Presence is scarce, so it stands out: phone away, let AI take notes, listen without preparing a reply, ask one more follow-up, let pauses sit.
The idea
Technology is fighting for our attention everywhere, from restaurants to meetings to time with our kids, so presence is getting scarce, and scarce things become valuable. I call it the presence advantage. If AI can handle remembering what was said, let it, and put your own attention on the person in front of you. Most people won't, which is why it stands out.
How to do it
At your next meeting, let the AI take the notes.
Put your phone away (not even face down).
Look at the person, listen without preparing your response, and notice when their energy changes.
Ask the extra follow-up question, and let a pause sit instead of filling it.
Every once in a while, ask yourself: Am I actually here?
Example
I don't take notes in meetings anymore. One AI tool records Zoom and another records in person, and they capture the key points and action items. Being present was already one of my intentions for 2024; the recorders made it easier to keep.
Relatable: My recorders pipe their notes into Relatable so the details land on the right person while I stay in the conversation. Any recorder plus wherever you keep notes does the same job. How-to: Bring meeting notes in with a meeting recorder.
Related frameworks
Listen With Your Eyes: In important conversations, split your attention between words and body language. Practice by guessing strangers' emotional states in a coffee shop.
Notes the Recorder Can't Take: Let AI keep the transcript, then spend two minutes on four questions: how you feel, when their energy shifted, your energy, what to remember.
What Never to Outsource to AI: Let AI draft, summarize and suggest who to contact, but never let it handle your inner circle, emotional messages, introductions, or who deserves your attention.
The Human Premium: As AI floods every channel, trusted human relationships become the main filter for attention. When you can't trust the channel, you trust the person.