Donna Highfill
  • Home
  • About
    • About Donna
    • What People Are Saying
    • My Other Blogs
      • Dame Nation Blog
      • Huffington Post
  • Services
    • Power Up BUSINESS
    • Coaching
  • Books and Tools
  • Blog
    • Fave Products
  • Contact Me

Leadership, Listening, and Getting the Next Great Idea

AndrewUncategorizedNo commentsAugust 10, 2012

I fidgeted in my pew and tried to build my five-year-old courage so I could contribute to the church service. My father was the minister, and it was time for prayer requests. This was my moment.

I glanced askance at the woman on the third pew from the left who dominated every prayer request session. She asked us to pray for people that I was pretty sure had died years ago. Today my own request would be heard.

Dad discussed some announcements, and then prepared for the morning prayer by asking, “Are there any prayer requests this morning?”

My young heart pounded with anticipation. I put my tiny arm up in the air, but dad didn’t see it because of the woman on the third pew who shoved her much longer arm in the air with Jeopardy-like speed.

“Yes, pastor, I have several people who need prayer.” Of course she did. I waited, impatiently, for her to get through her Santa Claus-length list.

“Any other prayer requests?” dad asked.

I threw my arm up in the air, and with a verbal nudge from my mom in the choir dad spotted me.

“Yes, Donna. What is your request?”

My heart pounded so hard I was afraid no words would come out.

“I think we should pway for ouw emenies.”

I forgot to mention that I couldn’t say my “r’s,” and apparently I couldn’t say “enemies.”

“What?” my dad asked, his eyes bugging out the way they did when he couldn’t understand somebody.

“PWAY FOR OUW EMENIES” I said much louder, suddenly realizing that prayer requests were harder than originally anticipated.

“I’m sorry, honey, I can’t understand you,” dad said, tilting his head away from his deaf ear. I stood up and screamed, “PWAY FOR OUW EMENIES!!!!”

My mother came to the rescue as the congregation chuckled. “Joe, she is saying ‘pray for our enemies.'”

Well, by this time the moment was lost and I was sure the woman on the third pew was looking at me with victory in her eyes.

Prayer Requests and Leadership

What does this have to do with leadership? It has to do with listening to those who might not always speak up in meetings. As a leader, make sure that you:

  • Ensure that everyone gets a chance to share. Don’t let the same person dominate every meeting. If you do, you might miss out on some great ideas.
  • Encourage stumbling. The first time somebody tries to share and stumbles, encourage them by asking questions to deepen their confidence.
  • Watch body language. If somebody looks fidgety, they might have something to share but can’t beat the dominator to the button. Provide a speaking opportunity by asking them if they have anything they’d like to add.

Everybody has something to say, and most people want to positively contribute. As a leader, your ability to provide that opportunity could be the difference between a mediocre project and a creative, exciting new approach.

Even though our exchange was awkward, dad ended up writing his next sermon on praying for our enemies. He thought it was a great idea. Or should I say, gweat idea.

 

Tags: behavior change, change leadership, donna highfill, featured, leadership, motivation

Related Articles

Lenny the Lion – A Short Story

April 27, 2015Donna Highfill

Five Things I Know to be True about Change

September 6, 2011Andrew

Ogling Oz: In Search of My Yellow Brick Road

July 12, 2010Andrew

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Connect with Me

Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You
  • Laughter is My Hero
  • A New Year in Old Clothes
  • Why I Will Face the Fall

CHECK OUT MY BOOK

highfillcover

As a leader, do you implement change only to watch the projects, processes and initiatives stall because you can’t get the people driving them to change? In my new book Real People, Real Change: Stories of a Change Warrior in the Business World I share real stories to illustrate how leaders can move people to action.

Archives

Where Donna Will Be Speaking Next

  • April 22, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • April 23, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • May 12, 2015 - LPGA Championship, Kingsmill, Williamsburg VA
  • May 21, 2015 - Education Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eerie, PA

Certified_hi-res

mbti_certified
huffbadge

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere August 9, 2017
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You March 16, 2017
  • Laughter is My Hero January 10, 2017

Contact Me

804-370-6665
[email protected]
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • About Donna
  • Contact Me
Copyright Donna Highfill 2014