Why Listening Comes Before Leadership

The following is adapted from The 48 Laws of Divine Power by Dr. C. Errol Ball.

The loudest voice in the room is not always the leader. Sometimes it’s the one least capable of hearing anything beyond itself. Real power doesn’t begin with speaking. It begins with listening. With stillness. With the humility to pause long enough for instruction to arrive.

Scripture captures this clearly: “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Not because words lack value, but because listening is often the first act of obedience. Before there is movement, there is attention. Before a calling becomes visible, it is heard.

Throughout the Bible, God does not release responsibility without first delivering revelation. There is always a message before a mission. Samuel did not feel his calling; he heard his name spoken in the dark. Moses did not imagine his purpose; it was spoken to him from a burning bush. Mary did not invent the incarnation; she listened as an angel explained what would unfold through her life.

Divine direction does not emerge from intuition alone. It is revealed. And revelation reaches only those who are willing to listen beyond surface noise. That is why Scripture repeatedly says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Not everyone hears the same way, even when the message is the same.

Listening, however, is not passive. It is a discipline. A posture of readiness. Many people listen only to reply, to defend, or to confirm what they already believe. They hear with impatience rather than openness, with self-interest rather than surrender. The cost of this kind of listening is often measured in missed opportunities, prolonged detours, and decisions made too early or too loudly.

Jesus was direct about this: “Take heed how you hear.” Not just what reaches your ears, but how your inner life interprets it. Peter listened when Jesus told him to cast his net on the other side, and the result was abundance. Elijah ignored wind, fire, and earthquake, waiting instead for the quiet voice that carried real direction. Philip listened to a simple prompting—go near that chariot—and a single act of obedience reshaped another person’s life.

History offers similar examples. George Washington Carver, born into slavery and later a groundbreaking scientist, did not chase recognition. He chased understanding. In the early hours of the morning, he walked into the woods not to speak, but to listen. He prayed for insight, not applause. What followed—hundreds of discoveries and innovations—flowed not from noise, but from attentiveness.

We live in a culture that rewards volume. Louder is mistaken for leadership. Confidence is confused with clarity. But humility still listens. Before you speak, pause. Before you act, pay attention. You do not need all the answers. You need the right posture.

In the Kingdom, movement follows listening. And when you learn to hear well, your next step becomes unmistakably clear.

…

For more insight on spiritual alignment and divine leadership, you can find The 48 Laws of Divine Power on Amazon.

For two decades, board-certified physician and “doctorpreneur” Dr. C. Errol Ball has practiced medicine with a holistic, whole-person philosophy. From launching a YouTube channel focused on chronic illnesses to leading faith-based wellness seminars and creating premium webinars, his mission has always been to empower individuals to take control of their health with informed, preventative strategies.

Dr. Ball is also a minister, preaching messages of hope and healing for the soul as well as the body. An alumnus of both Oklahoma Christian University and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medical School, Dr. Ball calls Oklahoma City home.