Deep Observation and Deep Listening

The health advantages of deep breathing are often noted.

I won't get into those. Let's consider, however, the professional advantages of deep observation and deep listening.

Some people attend meetings and leave with scant knowledge of what took place. Others can tell you about undercurrents, alliances, position shifts, subtle opposition, and intentional distractions. They can cite the significance of what was not said as well as what was said. They spot phrases that were used to disguise and summaries that were brilliant. They know which direction the group leaned on various topics and whether there were any trade-offs.

In other words, they were in the meeting and not simply physically present.

The more you use deep observation and deep listening, the more those skills improve.

You might even begin to enjoy meetings.