November 13By Example
The same reality pervades all teaching. A person may teach by doing, and not otherwise. If they can communicate, they can teach, but not by words. They teach who give, and they learn who receive.
Ralph Waldo Emerson—“Spiritual Laws” (1841)
In his book The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier shares the following thought: “Silence is often a measure of success.” As an entrepreneur, you need to ask a lot of questions, but the real trick is to gain the control to sit back and fully listen for the answers with patience. If your question is met with silence, this often means a person is considering your inquiry with deep thought instead of sharing the first thing that comes to mind.
If your question is met with a question, lob it right back in their court—they probably know the answer but are waiting for you to empower them to think on their own.
This is growth. This is how you lead by example.
Today, pay close attention to how you're setting an example.
Challenge Question
- What is your best opportunity to lead by example today?
Note
- Author's Note: Today's reflection is provided by my daughter, Sara Nay.
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