Beyond our purpose and niche, our company values were an early thought for the business. It had me closely observing and reflecting on various internal, partner and client meetings. And all this reminded me of a really core realisation that has translated to successful relationships.

Being present – for me it is a product of a few of our values – integrity, communication and kindness. Strong interpersonal and communication skills boil down to active listening, paraphrasing and affirming. Integrity drives an honest motivation to do what we say we will do, deliver to our words and act in ways that are congruent to those words. And kindness brings an intent of compassion and care to leave people and businesses in a better place.

Being present then, is about valuing a person’s time and being purposeful with it. Being present means that we leave distractions (devices) at the door and pay attention to what is being said. Being present is about body language queues, rapport building and connection.

Subconsciously people know when they are being heard and understood. Instinctively we can pick up on manipulation and alternative agendas. Being present isn’t about giving people what they want; in and out of business contexts people understand that various drivers/needs/motivations often exist. Being present is about our ability to hear and share – it allows us to build a rapport that enables negotiation and mutually beneficial outcomes.

While I’m not always successful, I try to

• Do a quick once over in my mind before every meeting – who is here, what is the purpose, how long is it running, do I have something straight after it (to let people know).
• For the people in the meeting, what are their styles, what do I know I need to adjust in my style to get a better outcome (more affirmations, more assertive, more listening etc)
• Clear distractions, don’t get out phones and laptops if in a meeting room. If I am remote then close apps
• Mentally connect with why distractions and devices have been physically put aside – the importance they stay closed and the impact they have on my ability to be present (sometimes thinking about what people doing it to me feels like works well).

I go back to this video by Simon Sinek every once in a while, and share it with people as often as I get the opportunity. I encourage you to have a watch (only 2min) and hear him talk to the impact of phones in our day to day and relationships.

How Cell Phones Impact Our Relationships – YouTube

Let me know your thoughts and experiences around people being or not being present.

Warm regards

Jason

Jason Waddell | LinkedIn

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