Learning to Listen to the Environment

Another way to improve your awareness is to pay attention to the environment in which you live and work. To gather information about the environment is more than just physical, but also the conditions that influence how people behave. Do you ever take time to notice the physical space in which you and others reside and work? Take time to scan the environment to pick up clues that affect you and the other people. Here are four ways to identify things in the environment which might benefit from change. 

1. Change your approach. If you always just respond via email, take time to pick up the phone and talk to people. Often people just text or use email when it would be easier overall to pick up the phone and have a short conversation that allows both parties the opportunity to ask questions for clarity. 

2. Walk to places you normally would not, as you will be amazed at what you notice that you would have otherwise missed. Also, change your route when you walk and see what you notice. 

3. Take note of the space at work or at home. Is it utilized in the best way? Does your work or home have a positive feeling? Are there ways you can alter the environment which will help you and others be more effective and feel better about being there? Even a change in lighting can improve the way an environment feels. 

4. Get organized. One of the most frequent goals at the beginning of the year is to become more organized. Organization can go a long way to help you get what you want. All too often people do not feel they have time to organize and that is when “chunking” comes in. While working at GM, I wanted to organize my desk and made that a goal. Six weeks later nothing had been accomplished because of what I was working on. It was while on hold that I decided to start with one drawer. I then divided the task into mini-tasks and by the end of the week my desk was completed.  

The key is to carve out time to work on these things so you can become more aware of the environment in which you live and work. Small changes can have a substantial impact. Self-awareness is a key foundation to help you achieve any goal you choose.