Listen, Look, and Learn

How much time do you spend listening before speaking? How often do you pause to observe before taking action?

If you're like most people, it's easy to focus more on crafting a response than truly listening during a conversation. In our fast-paced world, we often rush to act—eager to complete a task, make a point, or move things forward. But what if we slowed down to truly listen and observe first?

When we take the time to listen, we gain clarity, build stronger connections, and avoid unnecessary missteps.

The Power of Listening

Whether in a meeting, a conversation, or a classroom, rushing can cause us to miss key insights. We may:

• Speak too soon in a discussion, missing the heart of what others are saying.

• Push a plan forward before hearing from stakeholders.

• Give a rushed response rather than taking time to understand.

  
  

I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about having great ideas—it’s about listening to the people you're serving. When I began my role as Director of the Center for Student Leadership at TWU, I came in ready to implement my vision. But I was met with resistance. It wasn’t until I paused and listened—to students and to my supervisor—that real progress began. Listening built trust and helped align our goals.

Look With Intention

Listening and looking go hand in hand. Observing what’s happening around you helps you lead with empathy and insight.

As a leader, it’s important to:

• Look at your team and understand their strengths, communication styles, and feedback preferences.

• Observe nonverbal cues and team dynamics.

• Look for what’s not being said.

  
  

And in everyday life, intentional observation can be just as powerful. A simple walk outside becomes richer when you pause to notice the birds chirping or the sun rising. In those quiet moments, God often speaks.

Learn as You Go and Grow

Listening and looking open the door to learning. Even when we think we know what’s best, there’s always more to discover—about others, about ourselves, and about the situations we’re in.

When we take the posture of a learner:

• We ask questions instead of making assumptions.

• We grow in wisdom, compassion, and humility.

• We create environments where others feel seen, heard, and valued.

  
  

Leadership, relationships, and personal growth all require a willingness to humbly listen and learn. And learning begins with slowing down.

Public speaking also invites us to slow down, listen, look, and learn. In Toastmasters, we’re taught to speak at a steady pace to help minimize filler words like “um,” “uh,” “like,” “so,” and “you know.” We learn to actively listen to feedback from our speech evaluators, and we make eye contact with our audience to stay connected. Sometimes, we even have to adjust our tone, pace, or message based on the audience’s reactions. The more we listen, look, and learn, the more our skills grow—and with growth comes greater confidence.

Reflection: What Are You Rushing Past?

Ask yourself:

• Am I truly listening—or am I just waiting for my turn to speak?

• Am I observing what’s going on around me—or am I stuck on my own agenda?

• Am I open to learning—or do I assume I already have the answers?

• Am I pacing myself while speaking or rushing to get done?

• Am I slowing down to notice and appreciate nature or am I taking God’s creations for granted?

  
  

When we fail to listen, look, and learn, we miss opportunities for connection, insight, and growth.

Let’s not be in such a rush that we overlook the small, sacred moments that help us grow and help others thrive.

What’s one area in your life where you can pause to listen, look, and learn more intentionally this week?

Did you enjoy this blog? Check out my book, Look Up, Step Up, and Soar, available on Amazon.