Thoughts on effective listening during the pandemic

The pandemic and recent social unrest have caused a deep pull for reflection. As a life long white advocate of non-violence and racial harmony and equality, both professionally and personally, I cannot fully understand the reality of being black, Asian, Latino or any other ethnicity, but I can be open to what others offer from their reality. The challenges society faces require leaders with courage, humility and the willingness to listen, and then engage in meaningful conversation.

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Listening is not a “communications strategy”. It is being present, and willing to be influenced. Otherwise, the conversation is merely an argument.

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Humility is being true to who you are; without courage, it is neediness. Humility requires the willingness to examine our opinions, biases and assumptions about others. Courage without humility is just downright dangerous.

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We can allow circumstance to control our paths, or we can create our own journey toward our intentions…our choice. Like all important choices, it comes with risk. As Mark Nepo tells us in “Finding Inner Courage”, “Those who are not busy integrating, are busy disintegrating. We do not have the luxury of standing still.”

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It is past time for our leaders to come together in meaningful conversation.