Tuesday at 2:00pm with Russ

It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)

Greetings to you!

Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.

Russ...

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Alone, we can do so little; Together, we can do so much." Helen Keller

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This month I want to explore some quotes and ideas around the theme of COMMUNITY. This is a topic I've been thinking a lot about lately, and as I explored some thoughts on it I drove me deeper. To see past themes and blog posts, visit my website HERE.

I've shared this quote from Helen Keller before. It's a powerful truth that we need to be reminded of over and over again.

This doesn't mean that we can't do anything on our own. The idea is that in comparison with the potential that might come from a Community, what we accomplish by ourselves is "little".

Sometimes we have to do it alone. We start things. We build things. An idea or dream begins in us and we have to start someplace.

Doing things by yourself is a critical part of every organizations growth, but at some point there needs to be a transition...

  • Others are brought into the vision

  • People gather around you to support, encourage and engage

  • As momentum builds, people buy into the growing purpose and plan

A Community is born, and then it's not just you anymore.

There are others who care about what's happening, who want to help, who want to play an active role, who want to bring value.

I recently shared with a leader that no one will ever care about their vision and organization as much as they do. He was the founder, the leader, the initiator, the pioneer.

They may not be able to care at the same level, but they care, and they bring incredible value, power and energy.

Who is rallying around you and your vision to help you accomplish all that God has placed in your heart?

DEEPER STILL:

This month I want to highlight 5 different values of a healthy Community, and challenge you to think about how that value is being lived out in your life, through your life, and into your Community!

The 5 we'll explore are:

1) A Trusting Community

2) An Honest Community

3) A Listening Community

4) An Encouraging Community

5) A Celebrating Community

This week let's look at A LISTENING COMMUNITY.

Here's what I've learned... You can't create a listening community. You simply need to model it, teach it and hope it catches on.

People love to hear the sounds of their own voices, and it takes work to create a space where everyone can be heard and valued. Here are some practical active listening tips we've all heard, but it's so easy to forget them in our quest to have our voices heard!

  • ASK QUESTIONS: Ask, and keep asking questions. Be inquisitive

  • BODY LANGUAGE: Realize that we communicate constantly with the way we carry ourselves and posture ourselves.

  • AVOID DISTRACTIONS: Be fully present. Get rid of your phone. Choose carefully where you're meeting to limit interruptions.

  • EYE CONTACT: Nothing says "I'm listening" like looking at someone.

  • CLARIFY: Sometimes repeating what you've heard is a way to simply clarify. Don't be thinking about your next response... listen fully.

I can always do better! I want people that I'm talking with to feel safe, to feel heard and to feel like they have my full attention.

What are you doing to intentionally let people know that you are truly listening to them?

 

Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:

Source: www.leadermundial.org