Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) was written as a guide to having a better marriage, but it also has some valuable lessons for leaders. In particular, Craig discusses how to be a better listener in 3 easy steps.

1. When someone is speaking, stop everything and focus intently on the other person.
   Don’t think about something else. Don’t formulate your response. You’re goal is to comprehend not just the person’s words, but their heart.
2. Don’t just listen with your ears, but also with your eyes.
   Pay attention to facial expressions and to body language. You’ll be surprised how much information comes through gestures and stance, even how the other person breathes while they’re talking.
3. Repeat back to the person what you’re hearing so the other person knows what you heard.
   By telling [someone] what I think [he] meant, I can confirm that I’ve understood [him]. It also affirms to [him] the value of what [he] said. It shows [him] not just that I heard [him], but that I was listening. Which demonstrates to [him] that I care.

Being a good listener not only makes you more likable but wiser. There is a lot to be learned from the ideas and insights of other people.

For Discussion:
Are there any tips you would add to these three for becoming a better listener?