Insider
Strategic Roadmap :
Learning to Listen
Susan Campbell , Organisational Development Director , reflects on the journey of developing the 2021 – 2025 Strategic Roadmap and how it became a lesson in listening .
A
decade ago , when I took part in a group formation program for Spiritual Directors , I learnt to listen . I studied how to create safe and hospitable one-on-one listening environments , ask open-ended questions , utilise active listening strategies , hold silence , manage projections and navigate the confusing and wonderful art of discernment .
I wrote an essay about the quote , “ To listen another ’ s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another .” – Steere . With a whole lot of mistakes and practice , I very slowly grew into my skin of becoming a more generous listener .
Over the last year I ’ ve been part of a small team tasked with the goal of writing a new organisational strategic plan for Global Interaction . As we began , I imagined the task before me : workshops , sticky notes , words , whiteboards , charts , tables , presentations , talking , talking and more talking . However , I very soon realised that my attitude towards the task was to radically shift .
My role was to invite individuals and groups from within Global Interaction and the broader Baptist movement to think and speak , adopting the posture of a spiritual director , so I could listen .
Listen carefully . Listen deeply .
Listen for the question beneath the statements .
Photo of an Ethnic Thai believer being baptised taken by Ron Coleman . Our vision is to see more communities following Jesus in their own distinctive ways . Global Interaction · Page 5
Listen for the hope amidst the groans .
Listen for the innovative idea buried in the mountain of words .
Listen for the possibility for the future in the narrative of the past .
Listen for the movement of the Spirit , discerning God ’ s leading and guiding for the next season of our rich story .