Leadership Thought #446 – Focus on The Conversation Not The Distractions

Holding effective conversations is a critical leadership responsibility.

I spend a significant portion of my work life in meetings or one-on-one conversations. The disparities in people’s attitudes towards basic communication and meeting etiquette consistently amaze me. We have all read countless articles about the importance of being present and minimizing distractions, but I am doubtful the message is sticking. In fact, I haven’t seen one article that supports the premise that multitasking makes you more effective as a leader. It is quite the contrary.

I want to offer some basic reasons for you to turn off your cell phone, iPad, and whatever else is competing for your attention and focus on the actual meeting or conversation you are participating in:

• You may miss something important that is being said, even those of you who think nothing ever gets past your keen ability to listen while doing something else.
• When asked to contribute, you might struggle to find the right words to align with the conversation or establish a proper sense of context, thereby diminishing your professional credibility.
• When you want others to listen to you, they may follow your lead and treat you with the same lack of respect.
• Everyone wants to feel valued as a fellow human being, and if your attention towards an individual is divided, they receive the message that you place less value on your time with them. Even if this is true, it can backfire when you need their support and attention later.
• If you are always interruptible and immediately respond to text or email messages, then you have set expectations that become hard to live up to
• Never underestimate the importance of maintaining eye contact and using positive body language when trying to connect with another person.
• If you send out negative signals, whether intentional or not, people will quickly draw conclusions about your character.
• It is simply rude to divert your attention away from what a colleague or friend is trying to communicate to you.

We all live in a professional environment that necessitates interaction with others. Basic manners lubricate the gears of human interaction. A lack of etiquette only makes the process harder than it needs to be.

Without exception, my most successful clients and colleagues possess an innate ability to stay focused on one thing at a time, treat others with basic dignity and respect, listen intentionally so they don’t miss anything important, and are skilled at reading non-verbal cues, keeping the energy in the room upbeat. You almost always leave your interactions with them feeling positive about the encounter and the relationship. I highly encourage you to focus on the conversations in your life, not the distractions.

Related articles

• 15 Business Etiquette Rules Every Professional Needs To Know (businessinsider.com)
• Top 5 – Irritating office habits (and how to deal with them) (reed.co.uk)
• 8 Tech Etiquette Tips to Enforce in Your Office (mashable.com)
• 9 Tips for Running a Successful Meeting with Remote Workers (shoretelsky.com)
• Multitasking Distracts You (generationlostblog.wordpress.com)
• 15 Business Etiquette Rules Every Professional Needs To Know (inc.com)