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July 4. Who To Question, Listen Or Tell?
Are we willing to listen.
Three activities of leaders include listening, talking, and questioning. These are all valuable parts of our world but the most value might come from listening. Listening allows us to move into creative mode. It is a result that requires us to change our perspective.
It causes us to think, evaluate and decide where to move in action. Talking does not necessarily move us. Questioning on the other hand is impactful. It moves others to share information with us and themselves. Next to listening, the questioning skills that we use are powerful when they get in sync to our listening.
Where is there much being spoken about in your week or day? Is there any listening going on there? I am sure that you are in relationships where either listening or questioning can bring some value to them. How would your team react if you listened to them at a deeper level in the second half of the year?
It can take courage to be curious and question others because we do not want to hear of our failures as leaders. Leaders can give themselves too much credit for the results that occur when sometimes it is the alignment of the team that is bringing value.
To get aligned as a team will require all three of the listening, talking and questioning skills. I think the order of importance is probably listening, questioning, and then talking. I am going to deploy some of the listening skills in my relationships this week.
Maybe you and your team might benefit if you deployed either of the concepts. We are blessed to be able to do both as leaders, to question and to listen. Which is your focus going to be more on this week? What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?
““I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”” Acts of the Apostles 25:22 NLT. Festus had a problem, and his problem had a name. It was Paul. Yes, he had Paul imprisoned and did not know what to do about it.
One lesson we can learn from Festus is he began sharing information to listen to others for some assistance and guidance. It is interesting that Agrippa's statement herein does not have a question mark at the end because it is an indirect question.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes it is appropriate to be indirect but often we need to be more direct. But direct does not mean judgmental. When we question, without judgment, we may allow ourselves to listen to what is being shared. Through a shared life with others, we can spread the love of Christ.
That is certainly a benefit of walking in life with Christ. Where have you been talking more than questioning or listening? How might we grow and help others to grow by being curious and listening to our brothers and sisters. Perhaps there is a day of questioning in our future.
That would be a day where every word uttered would be a question. Sounds like a difficult task to achieve. Maybe it could start with just one conversation, just one hour, or just one morning. What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you are always listening. If you are talking all the time, I do not hear you, but I wonder if you do not question us through our consciousness. Help us to love others by questioning them for the purpose of listening, not judging. Help me to listen.
Soften my heart so that I may hear the message that might move us into action. Let the Holy Spirit guide our questions to soften our hearts. Make our questions grow our relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,
