Beyond Active Listening: Why Presence—Watching and Listening—Matters More Than Ever
LM
Lloyd Munyaviri
EMCC Accredited Coach
By Lloyd at L2M Coaching & Mentoring | www.L2MCoaching.com 👀 Are We Watching or Just Capturing? At a recent football match, I caught...
👀 Are We Watching or Just Capturing?
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 there.
🎯 What Are We Missing?
In our effort to capture or respond, we often miss the nuance:
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 social, or multitasking, we lose those cues entirely.
🔁 From the Sidelines to the Boardroom
This isn’t just a “parent at the pitch” issue it’s everywhere.
In leadership:
In coaching:
In parenting:
True connection and impact lies in 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 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:
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:
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
Reading creates awareness. Coaching creates lasting change. Book a free 30-minute conversation to explore what this could look like in your specific situation.
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