Ever since I started working as an engineer, I would always be impressed by those bosses, managers and technical professionals who are always so sharp at detecting things during presentations or discussions. They would learn about a certain problem statement, idea, proposal, right there and then on the spot, and can immediately ask really good questions, give brilliant suggestions, and, like an eye of an eagle, effortlessly spot out mistakes beyond the trivial comments such as typo or “font too small”.
They would make some out-of-the-box statement completely out of left field, making me wonder, “how on Earth did he think of THAT?!”
These individuals seemed to be the exceptional few, and for the longest time, I used to just assume that this was simply talent. Some people just have it, while the rest of us, me included, we’re just not “gifted” with it. That’s life, right?
But out of my curiosity, I used to always observe these sharp people during meetings, engagements, and presentations, and see what I can learn from them.
I noticed one simple, consistent characteristic they all have in common: a habit of mindfulness and curiosity.
When people speak, they listen, they pay attention, fully present with the genuine desire to understand. They aren’t distracted with browsing their mobile phones or checking their email, waiting for their name to be called out before they say, “I’m sorry, what was the question?”.
They ask questions to learn and understand, putting aside their ego that prevents them from asking “stupid questions”. Sometimes, when they spot mistakes, it’s not because they are ‘hunting for faults’, but rather, because something came in the way of their understanding.
They behave in this manner enough times, until it eventually becomes a habit. When it becomes a habit long enough, they eventually get exposed to so many different presentations, that they start to draw patterns, and from there, they can make intelligent suggestions from other sessions. Over time, the more mindful they are, the sharper they get. The better their questions. The cooler they become.
It’s interesting to note, that those out-of-the-box statements don’t happen all the time. But because those moments feel so subconsciously impactful, they leave a lasting impression. "They must be some kind of genius"
If anything, though, this observation gives me hope: Perhaps, being ‘sharp’ isn’t about having the ‘gift’ of being sharp. It’s about cultivating a habit of making a choice to be present, and a choice to ignore distractions.
The other way around, also holds true: When we make the choice to ‘zone out’ or drift away from meetings, being distracted by our mobile phones, or doing other stuff while our virtual meeting plays off in the background, over time, that too also becomes a habit that makes us less and less effective in meetings. A habit that, if not kept in check, can also make us a useless presence altogether.
And if this “drifter” habit is practiced by multiple people in the same meeting, this is often what results in meetings becoming a “waste of time” because everybody is only present by name only: but not in mind. And haven’t you been in those meetings? So many people, yet so little input and participation.
Nobody is perfect, of course. Even the sharp guys will get distracted every once in a while, and you can tell that when they are, that’s when they don’t contribute much. But when they are back in the zone, you can tell: they’re back in the zone. And the more they keep it up, the sharper they get.
What do you think? Can sharpness be developed? Any other ideas how we can develop this cool trait?
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