Ephesians 4:15 – “…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way…”
Have you ever considered what it is like to be on the other side of you? Many times we can be blind to the fact we put people in a defensive posture that makes them feel unsafe. God has told us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. We can use words to try to seek understanding or we can use them to cut people down with insult.
People need to hear the truth, but they cannot hear it if the truth is blanketed with a tone that makes them feel inferior, or it comes full of sarcasm, and the sense of insult. The way people best hear the truth is when they are challenged to draw their own conclusions via inquiry and curiosity. How did you come to that conclusion? Tell me why you’re feeling so upset?
Apple stores have an overall reputation of excellent customer service. One of the things they train their employees in is assuming positive intent. For example, a customer comes in with a broken device. It would be easy for a customer service agent to assume negligence and then bring a tone of irritation to the customer experience. But they are trained to assume that an honest mistake occurred, naturally bringing a more compassionate, caring tone.
Are you assuming positive intent in your home, on the job, within the church, in traffic? Do you give people the benefit of the doubt? What is it like to be on the other side of you?
Heavenly Father, help me to assume positive intent when I’m frustrated by the actions of others. When seeking to establish the truth, help me to lead with inquiry rather than accusation or insult. Thank you for showing me ways I need to grow in communicating love. Amen.