August 13. Speak or Listen?

As an entrepreneur or leader, have you ever been right and being right wound up hurting your value proposition? I don't think that this is uncommon. Our egos want to be right and our brains function under the premise that we are right.

There are many scientific experiments that prove this point. In the next three seconds, think about what year did Abraham Lincoln die? I'll bet that your brain experienced a little stress. Some of you might have googled the answer to get it right. There are a few that even know the answer to which I would ask, why do you know the answer.

Knowing when Abraham Lincoln died has nothing to do with the future success of your team. The only way that answer is relevant to your future is if it applies to your company or your teams why. Let's observe today and highlight where it is that we might be focused on being right.

If we are going to observe this, then let us follow it up with thinking about why it is important. Generally, we get better results when we focus on the why. It seems to me that the most inspirational moments and people knew why they were doing what they did.

What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

As brothers and sisters in Christ we have likely experienced conversations and challenges in our society that are focused on people being right. We have seen challenges among churches about who is right. “That is the right way!” and “That is the wrong way!” are challenges that tend to divide people.

But as leaders, the question we need to start with is our why, Jesus. This is the power behind the question, "What would Jesus do?" We read, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” 1 Corinthians 8:9 NIV.

A focus on rights is not a focus on love. When you look back over the last seven days, can you see frustrations or conflicts that were really based on someone being right? It would provide value to ourselves and the world to be focused on a question first instead of thinking we have the answer.

We can find conflict and frustration around those who always insist that they are right. Value is inherent in questions among our relationships. Will we choose to inspire relationships with questions? Perhaps we still think being right is the most important issue. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, as Creator of everything there is, you are all knowing. You are the one who is right. Amplify our ability to listen instead of making statements. Make the hush of the whispered question be exponentially more powerful than the shouts of our rights.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,