If there was one skill, for the future that I would wish for everyone, it would be noticing. Noticing is the foundation of emotional intelligence. Noticing is an essential attribute of brilliant leaders.
We have moved way beyond regarding this as a lightly regarded ‘soft skill’. Above all other skills, the ability to notice defines distinctly the difference between those that succeed and fail, those that are connected or disconnected, those that are growing from those that are stuck.
Noticing is essentially a simple task but will deliver for you incredibly as you strengthen your ability.
When you are busy, submerged in thinking, deep in a blinkered, intense focus, your noticing performance reduces. You may miss nuances, clues and even the most obvious of signs (aka ‘Notices’!), your sensory acuity is dulled. Look back at those times when you were last in that place, how were your connections and relationships functioning, how rapid was your ability to problem solve, to spark creativity?
Noticing, the ability to heighten your awareness is in three basic zones. As you become better and better at noticing, you will become even more aware of things worth noticing!
And the skill here is simply about noticing – not (at this stage) exploring them, becoming absorbed by them, enquiring or wondering about them or taking any action on what it is you notice. Simply notice.
The three basis zones are:
· Inside You – what are you feeling, experiencing, thinking, simply for a few moments the quieter previously unarticulated thoughts become clearer
· Outside You – your immediate environment, the person or people you are with, reactions, responses, patterns, disturbances, inconsistencies, moods, body language, colours, physical stuff
· Extended Environment – further afield, noises, smells, air movement, passers-by, your inner sensations about the extended environment.
Practicing noticing can lead you to become distracted by them, taking your focus and thinking away from the moment you are in. As your noticing becomes stronger and stronger you will notice and yet remain fully present in your now.
For me this is a crucial skill to constantly develop for coaches, for leaders, and, having written that, realised of course, for all of us!
Practice, practice, practice – soften your gaze, allow your peripheral vision to relax and notice more.
As you become stronger at noticing and remaining detached from that that you notice, your intuition will lap up the feast of gently acquired information, informing you more and more.
This number one skill for the future will help leverage your growth mindset; refine your active listening (hearing more and tuning into subtleties of the unsaid); assist the forming of insightful questions and enhance your psychological safety.
Note - With a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.
Note 2 - Self Awareness is rooted in Curiosity – which will inevitably develop more from noticing and can then lead to a greater connection to others through a greater sense of empathy and understanding of their surroundings.
Note 3 – In contrast to your Noticing Practice is your ability to brilliantly focus on one thought! How fickle our personal evolution can be!
I look forward to welcoming you there to join me on the Notice Board.
Keep it simple
Simon
PS – To practice the noticing zones take a moment to notice 10 things you can see, hear and feel in your environment (that might previously have been outside or at the edge of your awareness). I just noticed two tiles missing from our office roof, the direction of lights that shine on my workspace, the cables that run to and from the surrounding buildings the place people stand when first coming into the office. Letting go of any need to immediately action any of this.
PPS - I’ll explore How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence in later Simple Notes but consider the following as part of your practice:
1. Observe how you react to people
2. Look at your work environment
3. Do a self-evaluation
4. Examine how you react to stressful situations
5. Take responsibility for your actions
6. Examine how your actions will affect others – before you take those actions