It’s always there, coming with the signal we are listening out for. If we do not focus on the signal, the noise might lead us astray, and we might even forget why we’re engaging the signal in the first place, or our job is delayed.

On the other hand, the noise might be telling us some things we ought to know. Things about the signal and the context that are useful for our purpose.

So we need to be present in the conversation, but also maintain awareness of the noises, both internal and external.