The greatest gift you can give anyone, both as a
leader 
and as a person on the planet, is to be fully present when they’re talking to you.
Be 100% present. Hear what they’re saying. Hear what’s behind what they’re saying. And hear what they’re not saying.
Regardless of whether they’re telling you about the horrible drive they had this morning, describing how much work they have on their plate, or telling you about a problem they’re having with their peer
—being fully present, no matter what.
How To Do This
You’ll need to put aside whatever’s going on for you right now. When they’re talking, you’re simply there with them, 100%.
You’re not planning your response to their words. You’re not critiquing what they’re saying. You’re not going anyway else in your mind. You’re just there—now—just hearing them.
It’s A Real Gift.
When compared to a typical conversation, which is so often about getting someone to see your point of view, being fully present is a real gift.
Later you can share your thinking. But for now, while they’re talking, just be there and hear them.
It’ll lift the rapport. It’ll increase trust.
They’ll feel valued and respected. They’ll feel worthwhile. They’ll sense what they’re saying is worth listening to.
And that’s a real gift.
Your Call To Action
The “soft-stuff” is the ”hard-stuff”, isn’t it?
Will you count the number of times you’ve been 100% present today?
And increase that number by two tomorrow? And two more the next day?
It’s not just a little thing. It’s a big thing.
Who you are as a leader, and who you are as a human being, will be amazing :-).
“Over the last 12-months I’ve developed my leadership skills beyond my
expectations. Carolyn brought out the best in me and helped me to identify
and reflect on the ways I could be a better leader. The energy, elegance and
experience of Carolyn’s coaching was paramount to my improved leadership
and has enabled me to progress my professional career. I look forward to
working with Carolyn again in the future and would be pleased to make a
recommendation to any of her potential clients.” —Leader, Consulting Group
About the Author:
For more than 25-years, Carolyn Stevens has helped leaders flourish and become more confident, more courageous and impressively influential (including those who’ve previously struggled to confront difficult situations, let alone persuasively deal with them).
Plus, as a personal career strategist, she specialises in helping ambitious female leaders create a reputation as an indispensable first-class leader.
Carolyn is authentic and results-oriented. She’ll draw on an eclectic array of approaches, tools and techniques to suit your situation.
She’s never too busy to talk to you if you’re in a hurry to boost your success. Same goes for leaders you refer.
Email if you’d like to arrange a time to chat: carolyn@leadingperformance.com.au
