29 Jan
18-second listeners don't cultivate high-capacity givers
Every church has within its congregation or membership body, select individuals who have the capacity to give significantly more than others. The reason why you don’t think they exist is because you aren’t cultivating them. In fact, the local nonprofit, college or university, and the local hospital hope you never do that. They are betting on the fact that they can secure a gift consistent with their means better than you can.
You could read a library full of books on how to cultivate high-capcity givers. Let me save you the trouble. The key is: listening. Are you creating an environment where you are listening to those individuals and uncovering what is most important to them? If you don’t, a very intentional development officer already is and will absolutely secure the gift that might have dramatically changed the financial trajectory of your church, no matter how big or small.
Are you an 18-second listener, or are you giving people the chance to express themselves without your preconceived notions getting in the way?
Let’s see what Tom Peters has to say about where we fall short in our listening habits:
