The Colonel often said, “Pay attention, kiddo. You may be hearing, but you’re not listening. That’s not gonna get you anywhere with anyone.”
I was recently sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on the last leg of a very long trip home when I observed a mother traveling with two small children. The little girl was probably about five, and the boy was just beginning to walk. We were both waiting to board for a 9:30 p.m. departure, and it was apparent to me that the mom was worn out from negotiating airplanes and airports with these two small children. The adorable five-year-old was prattling on and on about something very important to her while Mom was trying to allow her toddler son to get his energy out and still keep him somewhat confined. I felt overwhelmed with empathy for this woman, thinking, “I have no idea how I would manage if I had two little ones to keep track of all on my own in an airport.”
I was just about to turn my attention to other people watching when the little girl did something that struck me as profound. She reached up, captured her mom’s face between her two chubby little hands, and said, “Mommy, listen to me – and this time, listen with your eyes.” Wow. That innocent but profound sentiment brought me back to The Colonel, telling me to pay attention.
How often do we find ourselves engrossed in the chaos or even the minutiae of the moment, and we let our minds wander? Significant leaders know when to listen actively – to listen with our eyes.
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