Mindful Management - Your Ears Should Hear What Your Mouth Says

Last month, I posted on Facebook if anyone knew who authored "Your ears should hear what your mouth says."  I thought it was biblical, but couldn't find anything that had an author attached to the quote.  And then, thanks to Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny, she immediately responded with the source - Rabbi Yose in the Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud) Halakha 4, mishnah 4.  She shared that it is a teaching about the shema and how your prayers should be loud enough for you to hear them, but quiet enough so not to distract.

The quote was shared with me by a colleague and mentor.  Immediately, I wrote it down and it sits on my desk.  This quote may have been meant for prayer, but it is what I needed to hear as a manager and a colleague.  Throughout our days, the waves of emotions are high and low.  The frustrations and joys of life are both personal and professional.  Difficulties at work need to be discussed.  The quote struck a nerve with me because even when I am mad, impatient, irritable and simply exhausted, only I want to be the one to hear that in my voice so that it doesn't distract my team.

My favorite role as a manager is to bring the best out of people so that they succeed.  My passion for the work is what guides me and when we all come around the table for a meeting, I often begin with sharing either a personal or professional success story.  It sets a tone for the meeting and always shows my team that I am doing the work that I expect from them. The message - "We are all in this together."

Some people are genuinely positive which is always a benefit to any team.  However, this is also a learned skill for others and some might say a muscle that needs continuous exercising.   Fueling positive energy is not always easy.  Each individual has a way to reset and recalibrate when feeling frustrated. Talking to donors always gives me a boost; Sharing the impact of their generosity definitely gives me a lift.  When I have to handle my administrative tasks, listening to music always perks up the office.  When I am feeling overwhelmed, I take a walk, I talk to someone, or throw myself into work so that I can immediately feel a sense of accomplishment.  Getting to know my team is important so that I can help them when they are having a difficult time.  Learning their strengths, challenges, joys and struggles will allow me to know how to supervise and guide them.  Together we can work through those tough moments and find solutions to any problems.

"Your ears should hear what your mouth says." I love this quote!  While meant for prayer, this quote will sit on my desk to remind me of how my spirit, my energy and my words impact everyone around me.