Being Attentive in the Classroom

Being attentive is critical when running an organization. We are all busy, and sometimes our attention spans are shorter than they should be. But our customers expect us to be attentive, and they expect us to react quickly to their needs. A "wow" client will want to hear your attention and respond immediately.


Paying attention to the client and being attentive in the moment is critical to building trust and a positive relationship. A key ingredient to developing a "wow" client is your ability to be attentive, to actively listen to the client and address the problem-solving needs as they arise. Customers need to be attentive throughout every interaction with the company, otherwise there is a disconnect in terms of what the client is saying, as well as non-verbal and verbal cues that can send the message that you aren't paying attention. And this disconnect can impact not only your own mindset about being attentive, but it can impact the attitude of your employees toward you.

Customers pay attention to what they're told, as well as how they're told it. They also expect the people they interact with to be attentive, to notice them, to treat them with respect, to communicate clearly and honestly, to make eye contact, to use appropriate language, to consider their feelings or motivations, to listen and address their concerns in a courteous and respectful manner, and so forth. So how do you cultivate this kind of attitude in your workplace? How do you make sure that everyone in your organization is paying attention? The following tips describe a few techniques for teachers of organizational behavior in the workplace.

When teaching attentive listening skills, the most effective technique is to use the same words, phrases, or sentences time and again. If you repeatedly say "Yes" or "That's right" when someone asks for your opinion, they'll think you're accommodating and are there to serve them. However, if you use synonyms for those words (good for these synonyms is "very," "fine," "great," "nice," and so on) you will communicate a different meaning. For example, "I very much appreciate your suggestion about having a meeting after lunch." Rather than saying "Thank you" or "That's great," the receiver will think that you're agreeing to an appointment and that you agree to meet with them at the earliest available time even if it's only for a coffee break.

It takes some effort and practice, but becoming aware of which synonyms for "attentive" are appropriate in your office will go a long way to ensuring that your staff uses appropriate attitudes when dealing with you. Another good tip for teachers of attentiveness in the workplace is to think of everyday activities as opportunities to teach students how to be attentive. For example, greet each other with a smile and a hello rather than a handshaking. When addressing teachers in the classroom, address them by their name, even if they are younger than the children.

Facial expressions are among the most important ways to communicate effectively. People with poor listening and speaking skills also have poor eye contact and body language. Learning how to properly communicate with your students can be a great way to make sure that they learn quickly and retain what they've learned. Using facial expressions and appropriate body language is an excellent way for teachers to make their students feel confident that they're making the right statements.

Teachers should also pay attention to the way they speak when they're trying to improve their attentiveness. Instead of saying "You're such an ADHD fan" when answering the teacher's question, use "You seem quite interested in our discussion." Instead of repeating yourself when the teacher says, "You can't understand what I'm talking about," consider asking the teacher, "Is there anything I can do to help you understand?" In short, teachers should be careful not to sound as though they are repeating everything the student says. This could be seen as disrespectful, especially if they're responding to a question the student has asked.

Of course, it's not easy being an attentive teacher. Students are extremely distracted by many outside noises, which makes perfect sense given the fact that many people have such busy lives. However, by paying attention when students aren't paying attention to them, teachers can help their students develop excellent listening and speaking skills that will benefit them throughout their academic careers and future careers. Educators have a lot to gain from using good, old-fashioned attentiveness when teaching, whether they're working with individual students or entire teaching classes.