How to impact others

There's no magic trick when it comes to influencing and impacting others. The Bible gives us the formula: (1) Try to listen carefully. The truth is that people don't care how much we know until they know how much we care. They tend to filter what they hear through their own life experiences, hang-ups and the particular problem that's on their mind at that moment. So if we want people to listen when we speak, let's listen carefully to them.

(2) Don't say too much. If we tend to talk too much, or too fast, here are three tips to slow down: (a) Stop. Just stop talking. Take a breath. Count to ten, then excuse ourselves and take a break. (b) Practise not interrupting. Let the other person finish what he or she is saying. (c) Let's ask ourselves why we're talking so much. Is it insecurity? Or anxiety? Or a need to control? Or a desire to impress? The reason many of us try to convince, impress or control is because we have a hard time trusting God to work things out. Let's just deliver the message and trust God to do the rest.

(3) Keep anger in check. If we implement the first two principles, we will tend to do fine on number three. It will just happen.



So what now? The good news is, you can learn to listen, be slow to speak and slow to anger. And as you practise them, you'll be amazed at the impact you have for God.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.' James 1:19 CEV
— SOULFOOD —

Acts 12-13, Matt 9:14-26, Ps 123 , Pro 16:1