Beyond Active Listening: Why Presence Watching and Listening Matters More Than Ever

👀 Are We Watching—or Just Capturing? By Lloyd at L2M

At a recent football match, I caught myself doing something familiar recording clips of my son, taking pictures, updating family and friends. After all, it’s what many of us do. We want to celebrate moments and share the joy with others.

But then I paused and thought: What am I actually capturing and what am I missing?

That question hit hard. Because in the act of recording for others, I realised I wasn’t fully present myself. I wasn’t truly watching I was documenting. And that same pattern shows up in so many areas of life: in meetings, in coaching sessions, in conversations.

We might be seeing, but not really watching. Listening, but not truly hearing.There but not really here.

🎯 What Are We Missing?

In our effort to capture or respond, we often miss the nuance:

• The drop in tone when someone says, “I’m fine.”

• The uncertainty in a child’s eyes before they take a shot.

• The body language that signals disengagement or stress in a team meeting.

These micro-moments hold meaning. They’re what we, as coaches, leaders and parents, need to notice in order to give accurate feedback, offer support or create growth opportunities.

And yet, if we’re mentally preparing our reply, capturing for socials, or multitasking, we lose those cues entirely.

🔁 From the Sidelines to the Office

This isn’t just a “parent at the pitch” issue it’s everywhere.

In leadership:

• Are we truly reading the room in meetings?

• Are we picking up what’s not being said?

In coaching:

• Are we noticing our client’s shifts in energy?

• Are we catching that slight hesitation when they say they’re “on track”?

In parenting:

• Are we observing our children’s patterns, tone and mood or just waiting to correct or celebrate them?

True connection and impact is enhanced with what we notice beyond the obvious.

🧠 Beyond Active Listening: Presence as a Leadership Skill

We’ve been taught to develop active listening. But what about active watching?

And what if both are part of something deeper?

🔑 Presence is the real skill. It’s what makes us better coaches, sharper leaders and more attuned human beings.

Presence is not a buzzword. It’s not passive. It’s a deliberate, embodied state of attention + intention.

And like any high-impact skill, it can and must be practised.

💡 Reflective Questions for Coaches & Leaders

As you move through your next conversation, match, or meeting, pause and ask:

• Am I present or just performing presence?

• What non-verbal signals am I noticing?

• What might I be missing?

• What feedback could I offer if I truly saw what was happening?

You might be surprised at the richness of what’s always been there just beyond the surface.

🛠️ L2M Coaching: Helping You Lead with Presence

At L2M Coaching & Mentoring, we work with leaders, coaches, and parents to build:

• Greater emotional intelligence

• Stronger observation and feedback skills

• And deeper relational presence in every area of life

Because true leadership isn’t about performing. It’s about noticing, understanding, and responding with presence.

📞 Ready to Reclaim Presence in Your Leadership or Coaching?

Let’s work together to turn presence into your superpower.👉 Book a session👉 Explore our leadership & coaching tools👉 Join the L2M Leadership Circle

“Presence isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being fully here.” Lloyd, L2M Coaching & Mentoring