Last night, my spouse and I were walking by the ocean, flowers blooming in a spectrum of colour. We found ourselves debriefing on something simple, yet vital to our connection years later: how to be present and really listen to each other without interrupting and judgment. I’m grateful we can talk about these things openly with a shared vision. If I’m candid, we’ve worked at it. A lot.

Aren’t our closest relationships some of our greatest teachers? Even though I might do what I get to do in my second act of career, I’m reminded daily that I’m oh-so-humbly human. And sometimes, all it takes is someone close to nudge our best intentions back into view.

This sunny but honest conversation reminded us (yet again LOL): presence is the foundation for deep listening. And deep listening is one of the most generous things we can offer another human being.

For those of us leading teams, presence is more than a personal practice. Presence is a precursor to relational connection rooted in trust.

So, I thought I’d get practical with my fellow leaders in mind and invite your thoughts too!

Five Practical Tips for Presence
• Pause and breathe deeply before responding/reacting
• Put away your phone or laptop, even briefly
• Tune into your senses: sight, sound, feeling
• Listen to understand before you respond
• Drop the narrative and get curious

Why Being Present Matters
• Builds trust and connection
• Reduces mental noise
• Brings you back to what matters in the moment

What Gets in the Way
•  Being hijacked by past or future rumblings
• Tech distractions, hustling to stay on top of it all
• Avoiding discomfort or emotional intensity, a natural response depending on one’s historical and relational context

Being present means noticing what it feels like, recognizing when it slips away and trying again. It’s hard when we’re in overdrive too. Yet sometimes presence begins with a single moment of listening with an open heart and the intention to get it right with a fellow human.

When is your next moment to show someone they matter?

With fervor, always,

Eva