Lead With IntentSample

3. Principle - Practice - Impact on Culture

Rehumanization - Empathetic Listening - Loyalty and Community

One of my mentors, Alex McManus, said to me: "Jesus came to make the world human again." Jesus came to show us what it means to be human. As followers of Jesus, we need to understand that we lead humans, not robots, but humans. Unfortunately, in the busyness and pressure of the marketplace, we lose that perspective and bulldoze towards the results we need. If you lead with intent, you are always aware that you are working with people created in the image of God, dearly loved by God.

We can rehumanize our place of work as leaders by practicing empathetic listening. Listen to what James says in the first chapter: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak." The first step in listening more and improving our ability to listen is actually to stop speaking. Secondly, we must rekindle our curiosity. Stop thinking: "I have my people figured out." That is when you label them and start treating them inhumanely. Instead, be interested, be curious about who they are and what they have to offer.

The impact of empathetic listening will be a culture of loyalty and community. If we engage in spaces where people listen, they are caring and committed to one another.