Other people who have our best interest in mind have some important things to say to us, if we will listen. I have worked with many a person, and have been guilty of it myself, who don’t listen well and when feedback comes their way, they shut down, become defensive and begin to rationalize why what they are hearing is of no value to them. I recently was giving feedback to a senior executive about some things I saw him doing that I personally observed in a board meeting. He listened to me over the phone without response as I spoke and at the end of what I wanted to say he spent the next half an hour telling me why I was wrong. Since these were things that I personally saw him do it was a little like I told him that I saw him wearing a blue shirt and him coming back trying to convince me that no, it was not blue, it was actually red. Not only, in my humble opinion, did he miss out on what I think could have made him better, he also has not endeared himself to me to want to try and provide feedback to him in the future. I will of course, because it is part of my responsibility as as board member, but if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to walk into that thicket of thorns again. We should all realize the value in being open to hear what others have to say to us. We don’t have to look any further than the story of Jethro and Moses in Exodus Chapter 18. Jethro gave Moses the solution to how Moses could grow and scale his activities. When Moses listened and tried what Jethro suggested, he showed what can come from listening to others and being open to new ideas. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded to stay open and not to close ourselves off to the thoughts and feedback of others. Today, consider this when someone says, “I have been thinking”, or “I have an idea”, or “Can I talk to you?”. Take these opportunities as a gift and put them to good use.

Reference: Exodus Chapter 18 (New Living Testament)