There are Things I Don't Know.

There’s a story that the barrister and author Stuart Littlemore KC was found at his desk with a dictionary open. The interruptor sacrastically said ‘You mean to say there’s a word you don’t know, Stuart?’ To which Mr Littlemore closed the dictionary and said ‘Not any more.’

Listening is an expression of self-doubt.

It is a practical response to the truth of ‘I have an opinion, and it might be wrong.’ Taking the time - five seconds or five days - to listen. To be the naive inquirer. To humbly pray before the altar of ‘There Are Things I Do Not Know’.

Step Three of the Five Steps to Good Decision Making is Assess the Information.

You’ve done Step One - Step Back and thus purged yourself of the beat-myself-up form of self-doubt. Listening is an outward focussed, eager, almost excited act of humility and service.

As the Benedictines say: Listen with the ear of the heart.