Let’s explore this further:

🟡 Paying attention builds trust. Showing attentiveness reflects respect and interest, helping to foster trust in personal and professional relationships. It also
improves understanding. When you focus fully on what someone is saying, you understand them better, reducing miscommunication. Paying attention also enhances communication. Active listening allows for thoughtful, meaningful responses that improve the quality of conversations.

🟡 How can you improve your attention? Start off by minimising any distractions – silence your phone, reduce noise, and avoid multitasking during conversations. Maintain eye contact – it shows you’re engaged and focused on the person speaking. Actively participate in the conversation. Simple gestures like nodding or saying “I see” help show you’re following the conversation. If you need to, then take notes. This will help you stay focused and retain important information.

🟡 Some of the common barriers to paying attention include a wandering mind and stress. Try to address personal stressors or practice mindfulness to stay present. Find a quiet space and eliminate interruptions for important conversations. Turn off digital distractions like notifications to avoid being pulled away by your devices.

🟡 Strategies for better listening include active listening whereby you focus on the speaker, ask questions, and show that you’re genuinely interested in what they’re saying. Mindfulness techniques also help – like deep breathing to keep your mind from wandering. Address personal stress to ensure you’re well-rested to stay attentive.

If you’d like to take your communication skills to the next level, then book a Thinking Session with a Lumminos coach, and we’ll show you how you and your team can improve attention and active listening.

Author: Julia Kerr Henkel