Top 10 phrases a leader doesn't want to hear during a meeting.
The Small Group Network Community
Usually we're looking for only one (maybe two) entries for each month's Top 10 List per person. Walter L. Woods, however, sent us an entire Top 10 List for February. I thought they all were so good, I'm printing his whole list. Enjoy! :-)
10. "I knew I should have stayed in my old group!"
9. "So, this group is kind of like the Love Connection, eh?"
8. "All I ask is that someone in the group give me ...
How to make the study of body language work for you.
Michael C. Mack
"Susan, you look like you're thinking about something. Have you got something to add?"
"I do? Well, now that you mention it, I did want to say something."
How did this group leader know that Susan wanted to speak? He noticed that she was sitting on the edge of her chair, rubbing her chin, tapping her foot. In other words, he noticed her body language.
There are some helpful ways to train your leaders the art of listening.
Joel Comiskey
Someone said that when you're fifteen years old, you are concerned about what others think about you. When you're forty-five you really don't care what people think about you. When you're sixty-five, you realize that no one was thinking about you anyway!The truth is that all of us spend most of our time thinking about ourselves.Paul the apostle even said, "For everyone looks out for his own interests, ...
Listening is a crucial skill for small-group leaders to master. Here are ten practical tips for improving our listening habits.
Be quiet. This should be obvious, but it often is the biggest obstruction to listening. The leader should be part of a discussion without monopolizing it.
Try to understand. The goal of listening is to understand what the person is really saying.
Eliminate distractions. People feel comfortable sharing when they are not interrupted. Turn the ringer off on the phone. Make sure you have child care arranged. Don't look at your watch or lesson plan when someone is speaking.
Going beyond the act of hearing can bring a load of blessings to your group.
Janet McMahon
Several years ago I found myself in a small group of women that met on Saturday mornings. These were women I had known for a while; they were friends of mine. The group had a simple format—we would read a few verses from the Bible, read a meditation, and then ask the same three questions every week.
I had been a part of many small groups before, and I was expecting all of the usual good stuff—sharing, ...
Read some helpful hints about speaking with your spouse, then discuss!
Communication problems are as old as Adam and Eve. In this 6-session course, we will explore what the Bible has to say about the obstacles and solutions to communication, how to communicate love to our spouses, how to avoid miscommunication, how to stop hurtful words, the importance of compromise, and finally how grace towards one another is the key to getting along.
Why listening is such a valuable tool for those of us in charge
Cathy Mogus
Most leaders are good talkers, but the best ones excel in listening, as well. This is especially true in a small-group setting. Many people join discussion groups so that others will listen to them. A good leader acknowledges this need and will use it as a valuable tool to help those people learn and grow.
If you are a small-group leader, here are some "hearing aids" that can help you tune in to your ...
A quick Bible study that helps us appreciate our freedom in Christ
Mike Shepherd
"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." - James 1:25
Those of us who were born as citizens of the USA can often take for granted the freedom we enjoy. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice to enable us to enjoy this freedom. Much of the world does not ...
Follow these steps for greater understanding, attention, and empathy.
Michael Mack
Listening is a crucial skill for small-group leaders to master. Here are ten practical tips for improving our listening habits.
Be quiet. This should be obvious, but it often is the biggest obstruction to listening. The leader should be part of a discussion without monopolizing it.
Try to understand. The goal of listening is to understand what the person is really saying.
Eliminate distractions. People feel comfortable sharing when they are not interrupted. Turn the phone ringer off. Make sure you have childcare arranged. Don't look at your watch or lesson plan when someone is speaking.
Printer view of these results
