Consider This Underutilized Method

Consider This Underutilized Method

Manners

Columbus Park,

a public landscape gem

of architecture at the

furthest west edge

of Chicago in a section

called Austin, had a winter

sled run, beguiling lagoon,

nine-hole golf course,

and on summer

Sunday afternoons,

a lush green space

tucked away

for lawn bowling.

What an unlikely picture

to me as a young boy,

come upon it unexpectedly—

the men in white shoes

and trousers and

light white sweaters--

playing this genteel game,

surrounded by a blue-collar

neighborhood. I gaped at first,

then settled in on a bench,

drawn still as salt, an observer

to the players

good-natured procedures,

not forgotten to this day,

the conviviality,

the civility

of it all.

To Ponder

            1.   It occurs to me how little we ask questions of others

                  when we truly need to.

            2.   This is in stark contrast to do so to judge, impress, stall

                  or evade.

            3.   Imagine simply asking “Is this OK with you?” or “I think

                  you’ll like this. Do you?“

            4.   Amazing, how a question well-timed or placed can keep

                  us from going astray and win a friend at the same time.

            5.   How about this? “I see you’re very effective. Tell me why

                  you do it that way.”

            6.   Simply listening is the most underutilized way of asking

                  a pertinent question and gaining a satisfying answer.

            7.   In other words, be patient; people often will answer your

                  question in a better way if you’ll wait till they “get there.”

© 2013 Allan Cox, Allan Cox & Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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