Being Fully Present

In spite of the broad use of smart phones to communicate, you would have to live like a hermit to avoid communicating with people face-to-face. An important aspect of effective communication is being fully present. "I believe in being fully present." "That means you should be with the person you're with." … "I am talking to you. I am thinking about you." – Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie My buddy Dan Miller mentioned on his 48 Days Online Radio Podcast that he has people comment about how he gives them his full attention when he speaks to them. He makes them feel like the only person in the room. Recently a person asked me a question and immediately began looking at their phone and texting. When they raised their eyes, they did not make eye contact. They let their eyes roam around the room. I intentionally stopped talking. After a few moments, he looked at me and said, "I'm listening." Nothing about his body language made me feel like he was listening and it was very disrespectful. A good example of being fully present is Jimmy Fallon who recently took over the helm of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno. His undivided attention and enthusiasm for the people he interviews is a model we can learn from. Being fully present requires you to maintain eye contact, listen intently, and genuinely care about what is being said. It takes practice and intentionality. You must make a conscious effort for this to become a habit. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that the other person will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments. ~Dale Carnegie Have a great week!