Crazy good listening skills make a good leader?

Proverbs 5:11-14

11and at the end of your life you(O) groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,
12and you say,(P) "How I hated discipline, and my heart(Q) despised reproof!
13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14(R) I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation."

Opening ones eyes, and stepping back from our current point of observations can often times enlighten us to many things we miss... Duh, you might say, but how often do we actually practice this? Do we daily, weekly or even monthly, take the time to look at our surroundings, and imagine how others are perceiving us, rather than how we see ourselves fitting in? I read something today that made me question the above.

“A leader’s communication must e consistent, clear, and courteous. But leaders must also be good listeners… Ultimately, poor listening leads to hostility, miscommunications, and a breakdown of team cohesion. How are your listening skills? Give your self a 360-Degree review. Ask for feedback concerning your ability and willingness to listen from your boss or mentor, your colleagues, and your subordinates. If you don’t get good grades from all of them, then quiet down, listen up and work to become a better communicator.”

-The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork-

How often do we assume we understand what someone means, buy their actions… Because if I acted in such a way it would mean such and such… And there in lies the problem… They are not us, and they don’t necessarily mean what we would when they act in such a way.

I am out of time… Trevor out

Willing... I am.

Now I have a hard time getting up in the morning… It really doesn’t matter what time it is. I have tried repeatedly to start a morning devotional time, but have had little success. I think it is partially due to what I get out of the study times I have had in the early morning… I will sit there and wonder where the pages have gone. I started in Luke 1 and now I am in Luke 4… Not knowing what happened in the mean time… But I am willing to do whatever God asks of me. So after praying about it for a couple of weeks, I decided to act. This thing will always just be an idea if we never make it more than that. God needs us to take action.

A good friend of mine “Steve Erickson” once said, “Truth and action in Christ is a ‘holy knot’, Teaching and doing are a package that must not be separated”.

I have to agree, it is the same way in business. We can have great business plan and ideas, but unless you get out there and take action, it will always be just a plan. Someone has to bring it to life. So Lord. I am willing to do the foot work! More than willing, I am excited and love the Idea of helping further your Kingdome! It is you who will have to bring it to life.

So the first Monday of every month, Lord willing, I will open my office, invite everyone to pray with me.

Mark 14:38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Trevor OUT>