Using improv to teach team building, leadership, sales and more, I start every corporate workshop with my three #1s: HAVE FUN, YES AND…, and LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES…
“Listening with your eyes,” better known as Active Listening, is the bedrock of presence and connection. It’s what allows us to stay focused, learn quicker, and be completely in the moment. I tell my students that when you genuinely embrace these three fundamentals, you never have to think in a stressful way. Because you are truly listening and focused, your subconscious mind—your extensive library of observation and experience—becomes instantly more accessible. What often looks like “active thinking” is actually just hesitation that slows down the whole process.
More Than Just Good Communication
But something far more powerful happens when you are operating at that high level of focus and absorption.
YOU become captivating.
It’s an amazing shift. You suddenly hold court without saying a word. YOU are noticed. Your higher level of focus draws focus. You stand out from the crowd. You become inherently interesting.
When you reach out from your inner self to connect—listening not just with your ears, but with your whole body—you become charismatic to others. You are transmitting a high-level signal of presence, and people are unconsciously drawn to it.
The Path to Deeper Focus
This level of embodied focus isn’t a magical skill; it’s a practice.
- Improv helps us achieve this by forcing us to accept and build on the present moment.
- Yoga and other meditative activities train the mind to rest in a state of quiet observation.
- Dance, mime, or martial arts teach us to move through the world with this deeper focus, where action is a direct result of observation, not thought.
The Trait of True Leadership
Think about the great leaders you’ve encountered. They don’t just speak; they absorb.
Good leaders practice this deep listening. Everyone else—the bad boss or the mediocre manager—is just asking you to perform for them. Truly great leaders project a powerful presence and charisma because they are absorbing information, the atmosphere, and the people around them at a higher level. They are modeling the very focus they wish to inspire.
The upside of active listening isn’t just better information intake—it’s magnetic personal presence.
The Benefits of Being Present
As you engage in this practice, you’ll find the benefits ripple through every interaction:
- Enhances Focus and Presence
- Boosts Communication and Connection
- Fosters a Lighthearted Atmosphere
It’s an internal shift that creates an external glow.
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