What?

"The first duty of love is to listen."
-Paul Tilich, Theologian

 

Did you know it's impossible to listen to someone without using your eyes? 

Communication scholars estimate that as much as 93% of communication happens SEPARATE FROM the words we speak. Over 50% of the message is comprised of visual components - body language, posture, eye contact, facial expression. The rest of the communication message is comprised of tone of voice and inflection. Without looking at the speaker, you miss more than half of what they're trying to share with you.

This presents some serious questions worthy of a leader's intentional consideration. 

How often, truly, do you look at the person speaking to you and "listen" to what they are telling you with their body? Are they nervous? Ashamed? Over-confident or boastful? Doubting themselves? Doubting you?

Can you truly and fully listen to someone while looking at your phone, regardless of what you're doing on it?

Does a person feel heard if you don't look up from your computer when they ask you a question?

As a leader of your family, how confident are you that you are performing your "first duty of love" effectively and intentionally?

I challenge you this week to make it a point to REALLY listen every time someone is speaking to you. Put down the phone, close the computer, look and listen to the whole message - don't settle for half. Make it a practice and a discipline to fully listen to those you lead and to those you love. You will be astounded at the difference in the way they follow as you work hard to develop the way you lead. 

Lean forward, 
Bekka