How Rich is Your People Time?

If you haven't picked up on it, I'm a huge fan of Doug Fields and Simply Youth Ministry.  Some of the creative minds of SYM get together once to four times a month to do a podcast.  I really enjoy the insights. I was listening to the most recent podcast, episode #158, and Doug shared a great thing he's been learning that I really needed to hear, he stressed the importance of keeping your 'people time' rich.

I'll admit, I'm probably one of the worst at having rich people time.  What do I mean by this?  Do I need to spend more time with people who are rich?  No, I'm talking about making sure that the time you spend with others in one on one conversation is good time.  Its making sure that when somebody is talking, you are actually (actively) listening.  Nothing makes people feel better than undivided attention...on the flipside, nothing says 'I don't care' like halfway listening.

Much of my problem (in the past years), is that I felt so rushed, that I had no time to stop and talk to a student or a volunteer...eek...bad things man. 

Here are a few steps that I'm going to take this week to make sure that in the next few weeks that I really concentrate on rich "people time:

• Be prepared for the evening before the evening hits.  If I'm prepared for the event or service ahead of time, I don't have to stress that stuff
• Remember that I'm MINISTERING to people, not just providing an event.
• Listening to what others are saying, not just letting it hit my ears.
• Seek out conversations longer than 30 seconds.
• Maintaining eye contact

There's many more, but these are a few of the steps I'm going to take this week.  This truth has hit me hard.  What do you think?  Are you a great people time person, or are your eyes glazed over with thought during conversation?