the next question

We need to listen to more than people's words—we need to listen to their hearts. We need to listen to feelings, not just facts.

I have to admit, listening isn’t one of my strong suits. I can easily get distracted by other things rather than giving full attention to a person speaking to me. How about you? I also tend to interrupt. I can comment about my own opinions or experiences instead of just listening. As I’ve been intentional with seeking to grow in this area, I’ve found people are more willing to share not only about joys, but also struggles.

Basics such as focused attention and eye contact are important. But the biggest thing that’s helped me is asking the “next” question—an open-ended question like “What do you mean?” or “How did that make you feel?”

I wonder how many opportunities for meaningful ministry I’ve missed because I failed to ask the “next” question. How about you?