Sorry, I
wasn’t paying attention - www.amtech.net
By James
Dodwell – Hammers of Hope Good Morning,
I want to apologize up front for not keeping everyone
updated. I was thinking about it recently and was going to say something a few
days ago but it completely slipped my mind. I just forgot, it happens as we get
older, we start to say something, then a bird flies by the window, we get
distracted, our conversation ebbs then the subject gets changed and we find
ourselves just rambling on and on about nothing. Kind of like now, but I am
doing it to make a point, or am I? What I want to tell you is there are only
198 shopping days left until Christmas. There now, aren’t you glad you know
that little tid-bit of information so you can get your shopping started? Sure
you are.
I don’t like to admit it but my mind wanders on occasions
when I should be listening to a person discussing an issue, telling me about
something important to them or just catching up on what has been happening in
their lives. Usually, I am sitting quietly facing them, nodding or shaking my
head in agreement or disagreement as the person speaks so the person will think
I am paying attention. When in reality my mind is blank canvas and their words
fall on deaf ears. It is not very polite or professional; we should always take
time to listen intently when others respect us enough to share something
important to them or come to us for advice.
When others come to us to have a conversation, they view us
as a mentor, a leader, a problem-solver, a confidant and friend. It is our
responsibility to show respect and honor for these “titles” placed upon us by
them. We are not gifted these “titles”, we earn them with our actions and
reactions to events experienced in our life and we communicate these in our
daily walk through our encouraging words, our helping hands, our character, our
integrity, all rolled into a caring individual with knowledge and wisdom to
pour into the lives of others. We as leaders are reminded the gift to be able
to offer others hope and assist them with their walk is a privilege that should
not be taken lightly and should always, always be used to teach and educate,
not ridicule or criticize.
Relationships and leadership are married together and cannot
be divorced. We as leaders must learn to relate to people based on a decision,
not a reaction. Ultimately, we must love people regardless of what they can
give in return. We as leaders must not treat a rich person better than a poor
person. Love must be given unconditionally. This isn’t saying we must treat
everyone the same, what it is saying is that we must relate to each individual based
on his or her inward gifts, not outward gifts. We as leaders must identify
talents and gifts in others, and then place the individuals in a position to
encourage them to use their gifts in order to reach their potential.
If a leader has an issue with loving people and reaching
people then that leader has to learn to love them based on an unconditional
decision. Look toward the positive aspects of the individual, learn to accept
where they are in life and lean into them as you pour into their life. When it
comes to filling positions and find someone for certain tasks, place them
according to their giftedness. A person’s life passion may not be their gift,
it is their passion. Look for the thing they do without much effort, the thing
they can’t stand by and watch while it is being done or something they are the
first to volunteer to tackle. This is their area of giftedness and strength.
We as leaders must provide recognition to others. We must
recognize everyone’s value and contribution. We must communicate it publically
not in a bragging way but in a way that honors them and what they do. We as
leaders must provide affirmation. This needs to be done based on the needs of
the individual. Some people need affirmation others don’t but everyone likes to
know you care. It goes along with the saying, “People don’t care how much you
know until they know how much you care.”
I encourage all of us today to be a mentor, leader, and
teacher for others with our walk and our talk. We must understand that to
connect with others hearts we must use our ears. Good leaders motivate others
by their listening skills and then acting on what they hear. It will make a
difference and add value to others and to us. James 2:1-9
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