Attention Management

Attention management is the skill of directing the room's focus, and it starts with your own mouth.

Leaders who lead from any seat do not talk more. They talk more deliberately. A strong contribution does one of three jobs: it moves the discussion forward, it clears up confusion, or it surfaces something everyone missed.

So run a quick check before you speak: does this do one of those three things? If not, hold it. Words that always land come from people who spend attention carefully, because the room's focus is a limited budget.