Listen

Try This Right Now

It’s Election Day.

Most likely you’ve already voted.

My wife, Lori, and I voted over a week ago, and its been encouraging to see how many more people seem to be voting this year than in previous election years.

You may have donors that feel very strongly about the results going one way or the other.

Many may even be making predictions about the results and what will happen with their money and how it will effect their giving.

The best thing you can do is listen empathetically.

We all want to be heard. And we tend to feel more connected to a person or cause when the other party listens.

At our neighborhood Halloween party this past Saturday night, I met a new neighbor who I was interested in getting to know.

So I asked him questions and follow-up questions about himself, his family, and his experience in the neighborhood.

Later that night after trick-or-treating, I ran into him again and he said, “I really like you. We should hang out more.”

Often times donors will give because they like you, and they will like you more if you listen to them.

If they are talking about the election results, regardless of whether you agree with them or not, just listen.

The world will continue to be a better place when more people decide to listen to others, and development professionals play a strategic role in promoting listening! In doing so, you are changing the world even if you don’t get the gift commitment you were hoping for.