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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ LEADERSHIP AND LISTENING ~ 30 October 2011
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! ^
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 10/29/2011 5:05:28 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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LEADERSHIP AND LISTENING
"Listen to what I am saying," Job cried out to his "friends" in the biblical story. "That is all the comfort I ask from you. Give me a chance to speak, and then, when I am through, sneer if you like." Job didn't ask for much. But it was more than these colleagues were prepared to offer. Unfortunately, such encounters are far too frequent -- even among those we would expect to care about what we think or feel.
Back in 1989, Admiral Carlisle Trost (then Chief of Naval Operations) asked a group at the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy, "What is it that makes a leader?" His answer: "Communication, effective communication." He went on to assert that "A leader's willingness to listen, and I mean SINCERELY listen, is probably the single most important factor in the morale of a ship, squadron or unit...."
Notice his emphasis on LISTENING rather than conveying information, or persuading, or even negotiating. Steven Covey, in his "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," makes a similar point when he teaches, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Only when we are willing to be influenced, he says, do we give people room to release their fixed positions and consider alternatives.
But how hard that is to put into practice! Isn't our normal reaction to begin framing our response while someone else is still trying to make their point, to defend our own position rather than considering another?
When you consider all the OTHER barriers to communication -- such as differences in personality, temperament, background, training, culture, and sometimes even language -- it's amazing that we are able to communicate at all. Our perspectives are just so different.
Still, we can listen and explore the meaning behind the words. And ask questions rather than simply ask if our remarks are clear. We can ask our listeners to repeat back what we've said in their own words. And we can invite dialogue rather than settle for assumptions. I'm reminded of the old adage attributed to Zeno of Citium some 300 years before Christ: "The reason we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less."
How different the world would be if we all learned the leadership (and relationship) secrets in really listening....and seeking to understand. If Covey is right, we would probably be much more effective. If Admiral Trost is right, we would probably be happier as well. It is something to consider.
Amen.
CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
To: Kathy in Alaska
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good evening Kathy & thank you for chapel. *hugs*
To: Kathy in Alaska
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good evening, Kathy!
*HUGS*
A Blessed Lord's Day to you and thanks very much for tonight's Sunday Chapel thread!
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
6
posted on
10/29/2011 5:10:07 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
God Bless Our Republic
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Prayers going up
7
posted on
10/29/2011 5:10:51 PM PDT
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: AZamericonnie; Jet Jaguar
Just look at you...you beat JJ by 8 seconds for 1st in.
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
8
posted on
10/29/2011 5:13:29 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
Father Of Lies
October 30, 2011
Satans sway over mankind began when he turned the minds of Adam and Eve against God. In order to pull it off, he had to lie to them about Godand they had to fall for it. In that defining moment, he lied to them about Gods goodness, Gods Word, and Gods intentions (Gen. 3:1-6).
Satan is still up to his old tricks. Jesus said that when the devil speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar (John 8:44). It should not be surprising, then, that when trouble interrupts our lives, the father of lies whispers in our ears and suddenly we are questioning Gods goodness. When we are told to follow His commands, we wonder if His Word is really true in the first place. When Jesus tells us things like, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19), Satan tells us that the good life is about piling up things here, causing us to doubt Gods good intentions.
Our problem is that we, like Adam and Eve, believe Satans lies. And when we do, our loyalty to God is compromised. Then our enemy slithers off to his next assignment, leaving us alone to face our regrets and the realization that his lies have seduced us away from our truest and dearest Friend. Who have you been listening to lately?
Satan can catch you by surprise
And stop you in your tracks,
So keep on guard and trust Gods Word,
Resist his strong attacks. Branon
The power of Satan is no match for the power of Gods Word.
Read: John 8:37-47
When [the devil] speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
John 8:44
9
posted on
10/29/2011 5:14:16 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
("If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat" — Ronald Reagan)
To: Jet Jaguar
Sorry bout dat JJ!;-}
To: All
11
posted on
10/29/2011 5:15:30 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; FReepers; y'all
Thank you everyone
for the wonderful
Birthday Wishes
12
posted on
10/29/2011 5:21:50 PM PDT
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: AZamericonnie
To: HopeandGlory
Happy Birthday, Nana Hope!!
Click
14
posted on
10/29/2011 5:28:59 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thanks Kathy . . . just love the Grapes . . . SMILE!
15
posted on
10/29/2011 5:32:22 PM PDT
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; LiteKeeper; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; ...
16
posted on
10/29/2011 5:33:54 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: HopeandGlory
And it’s all edible...and no calories! d:o)
17
posted on
10/29/2011 5:42:34 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; Bethbg79; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Brad's Gramma; laurenmarlowe; ...
18
posted on
10/29/2011 5:49:05 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; Yehuda; Alouette; ...
Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.
19
posted on
10/29/2011 5:49:27 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good Evening everybody!
(((HUGS)))
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