A little while back, there was a film that came out called “The Secret”, all about the law of attraction. A lot of people viewed it. Some people agreed, some people didn’t, that’s just fine. However, my question to you is; what really is the secret? In my opinion, the secret to life and success is two words. Be Present! That’s it. Be Present!
How many of you, and how many times have you had a conversation with somebody, whether it was somebody on your team, a spouse, a child, that at that time you really weren’t in the conversation. How many times did you go to an event where one person was speaking, and instead of really presently listening to that person you were actually thinking about how to reply or what you’re going to say next?
Think about this as a leader. You need something accomplished by a certain employee. You’re busy, you’re rushed, you’re doing a dozen things at one time. You’re multitasking, as they say. You approach this employee in a rushed manner and tell them what you want and when you want it. But then that time comes and that employee doesn’t deliver what you asked. Now you’re frustrated. Is it your fault or is it theirs? It’s yours. Why? Because you actually weren’t present in the conversation when you were having it, because you were thinking about what you had to do next.
Think about how much time, energy, effort, and money goes into not being present in a conversation where you have to go back and explain it a second, third, and fourth time. The friction it causes between you and that particular employee. The synergy and productivity that goes out the window. Just be fully present the first time in the conversation and that will solve the problem.
How many of us have spouses that we’ve had a conversation with, the one we love the most, were we really present in the conversation? Were we really listening? Just to come clean, guilty is charged. Let’s face it. The secret to life and the secret to success is being present where you’re at, right now, this minute, this day. Not something that happened five minutes ago. Not something that’s going to happen in an hour from now, not the appointment you just had or appointment you’re going to have, it’s in the conversation right here right now.
It’s not when somebody’s speaking at an event and you’re playing on your phone, or you’re scrolling Facebook, that’s not being present. Treat others the way you want to be treated. When you are speaking, you expect them to be present in the conversation, have their full attention, do the same for them.
I really encourage you to commit to practice being fully being present in each and every conversation you have. Put your phone away, put it on silent. When you’re having a conversation with somebody else, that’s the only thing that is important at that point in time. Nothing else. When that conversation is complete then, and only then, can you go on to the next task.
I guarantee you that as you master this secret of being present, you will actually create more time, less stress, more synergy, more productivity because, with every conversation you have, you’re getting your point across by having the other person in the conversation also. Most importantly, you are honoring and respecting the other person by being present, and that’s the secret.
Just for a moment; stop and imagine if everybody in this world actually honored the secret of being present with the person they’re with at the time they’re with them. What a difference that would make.
I hope you take this seriously by committing to Being Present. That’s the secret to success. Master it and I guarantee you we’ll get more out of your business, your team, and your life.
COACH MICHAEL DILL is an Award-Winning Certified Business Coach, global speaker, and published author. He is a proud Action Coach Franchise partner as well as the President of Power & Ice Wealth Creation a strategic leadership company that works with business owners, leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to both develop a systematized and structured organization while accelerating their mindset, efficiencies, and effectiveness to grow both personally and professionally to achieve extraordinary results. He brings more than 40 years of business and entrepreneurial experience in his leadership, team training, and mentoring practice. Businesscoachmichaeldill.com