Perspective from the 19th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write. I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf. The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie. And it is where you want to be on a golf course.
One of my business partners, Pat McCormick, often said this when he emphasized the skill of listening:
“Remember, God gave you two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk.”
That was great advice in business when I was involved as a lobbyist on behalf of a variety of clients. As I dealt with legislators at the State Capitol, I reminded myself every day to listen more than talk.
So it was that I learned about legislators’ interests and perspectives, some of which could prompt them to support my firm’s clients’ priorities. But I would have missed a lot if I had started talking first.
Listening also works great these days for me in retirement.
The emphasis on listening came to the fore for me last Sunday when the visiting pastor at the church we attend in La Quinta, California, WellSpring, delivered a message on listening. It was and is memorable.
He used an acrostic to emphasize his points, but not just an acrostic for its own sake; an acrostic that embodied verses from the Bible to buttress the letters in the acrostic.
To plant this more firmly in my brain – often writing does that for me – here is a summary of the sermon.
[In the case of the letters below, I have not listed the Bible verses that support them, if only for reasons of length, plus to avoid preaching a sermon. Still, know that the letters aren’t just letters – they are buoyed by Scripture.]
The basic proposition is contained in James 1:19. It delivers a practical directive to gain spiritual maturity by being “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
So, here is the acrostic.
- THE LETTER “L”: Look at them
The point is to look others in the eye, not away, as you listen to what they have to say.
- THE LETTER “I”: Involve your heart
The point is to listen with more than just your ears. Focus with your heart.
- THE LETTER “S”: Share the feeling of the moment
The point is to express sympathy, if not empathy, by feeling what the other person is saying as you listen.
- THE LETTER “T”: Take time
Devote time to listening. Don’t be in a hurry.
- THE LETTER “E”: Explore with questions
Don’t talk first. Then, when you do talk, ask questions to verify your interest.
- THE LETTER “N”: Never stop learning
And that includes learning from people who may disagree with you.
Good advice. So, practice the art of listening.
Perspective from the 19th Hole 