The Art of the Listening Heart
If I am going to lead others I must connect with them. Listening is connecting. Connecting is the key to influencing. Influencing is leading. If I don’t listen then I don’t connect and I won’t lead.
Vision, integrity, articulation, courage, and a thick skin—all are the basic requirements for leadership. Other requirements could be added; for the follower of Christ, godliness is essential. Whether in government, business, education, ministry, or the home, these six traits form the foundation of successful Christian leadership. These qualities do not come through osmosis but through disciplined study and practice, often marked by failure. However, the greatest leaders are not deterred by hardship and failure. Theirs is a high calling with deep responsibility.
If you are in a position of leadership—and chances are good that you are—you may need to sharpen your vision for the future, strengthen your integrity, and find new sources of courage. Insight for Living, by introducing you to godly leaders of the past, is committed to encouraging you in this pursuit, as well as challenging you to grow in godliness.
If I am going to lead others I must connect with them. Listening is connecting. Connecting is the key to influencing. Influencing is leading. If I don’t listen then I don’t connect and I won’t lead.
What I saw missing from my ministry was balance. While it was important for me to be there when someone needed me, it was also important for me to spend time alone with God because I needed Him.
Call me old-fashioned or idealistic, but my passionate plea is that we restore the importance of character. It’s been buried long enough.
Just as a family works best when there is harmony and co-operation, so does a congregation.
The Bible is full of men and women who dreamed dreams and saw visions. But they didn't stop there. They had faith, they were people who saw the impossible, and yet their feet were planted on planet earth.
With the confidence and deliberateness of a veteran returning to the heat of battle, the seasoned warrior tightened the belt on his toga and took charge. He covered every base necessary for quality communication.
Nothing—absolutely nothing—pulls a team closer together or strengthens the lines of loyalty like love. It breaks down internal competition. It silences gossip. It builds morale.
Let’s say you’re a patient about to undergo major surgery. Just before they wheel you in, the doctor blurts, “You know, I’ve never actually done surgery before…but hey, we’ll give it the ol’ college try.” How would you respond?
This life transforming integrity is implanted by sincere faith in God and inspired by embracing His Word. In his psalm I call the Psalm of Integrity (Psalm 15), David lays out four ways integrity is revealed in our lives.