Energizing Meeting - Part 1

"Presence is a state of awareness, in the moment, characterized by the felt experience of timelessness, connectedness, and a larger truth" - Doug Silsbee

How often are we truly present with our coworkers, customers, managers, team? 

Being present with others is a gift. When we listen without thinking of other things, we can be an observer - of ourselves, our racing thoughts, our assumptions, our distractions - dispel the intervening thoughts and be in the moment. 

And, we can be a better observer of the other person - gaining a clearer context of his/her point of view, assumptions, values, questions. 

Our focus is sharper, our questions more insightful, our partnership much stronger. 

Doug spoke at a conference I attended recently.  He invited us to be present.  And, it has been on my mind - a lot! 

Think of what a gift being present is to ourselves and others.  It is going to take more practice for me to 'be' rather than to 'do'. However, it is a gift to be present.

Point and Click

On a recent visit to New York City, I noticed a very simple act of kindness over and over again.  Families, couples, friends from all nations and backgrounds would gather for pictures.  To ensure that the whole group was in the moment, one of two things would happen.  Someone would come up and offer to take the picture. Or, a member of the group would approach a stranger and ask him or her to take it.

Not a big deal - this happens all of the time. 

However, these strangers bonded in the moment.  No language barriers, no bickering about the other's political beliefs.  Just laughter as everyone posed and the photographer figured out the new camera - often taking another 'insurance shot'.  Then the subjects gathered around see the picture. These encounters ended with smiles, thanks, nods, waves.  Brief, fun, open, joyous.

IMAGINE