Attention to Detail Matters at Work

What is attention to detail and why is it important in business?

Attention to detail is what separates the average employee from the outstanding employee. Employers are looking for candidates who can spot the small intricacies of producing comprehensive and accurate work. This could mean noticing a single misspelling in a sea of ​​words or remembering a client mentioning an upcoming birthday. Whatever form it takes, attention to detail requires active listening, close observation, and patience.

How to assess your attention to detail

Use these five reflective questions to help you assess your attention to detail.

1. Do I usually think about the big picture or the details?

If you’re a “big thinker,” you probably think about a problem by thinking about its key elements, such as what caused the problem and how to address it. It is likely that you generate ideas and are future-oriented when it comes to making decisions. In contrast, the “detail-oriented thinker” is more likely to consider and produce the finer points of an issue the reasons. Both perspectives can be helpful. What type are you?

1. Did my previous jobs require attention to detail?

Which, if any, of your previous roles required you to focus on features or subtle facts? Perhaps you worked in the kitchen and had to follow the intricacies of a recipe or worked in software development, which required you to spot minor glitches in computer software. Basically, all jobs require some level of attention to detail, but if your business relies on them in particular, you may have already acquired this skill.

1. What kind of feedback do I usually receive from employers, friends or family?

Self-evaluation is often supported by the comments of others. Think of three to five people in your circle who have made comments about your attention to detail. Are you known for being thorough and accurate or have reliable sources reported that your findings tend to be vague or unclear? If you don’t receive feedback, it’s okay to ask.

1. Am I having difficulty exercising patience, or is it normal for me?

Do you take your time in your work or do you rush it? While making a decision, do you take a moment to think about your next move or do you act quickly? Examining the details takes time, the more patience you have, the more time you give yourself to absorb and retain the details. Considering your patience level will help you assess your skills.

1. Am I in tune with myself?

Humans are complex creatures. From our emotions to our goals and everything in between, complications abound! Exploiting your feelings helps build self-awareness, enabling you to pay closer attention to a client’s tone of concern or the small amount that is blowing the department’s budget. When you ask if you are in tune with yourself, you are also asking if you have the ability to be in tune with the details of your daily life, including work.

How to improve your skills

Attention to detail doesn’t have to come naturally to you until you master it! Build the skill using these 3 steps:

Active listening is an accurate and deliberate way of hearing people. Practice by removing distractions to give your full attention to the speaker, restating the speaker’s main points to check your understanding, and allowing the speaker to finish their thoughts without interruption. You can read more about active listening here.

Each week, make time for activities such as jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and crossword puzzles. Each one of these requires you to pay close attention and notice details. For a more hands-on activity, you can start knitting or sewing to build your skills.

Stay on top of your needs throughout the day to ensure you can do your best work. It could be as simple as taking a stretch break or making a list of things you need to do after work. You might be surprised how checking in with yourself helps you to be more aware of the needs of others, which increases your interest in detail skills.