First of all, is that a pertinent question? If you don't notice that you're missing details or confusing details then perhaps there is no need to improve your attention to detail. If other people are not pointing out attention-to-details errors and blaming you for them, perhaps you don't need to worry about improving your attention to detail. On the other hand, if you are noticing you are making attention-to-detail errors or if other people are telling you you're making attention-to-detail errors then perhaps you need to spend a little time to figure out how to improve your performance.

It makes sense that the first step should be to objectively analyze your own performance and consider, as objectively as you can, what other people are saying about your performance. Determine whether or not you have an attention to detail problem.

Should you determine that you do have an attention to detail problem and that you truly are interested in improving to reduce that problem then a good first step is to "get present".

Getting present is a way of determining whether or not you have the ability to focus on the here and now, rather than worrying about things from the past or the future, and whether or not you have the ability to focus and concentrate on the single task.

For many, if not most people, truly focusing on a single task is a very difficult thing to do. Many diverse and virtually uncontrollable thoughts pass through your mind on a repeated basis. It is very difficult for most people to filter out those random thoughts and focus on a single item or task. Many people have trouble concentrating thought, effort, and action on more than a single task. For this reason, most experts on performance improvement will tell you to refrain from multi-tasking. Concentrate on single things to the full extent that's possible. Avoid distractions and interruptions.  As you work to concentrate on a single task you will notice when your ability to concentrate is wavering. Also, you will be able to quickly tell when you are experiencing wayward thoughts not related to the task. The more frequently those thoughts arrive the less your ability to concentrate.

Wayward thoughts are signals you can tune into in order to help you understand whether or not you are actually succeeding at paying attention to details.

This is a broad and deep thought wrapped up in a cliché.

This statement holds true when applied to the universe.

This statement holds true when applied to human relationships.

This statement is as profound as it appears trite.

It's about our consciousness creating the universe around us.

It's about our bad habits clouding our perspectives.

It's about an amazing gift - pattern recognition...and it's about its nemesis, false pattern recognition.

Recently, after reading one of my posts, a new acquaintance wrote to me and said, "You must love words".

That got me thinking.

Yes, of course, I do love words.

Our English language is ripe with interesting twists and turns and full of humour...humour laced with curious surprise.

I love to read words.

I love to write words.

But, most of all, I love to think about words.

That will probably surprise many people because I expect many people perceive me as more of a talker than a thinker.

What's worse, most people probably perceive me as a complainer, possibly a rather pessimistic person. Naturally, I have a much kinder opinion of myself. I consider myself to be more of a thinker than, say, a constant complainer. That is not to say I do not express objections rather regularly. (so much for whatever that rule means about 'no double negatives')

I have learned to free up time to listen to most [but not all] people who complain. Usually, where there's smoke there's fire. And, where there's fire a spark is likely to be lurking nearby. And we all know sparks ignite.

And sometimes sparks ignite change for the better.

I wouldn't want to be blind to those sparks.

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Curiosity uncovers problems.

Complaints are, at their roots, statements of problems.

Problems are wonderful routes to opportunities.

P=2S+O

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It's attitude that counts most. 

Problems uncovered with a spirit of adventure are valuable enough to excuse the complaints that carry them.

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Don't shoot the messenger until you've at least had a chance to see the opportunity.