Everyone who has worked an office job has experienced it: that terrible moment mid-meeting when the senior decision maker stops paying attention.
It could be because they just got a heart-stopping email from their own boss. It could be because they’re still mentally tied up in a terrible meeting about something completely different that just ended two minutes ago. Or it could be that they just realized they need to place their lunch order now to receive it and wolf it down before their 3p.m.
Whatever the reason, that glazed-over or distracted look in the eyes of a decision maker is the death knell for any kind of proposal that requires engagement, buy-in, and sign-off.