How to be More Invested in Conversations
In the age of digital distraction, our attention gets pulled away so quickly and so often. This, often, means that we don’t truly engage in the moment because our brain is trying to do so many things at once, and we start losing quality. This is an issue I have seen in others and within myself that I would love to address.
In my mind, someone that masters this is Gary Vaynerchuk. Something I admire about Gary is the way that he can take the time to connect with people on an individual basis. And when he does connect with them, they have his undivided attention, which you can tell means the world to everyone he interacts with.
I want to point out a few things that Gary does that will help us all be more invested in everything we do.
- He is a great active listener. He gives acknowledging feedback at the end of each thought, helping the speaker to believe that their message was heard. It makes the conversation much more efficient and poignant.
- He limits technology use around others. Before an interview or meeting, you see him doing his thing on his phone, but then before he starts he puts his phone away and enters the conversation completely.
- When he is on his phone or busy doing something else, he is not shy to ask someone to repeat themselves. In doing this, you know that he cares about everything you have to say and wants to make sure he doesn’t miss a word.
While Gary is criticized for interrupting people and speaking over others in conversation, there is no denying that he is 100% invested!
