Zach Mercurio’s article, “The Power and Urgency of Noticing,” argues that in today’s disengaged workplace, noticing—the intentional act of making people feel seen and valued—is one of the most critical leadership skills. Amid declining employee engagement and rising feelings of invisibility and neglect, Mercurio emphasises that truly seeing others is a prerequisite for trust, motivation, and performance.
In the Diamond Model of Shared Leadership ™ developed by TeachingHorse, one of the core leadership capabilities is attention. Attention is not just cognitive focus—it’s the ability to notice self, others, and the environment in real time, with awareness and intention.
In the Diamond Model, shared leadership is dynamic and responsive, not hierarchical or fixed. Attention enables this responsiveness by allowing leaders at all levels to:
- Perceive shifts in the environment.
- Adapt to changing needs.
- Support others in stepping into leadership roles when the moment calls for it.
Just as horses in a herd are constantly attuned to one another and their surroundings, Mercurio’s findings show that teams respond and perform best to leaders who notice first, act second. This ensures leadership is grounded in real-time relational intelligence.
Noticing is the behavioural expression of attention. It is not passive —it is an active skill. By noticing ourselves, others, and our environment with intention and care, we enable meaningful connection, situational awareness, and adaptive leadership.
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