Leading With Our Ears
Last night in a leadership development gathering for administrators in my Focused Leader Academy one of our great leaders, Jerry Smith, Technology Director/CETL for Silver Creek School Corporation, reminded us of a great leadership lesson from the Bible in the book of James. Specifically, he was referencing James 1:19. He has a sign on his desk with this verse reminding him to always lead in this way. I am one of those people who then needs to go read the verse in different versions and study a little further. Here are my two favorites:
Good News Translation
James 1:19 Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.
The Message Bible
James 1:19 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear
As a Christian I was disappointed in myself for having forgotten about that verse. I really like the book of James. I’m so glad that Jerry pointed out and reminded us of this tremendous leadership lesson. James was writing this book to encourage Christians to encourage living consistently and letting our actions speak louder than our words and intellectual acumen. That is what leadership is all about isn’t it?
I really like the idea of us “leading with our ears.“ Probably, I really like it because it is a metaphor. I can’t resist a good metaphor. It reminds us to prioritize listening and understanding over speaking or asserting one’s own views.
The phraseology in the other version of “everyone must be quick to listen” also resonates with me. This allows us as leaders to gather insights and perspectives from others before making judgments or conclusions. Listening always allows us to foster deeper connections, enhance communication, and promote empathy, as it encourages us to truly hear and acknowledge the experiences and thoughts of those around us.
Regardless of your faith, this verse has so much to unpack. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment.
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