“My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” — James 1:19
One of the greatest lessons of a long life is that communication is not a luxury. It is the lifeline that keeps family, friendship and purpose alive.
What began as a discipline, this column has become one of the most stimulating parts of my week. The research sharpens the mind, the writing orders my thoughts and the feedback is generous.
Readers often tell me they look forward to the column, and some even ask for it to be shared across their social media platforms. That reminds me that we all hunger for ideas that connect us.
I am also writing my memoirs. At 85, I have discovered that remembering is itself a form of communication — a conversation between who I was and who I have become, and between my generation and those who will come after. Putting these experiences on paper helps ensure that the lessons are not lost.
I serve as a director of Marketplace Excellence, my son’s public relations and marketing company. That role allows me to communicate with him several times each week and, less frequently, with members of his team, all of whom are far younger than I am. It keeps me attuned to new thinking, new technology and new language. It also keeps them, I hope, connected to a longer view.
Communication anchors my family as well. I speak with my partner every day, and she is always willing to listen. I speak with my children and their families, hoping that our exchanges will contribute to their growth just as they contribute to mine. I also exchange greetings regularly with her children. The line remains open in both directions.
I keep my other circles alive deliberately. Once a month, I meet with a former business colleague to remain abreast of developments in the local business environment.
Every two months, I meet separately with a school friend, a university colleague and a more recent friend. Each brings a different perspective. My partner and I also meet with my former business partner and his wife to reflect on life’s changing scenes.
Then there are Shepherding exchanges and the early-morning boardwalk conversations — many, varied and often unexpected. Each conversation feeds a different part of me.
Communication, however, is not only about speaking. It is about listening with patience, remaining open to another perspective and recognizing that every generation has something to teach and something to learn.
I am thankful to be still talking, still learning and now remembering. The order matters. The more I listen, the more I learn; the more I learn, the more meaningfully I can speak; and the more I remember, the more I can leave behind for others.
Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a corporate governance adviser. His columns may be found at http://www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com.
