the power of intentional observation

We all talk about managing and leading a lot. Time and time again we talked about the need to observe what is going on being a vital piece of being able to manage and lead.

But I would guess like most people we have not thought much about observing. We go around and we look and see what we see and that is observing …right? Of course it isn’t but it is what we all do most of the time.

But imagine if we went out specifically looking for one thing, one behavior and keyed in on that for 15 minutes. Imagine the feedback and coaching you could give your people with that kind of focus. With those observations you have data to make a change and an improvement. Without you are (pun intended) flying blind.

Observation is a critical component of leading people but it is a skill we do not think about, practice much or try to hone. Take a few moments and practice. Go out and look for triangles. Walk into a room and take 5 minutes and then try to write down everything you remember. Listen for a specific word in a conversation. Look for a specific behavior and see how many times it comes up in 10 minutes.

All of these tools can help us practice become more intentional (and therefore better) observers. And if we can improve our skills at observation, we can get better results from ourselves and our teams. In short, focusing on your observations skills will just make you better. So think about how you want to practice observation, what you would like to track on, and then it is time to get ready, take aim and focus. Happy hunting.