Active Listening
You must all be quick to listen,
slow to speak,
and slow to become angry.
James 1:19
Recently I received a prayer request from one of our leaders. Emotions were high after girls’ camp. Her prayer was for the Lord to soften hearts.
When tempers flare at camp from lack of sleep or camper behaviors, take a deep breath and remember James 1:19. "You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."
In a recent article from Trauma Free World, the author writes, “What we bring into the moment matters. In hard moments, people often remember more than what happened; they remember how they were treated, whether they were met with shame or steadiness, and whether connection was still possible.”
While the article focuses on helping those who’ve experienced trauma, we can all practice active listening when emotions are high and stress is creating havoc.
Active listening is a powerful communication tool that helps teams connect, collaborate and resolve conflict. Instead of focusing on our response, we focus on the other person. Sounds like a great way to build trust and mend fences.
Remember:
Active listening requires self-control and concentration. It takes quieting our mind and fully immersing ourselves in another person’s experience.
Doesn’t rush in to fix the issues. Part of healing is allowing people to feel their emotions and grieve losses.
Ask open-ended questions to learn more.
Paraphrase what the other person is saying to fully understand.
Set aside biases or differing points of view.
Avoid distractions and multitasking.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please bring your supernatural joy, peace and strength to volunteers and leaders in our Teen Reach family. Soften hearts and bring unity. Help each person to be still and remember you are Almighty and Holy God.