About 25 drivers were employed at a city terminal of a national trucking company. Of those drivers, one was responsible for fueling all the vehicles and moving tractors and trailers around the freight yard as necessary. He rarely drove a truck out on the street to make deliveries.

A new operations manager came on board, determined to make his mark. He decided that the drivers could fuel their own vehicles and whoever was available could handle staging the equipment, which would increase the number of drivers on the street – and, he thought, improve service.

Several of the senior drivers tried to explain why that approach was not as efficient as the way it was being done. Not only did the manager refuse to listen, he was openly scornful.

When his plan was implemented, productivity dropped, service suffered, costs increased and grievances were filed. Eventually upper management was forced to step in. The operations manager resigned and was replaced with a leader who not only treated the drivers (and everyone else) with respect, but appreciated the fact that they knew things he didn’t.

When the new manager saw a problem, he went to the people involved and collaborated on a solution. And he genuinely welcomed differing opinions.

The smartest people are the ones who aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know.” They’re not reluctant to ask for help. And they appreciate every opportunity to learn.

Wise people welcome instruction, education and yes, even correction. They’re grateful when someone stops them from making a mistake or helps them correct an error they made – and wise people are not too proud to admit that they don’t always get it right. They know that only God knows it all and that God often speaks to us through the mouths and actions of others. To learn, we have to listen – listen with discernment, certainly, but listen.

Excerpted from Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs by Jacquelyn Lynn.
Jacquelyn Lynn
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