FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ LEADERSHIP AND LISTENING ~ 25 August 2024

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

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 we can 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. Something to consider...

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sorry about the wrong post. I got my days mixed up!

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ LEADERSHIP AND LISTENING, and Liberty

Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.



Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

[lightman]

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way.

A blessed Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox) to all!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

And a blessed Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox).

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

I didn’t go into the office today (and barely get home in time to post the Sunday Chapel) and set up and posted the wrong thread. *sigh* At least the job I’m working on at home is going well and almost done before I start the next.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine
feel alone or forgotten.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is loving kindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

[luvie]

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the
Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

Providence~O Come Angel Band

Providence~Thomas's Song

Providence~Farther Along

Providence~He'll Understand And Say Well Done

Providence~I'm Telling The World About His Love

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

Providence~Mansion, Robe and Crown

HAVE A BLESSED LORD'S DAY!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

After the week you just had, I think you can be excused easily for the little snafu. LOL

Get those two jobs knocked out tonight and early tomorrow so you’ll have a free evening to look forward to!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Are they still calling for lower temps there tomorrow?
I noticed that whole “dome” of heat is moving northward, which is weird. I guess it’ll move eastward Monday, which is when the excessive heat hits around here. Today was just typical August-hot.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Yeah, lowered to 97 instead of being 102 like it was today. I’m not impressed. It’ll be better by Monday, when the high is supposed to be “only” 94. And the nights will be a bit cooler, which makes it even better. It’s still 93 here...and 69 there. Even with the humidity, that sounds wonderful.

Hope it doesn’t get too hot for you next week. I’d hate for you to have what we have. Yuk!

[radu]

Hey, any reduction is going the right direction. LOL Every degree counts.

It wasn’t too humid today but there wasn’t any breeze like there was yesterday. One of Hubby’s buddies came by this afternoon and it was a little uncomfortable on the patio while he was here. I don’t know him all that well so I wasn’t going to invite him into the house.
It’s very humid now but it always gets that way at night due to the heavy dewfall.

It won’t get as hot here next week as you’ve had to deal with but it’s going to be toasty. How toasty remains to be seen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Extra prayers for Israel...

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Sunday afternoon and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

We did an early trip to Comanche Lake yesterday. It felt nice then.

We will be doing another early trip to the lake today due to a Heat Advisory.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Nice to hear the EARLY morning outings have turned out to be pleasant. Gizmo’s face has a happier look, for sure.

[E.G.C.]

He sure does. I think it’s supposed to cool off later this week so we might be able to go back to afternoon lake visits.

[luvie]

You’re right about that. Any downward movement in heat is a plus, and I’ll take it. Soon this will be over. Just how soon is the question.

I hope you don’t have to try to get out and mow next week with it so hot. That would be miserable.

Anyhow....Guess I’d best go and try to sleep. Thing is, I’m just not sleepy yet. It’s annoying. LOL! See ya tomorrow!

[radu]

You’re overdue for the break next week. It’s been rough over there.

That mess is moving over here so we get our turn for the next week.

BUT, on tonight’s weather forecast, they said the following week is going to be pretty nice. A cold front is going to dive down through the middle of the country and it should feel pretty good for a lot of us.