3 Immediate Benefits of Listening to Different Voices

I wrote a trusted mentor to ask some advice on improving my preaching. His response was to start listening to African-American preachers. In case you did not see my picture on this blog, I am white...my darker skinned friends in fun have called me 'lilly-white' before much to my dismay. I did not expect this advice from my also 'lilly-white' mentor but was so glad he sent it my way. This brings up the point I am trying to communicate in this post, there is a great benefit in listening to different voices.

Different voices are simply those who are not like us but have something to say about our vocation. My vocation is preaching, but this same principle works in sales, education, coaching and any other profession. If we are going to reach our potential, we have to listen to people different from us.

I tend to be a narrative preacher,

I do not use a lot of points in sermons or lists. I also tend to show too little emotion and need to work on connecting with my congregation. So I have started listening to preachers such as Ralph West and Gardner Taylor. I just finished a book on preaching, Doctrine that Dances by Robert Smith which every preacher should read. I have also began to listen to selected sermons on the website theafricanamericanpulpit.com.

I tend to be less directive in my leadership and communication than I need to be. I stared listening to and reading John Maxwell. He is simple, too simple, so simple that I can hardly implement what he is teaching. I don't like lists, Maxwell lives in lists, created the list. I also started attending the Leadership Summit that Bill Hybles puts on. My tribe tends to frown upon this type of leadership, however my tribe is starting to die and needs to (present company included) start listening to other voices.

When I intentionally give myself over to different styles, backgrounds, cultures, with the intention to learn I have noticed three specific benefits.

1. I learn something new - I know this is not mind blowing, but have you ever noticed how even the non-comformists of our society dress alike, drink the same beverages and all use apple computers? When I intentionally hang out with other crowds - I learn new skills, ways of growing, phrases to use. Just this weekend I preached a five point sermon and for a revovering narraitiveite...it felt very good.

2. I uncover blind spots - People who are like me have my same problems. If I surround myself with voices, books, lectures, mentors who are comfortable to me I will never see where I fall short. When I listen to voices of different personality, background , ethnicity, I begin to see places and feel places in my life where I am lacking a skill or ability.

3. I cut down on my own arrogance - The one think I know is that the more I learn the less I know. There is so much information out there waiting to help me, to help us develop and take one more step toward our potential. When I open my ears to a different voice, one I am not used to, I grow and my capacity expands...the process of humility takes off.

What other benefits have you found to the 'other voices?' I would be interested to what 'other voices' you are listening to and the vocation your are in.