Paying attention, why is so important as an employee

From the sum of qualities an employer seeks in an employee I think the most overlooked is ‘paying attention’, one small thing that can set apart someone as a valuable member of a team. If you haven’t noticed already in your team/company, usually the colleagues that are not paying attention are also the ones not doing their job very well.

Of course paying attention doesn’t make you competent, but helps you understand things better, makes the boss happy as he doesn’t have to repeat himself a few times till you understand what you have to do and helps you learn from what others are doing and saying to you.

At least try and focus on 'paying attention'

Not paying attention makes you look incompetent, not interested in your job/assignment and maybe a little stupid if you say ‘I understand’ and then act like you’re from another planet. Also you’ll never get a promotion in a position where responsibility is needed as you’ll never qualify as such a person.