this disconnect as a global leadership crisis.
How effectively are you directing your attention? Have you asked employees what they need most? Focus and awareness lay the foundation for meaningful connections, allowing you to recognize opportunities, ask insightful questions, and understand what truly matters to your team.
Remember, your attention can only be fully directed at one thing at a time. Focus on the conversation.
It starts with listening.