Madi and I were sitting at a light on Normandy and Memorial Park. I looked over at the BP and saw that all the pumps were closed down. There was construction everywhere. We needed gas, so I said, we cant go there it's all tore up! She then turned to me and said, "I think it was the green eyed monster". Again, after being taken back a little, I asked her, "Do you know what the green eyed monster is?". My four year old then turns to me and says, "Yeah, it's like when you want something that someone else has". I was truly amazed at how smart she was. I asked her how'd she get so smart. She said, "Dad, I have big ears!".
I think that is the key to really being smart (I'm not talking about book smarts). Are you listening to what God might be saying to you through others? Too many times we shut people off because we think we know better. I was listening to a message today that was preached a few weeks ago at a church in Texas. This guy was talking about leadership. He said, "True leaders know that they don't know as much as they think they know." Did you get that?? In other words, real leaders know they haven't arrived. They are constantly learning from others.
How do you learn from others?
- Listen more than you speak in a meeting, & take notes!
- Learn from other bloggers...
- Psalm 46:10 - Shut up and be still (tough for me) before God!
- Learn from those who've gone farther than you. Just because they are older doesn't mean they don't have a clue!
- Ask questions (don't argue)
- Get with someone you completely disagree with and just listen!
They key to growing as a leader is to be TEACHABLE. This is something you don't see much of with leaders today, young and old alike. You have never arrived and you never will. I think Jesus wanted it that way. If we have arrived then we stop depending on Him. You can learn something from ANYONE, no matter if you agree with them or not. Does arguing make you smarter?? No, listening does! The best way to learn and grow is to keep your mouth shut and your ears open.
Madi's answer to my question of how she got to be so smart rings true, "I have big ears!"
So, how big are your ears?
2 comments:
Last week when we had a family devotion night we really listened to the kids and their comments about the topic. I was blown away by their knowledge. I need to listen to them more often - but it also cautions me that they indeed are absorbing the lessons around them - good and bad.As parents we need to do "checks" with the kids to see what new they have learned so we can talk about it.
Good stuff Kev. Be humble, hungry and teachable!
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