To attend is more than to listen
Something subtle begins to happen when these kinds of observations are repeatedly overlooked. People stop offering their observations and sentiments. It is not because they stop caring. They just begin to doubt whether anyone is truly listening. This is one of the paradoxes of modern organizational life We live in an age of unprecedented information ranging from dashboards, analytics, reports, together with diverse channels that collect more signals than ever before. Nevertheless meaning often slips away Information and attention have developed other characteristics: Information gathers facts while attention discerns significance Information tells us what is happening while attention helps us understand what matters
To attend is to sense where energy is rising and where it is quietly draining away To attend is to perceive what remains unsaid between the lines and beneath formal conversations Attention allows us to feel the emotional currents that are moving through a team. It enables a recognition of the concerns that have not yet found its ”language”. By aspiring to be truly attentive, possibilities that have not yet become a reality can be revealed
To attend is more than to listen
To attend is to be present in a way that allows noticing what is changing before it becomes obvious
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