In my recent post The Ping Pong Effect: Why Teams Need to Keep the Ball in Play, we explored
The importance of building and maintaining a shared understanding
And how, in an era of rapid technological change and high agility team work, it can feel like we’re all playing a never-ending game of ping pong — constant volleys of ideas, information, and problems bouncing back and forth. But what if we paused for a moment? What if, instead of constantly reacting, we started truly listening?
Busy World, Busy Mind
We often hear that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason: to listen more than we speak. But in the workplace, especially in fast-moving projects, we can fall into the trap of prioritizing answers over understanding. True collaboration requires something deeper —active listening — which becomes especially crucial when we’re co-creating solutions with clients.
For me, as someone whose mind constantly buzzes with thoughts and ideas (a trait of ADHD perhaps), I’ve had to learn how to pause, breathe, and switch from “active thinking” to “active listening.”
I use meditation to find a still peaceful place, and as the noise quietens, I recognise, I am focused on the moment, actively feeling what's present (e.g. my heartbeat, my pulse, body tingles, itches) and actively listening to what's here and now (e.g. the sounds of the birds, the wind, the creaks in the pipes). Prior to achieving this state of hyper-focus (another state of mind of being that is often linked with ADHD), I was acutely unaware of all of these things.
But how does this relate to business outcomes?
Pause For More Than Breath
We all love the idea of going fast. In fact, when I was Head of DevOps, I of course encountered the “build, measure, learn” mantra — a concept that drives and celebrates speed and iteration. The faster we can build, the faster we can measure and learn, right? And if things don’t go as planned, we simply agree to fail fast. Fast, fast, fast.
But here’s the thing: going fast in the wrong direction can be just as counterproductive as not moving at all. I began to notice these behaviours within teams, and it struck me that we were often emphasizing pace at the expense of reflection. Sure, we were iterating quickly, but were we actually learning in the right way? Was speed alone getting us closer to where we needed to be?
That’s when I introduced an extra dimension to the cycle — meditation. It was a pretty on brand introduction on my part and was received in good humour but also. real seriousness. Instead of the familiar build > measure > learn, we began promoting build > measure > meditate > learn. Taking a moment to pause and reflect — before rushing to the next step — allowed us to listen more deeply, not only to the data but to each other. It created space for clarity, helping us realign and ensure we were moving in the right direction.
By regularly monitoring soft metrics and discussing at team retrospectives, we found that incorporating mindfulness into the cycle also cultivated better team dynamics. The act of slowing down to listen — not just to metrics, but to human perspectives — transformed the way we collaborated. This really solidified my appreciation of the power of active listening as a leadership tool.
So, while speed has its place, there’s tremendous value in hitting the brakes — creating that pause where true listening, thinking, and collaboration happen. When teams take the time to reflect and listen actively, we unlock deeper insights and more meaningful progress.
The Path to Shared Understanding: The Foundation of Success
When it comes to technology and business, achieving a shared understanding between teams and stakeholders is more than just a nice-to-have — it’s mission-critical. Whether we're navigating sprints or embarking on long-term strategic initiatives, aligning on the challenges and opportunities we face is what makes the difference between success and failure.
At our core, we focus on helping organizations and teams find this alignment through a process that is both human-centric and technology-enabled.
In a world that often prioritizes speed, it’s easy to look for quick-fix, “out-of-the-box” solutions to complex problems. But no two organizations are the same, and no one-size-fits-all solution will work. That’s why we emphasize co-creating solutions with our clients, drawing on methodologies like Lean, Agile and DevSecOps, which depend heavily on collaboration and communication.
Our approach emphasizes discovery, collaborative techniques, and actionable outcomes. But beyond the tools and processes we use, the real magic happens when teams genuinely listen to each other. This is where lasting solutions emerge — when all voices are heard, and when there is a continuous exchange of feedback.
By deeply listening to our clients, we uncover insights that go beyond the surface of the problem. The act of listening — and being listened to — fosters trust and helps shape technology enabled solutions that not only work but also adapt to an ever-changing world.
The Role of Meditation and Mindfulness in Leadership and Collaboration
For me personally, meditation is a crucial practice. It helps me shift from a state of mental ping pong — where my thoughts are bouncing off the walls — to a place of stillness, where I can truly hear and understand both myself and others.
Mindfulness in leadership, especially in tech, can be transformative. When leaders practice active listening, they cultivate environments of empathy, innovation, and trust. And when teams listen to each other, they create the conditions necessary for collaboration that sparks creativity and meaningful solutions.
As you reflect on these ideas, consider how active listening shows up in your own work.
Are you involved in any projects or initiatives that could do with slowing down, stock-taking and re-alignment?
How often do you find yourself genuinely listening, rather than preparing your next response?
How could adopting a listening-first approach unlock new possibilities within your organization?
If you are seriously in need of some help with this and would like to talk it through, feel free to take a breath, and Contact Us.
We'll take be in touch.
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