Are You Practicing the Skill of Listening?

The title of last week’s blog was Are You Listening? Listening is an active skill, and the process goes far beyond staring at the other person when they are speaking. In his book, Situational Awareness for Emergency Response, Dr. Richard B. Gasaway writes, “The act of listening requires a substantial amount of cognitive horsepower.” He…

Read More

Are You Listening to Me?

Recently, I had the opportunity to teach a class to a group of singles in our church and the topic was anger. I asked, “What makes you angry?” Some of the answers included things, other drivers, little/older siblings, and not listening. Not listening Why does this happen and what prevents people from listening to someone…

Read More

Do You Appreciate Your Employees?

In my July 3rd blog post, I mentioned bosses who fail to recognize demanding work and employee achievements. In this post, I am addressing that topic in more detail. On June 3rd of this year, I had the opportunity to attend a Common Pursuit event hosted by Kingdom Way Ministries in Loveland, Colorado. The speaker…

Read More

Danger! Hazardous and Toxic!

Last week’s blog asked if you would enter a toxic atmosphere unprotected. I compared a choking cloud of chlorine gas to a noxious work environment and the impact on mental and physical health. Required signs The photo shows a restricted area at an industrial waste site warning people of the dangers behind the fence. Laws…

Read More

Would You Enter a Toxic Atmosphere Unprotected?

The two firefighters in the picture above are participating in a drill simulating a leak in a one-ton chlorine container. We used white theatrical smoke for the exercise, but a real chlorine leak produces a yellowish green, pungent, choking cloud. Choking cloud of chlorine Chlorine is immediately dangerous to life and health at 10 parts…

Read More

Who Are YOU Mentoring?

Last week’s blog was the conclusion of a seven-part series titled Dual Footprints, Becoming a World Class Mentor. In that series, I covered six areas of commitment: If you missed any of the blogs, I encourage you to go back and read them. Look at the following questions and take the time to answer them:…

Read More

Dual Footprints, Part 7 – Commitment to Accountability

Accountability The final commitment to becoming a world class mentor is accountability, which is defined as, “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.”1 This stems from the inner character of the individual and their integrity. People with integrity demonstrate responsibility, they are accountable for their actions, and they are…

Read More

Dual Footprints, Part 6 – Commitment to Grow & Develop

Mentoring and Commitment At this point in the series on mentoring, it would be well to review the definition of commitment, which is “a pledge or promise; obligation.”1 Common sense dictates that a person who desires mentoring would be committed to the process, but that is not always the case. The mentee may faithfully commit…

Read More

Dual Footprints, Part 5 – A Commitment to Listen

Mentoring Over the past four weeks I covered the following: This week’s topic is listening. Listening is Flattery Dr. Joyce Brothers said, “Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.”1 Communication involves the sender, the receiver, and the message. However, if the receiver is not listening then the message is either lost or…

Read More

Dual Footprints, Part 4 – Kill the Ego

Dual Footprints is a multi-part blog on becoming a worldclass mentor and this week’s topic is either kill or be killed…by your ego. A fine line There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and the line is our ego. One definition of ego is “self-esteem or self-image,” and another definition is “egotism; conceit;…

Read More