Before You Speak…
The past week has continued to be challenging for me, and dare I say for so many in the world. I have found myself saddened by world events, challenged by the perspectives of others, called forth by those seeking leadership from me specifically, and curious about what will emerge when all is said and done. Rest assured; something WILL emerge.
Current world events are fuelling a fire in the belly of many; the fire is simultaneously pushing and inviting folks to speak -- to speak in support of change, to speak and draw attention to injustices, to speak and question how things might be different.
Sometimes, speaking is welcomed; sometimes, it is not. And as I myself have been navigating my way forward, figuring out when and where and how to speak, I’ve been hyper-aware of a critical action that is a necessary precursor to speaking with effective impact: listening.
I feel like I have spoken a lot in the last two weeks. For the record, writing is a form of “speaking” as far as I’m concerned. Speaking, after all, is about giving form to thought. Verbal form is one way of speaking; written is another.
Every time I have spoken, my words have been far more impactful (and aligned with my intention) when I have taken the time to listen first. Inherent in that listening is thinking and understanding. Really listening to what is happening and being said around me, thinking about all of that, clarifying my understanding and then speaking in response. The word “response” here is intentional. Responding is different from reacting. The former has intention and an element of understanding built into it. Reaction? Not so much.
The idea of listening (and by extension thinking) before you speak applies to interactions in all walks of life. As you navigate your workplace, your home life, your relationships with loved ones, building your listening muscle will go a long way to facilitating interactions that are productive. Moreover, such interactions will in turn help to move things forward. And no matter what you’re engaged in, some level of forward movement is the desired outcome.
Bottom-line: it’s time we all start listening more. It’s time for us to speak, too; however, before we speak, let’s learn to listen. As we listen to one another, we will find our way forward, together. And togetherness is what the world needs right now.