We live life on the fast track. When our life is a race into the future, it is so easy to neglect the people who matter the most to us. I’ve noticed that I can become distracted while others are talking to me. Usually it’s because I’m thinking about what I’m going to say next or remembering an experience I want to share with the individual while they share their thoughts.
We all want to be noticed. If you can’t relate, then think about what happens when you get home from work and your kids want your attention. Been there and done that.
To pay attention means to be mentally, spiritually and physically present with whom we’re with, not just there taking up space and time. When relating to those we are the most familiar (our employees), we can easily be there and not really there all at the same time.
See if this fits you? When life gets busy around me, I often relate on a very utilitarian basis. This finds me being self-centered rather than we centered; I can slip into the habit of valuing others based on what they can do for me rather than for who they are.