The simple habit that can make you more magnetic at work

The people who command a room aren’t just interesting, they’re fully present.

That allows them to notice how people are reacting and to make those around them feel they have their full attention.

To be present during important interactions, you need to first get focused before you arrive.

That means you can’t be thinking about your to-do list, your last meeting, or what comes after.

Pamela Meyer, author of “How to Read the Room,” said taking time to reduce “cognitive load” before a meeting can help you stay focused and engaged during the interaction.

A study of more than 1,600 people involving five listening experiments, published in “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,” found that when people were genuinely listened to, they felt closer and more connected to the listener.

That’s what being magnetic is about: Making others feel seen by giving them your full attention.

Meyer recommends a quick pre-arrival exercise to help you better prepare for an interaction where you need to be fully present called PAM: Purpose.

First, purpose: Decide on one thing you want to accomplish.

Second, attention: Put away your phone and clear the mental and digital distractions competing for your attention.

Finally, modulate: Take three breaths and think about the energy you want to bring into the room.

People will feel drawn to you when they feel like way you’re paying attention to them.

This insight is drawn from Business Insider’s reporting on Pamela Meyer’s book, “How to Read the Room.” Read more in Business Insider’s Ana Altchek’s story here.