This concept is foreign to me right away. My friend Phil Moreland told me about it. It’s actually articulately beautiful!

It captures integrity of influence. It is at the heart of empathy, understanding, going where people are, earning the right to be heard. 

It is the core of holistic influence. We must have a humble attitude to listen in order to lead. 

We must show up time and time again regardless of the others response. We must be an open ear to whatever is near. 

My friend Phil finds deep purpose in being that ear to those who don’t want to speak and I’ve seen him show up time in and time out to ear respect. Eventually it doesn’t matter if there is a mouth which is open or closed, there is trust, care, love, respect.

In the end, we don’t need response, we just need presence.