Leadership Refined Listening Lesson 11

To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten. Thomas Chandler

Focused Servant Positive Attitude Communicative Passionate Problem Solving What kind of person continues to work on him/herself, concentrates on his/her priorities, and works well with others? What kind of person puts others first, serves without being asked or expecting something in return and works well with others? What kind of person sees the big picture, handles one thing at a time, and doesn’t give up in the hard times? What kind of person does what they believe in, shows boundless enthusiasm, and hangs out with other like minded people? What kind of person says what they mean, listens first, and shares their convictions? REVIEW

To listen is to: Listen from the heart Meet people on their terms Be available

Take a walk in the woods and stop often to listen. At first the sounds are foreign. Rustling leaves, squirrels chattering, jays calling, and deer dashing off in fear. Follow the sounds, observe what created them, and you’ll know so much more about the woods. You’ll begin to understand the depth of life that goes on beyond just what you initially see. You’ll see growing things you haven’t noticed before, you’ll smell aromas you didn’t know existed, and you’ll hear things well below the decibels of your cranked up CD player. It takes patience and time to see beyond - it doesn’t come with a race down the path. Listening is like a walk in the woods; if you’re racing to speak up, you’ll miss an incredible amount. Try listening, slowly, intuitively, and patiently, with an intent to understand. You’ll be amazed.

Lessons in Listening: Rhythm: It’s Not an Easy Thing Briefing: In this activity you will have the opportunity to duplicate the rhythms that are created by the teacher. Procedure: Sit in a circle, listen carefully to the rhythm being presented. If you think you can duplicate it exactly, raise your hand and try it.

Three-fourths of the miseries and misunderstandings in the world will disappear if we step into the shoes of our adversaries and understand their standpoint. Mohandas K. Gandhi SHOE WALK Have everyone in the room take off their shoes and put all of them in a “shoe pile” in the center of the group. Direct each person to find and put on a pair of shoes that belong to someone else. Lead the group around the room, walking in someone else’s shoes!

Shoe Walk What did it feel like to walk in someone else’s shoes? What do you imagine the life of the owner to be?

Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins. Sioux Indian Prayer

Blind Man’s Toss Briefing: In this activity you will pair up with your partner to cooperate and hit a target. One of you will give directions while your partner is blindfolded. Procedure: Each partner takes six blindfolded shots at a target and then switches to the second target. The partners then switch positions. Keep track of the ‘hits’. The team with the most hits is the winner. Then try it again, switching throwing arms. Rules: 1.You may not touch your partner. 2.Your only communication can be with words. 3.You have six shots and then you switch to the next target.

Let’s talk about listening Journal 13 Let’s write about listening In your journal write about listening. Are you a good listener? Why or why not? Who listens to you from the heart? How can you be a better listener? Who in your life is available to listen to you? Are you available? Are you willing to meet people are their terms?

The spoken word belongs half to him speaks, and half to him who listens. French Proverb