We’ve all been in a situation where a sounding board could have helped us. Maybe you were presented with several avenues moving forward in life. Perhaps you recently received negative feedback. Some of you may have to let a team member go. Whatever the case, having a sounding board can only help the situation.
Let me clarify. A sounding board is simply a person who can listen to you. Sometimes they will choose to ask a question or make a statement, but the majority of time spent is listening. This can only go negative if your time becomes gossip that can spread. However, choosing the right person for a sounding board will ensure this does not happen.
Finding A Sounding Board
I recently met with a friend who asked me to be a sounding board. I wasn’t familiar with the group she referred to, but I knew enough about the company. As I listened, I reminded myself that when the time was right, God would give me the necessary things to say if it needed to be said. Jeremiah struggled with this when he said, “Ah, Lord God! I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” Yet my answer is found in how God answered Jeremiah:
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
The outcome didn’t necessarily have an answer, but we both left feeling encouraged because she spoke her thoughts aloud, allowing her to make sense of everything she was thinking. This helped us determine the path she genuinely desired to follow.
Benefits Of A Sounding Board Not In Your Circle
Finding a healthy sounding board person who is outside of your field and can listen without bias will do several things for your life, leadership, and ministry/business:
1. It gives you space to think things through
Most of us want to take care of the issue immediately, but truthfully we should sit down with the topic and take it all in. In my personal experience, a quick answer will do more harm than good. In this space with your confidant (one person or several), you can think through both sides of the issue, brainstorm new ideas, and step out of the emotions (if any) from when the issue occurred.
2. Clarity comes from speaking out loud.
Similar to my story above, clarity will often come from just speaking out loud. Sometimes we can catch this (as I’ve experienced several times in counseling), and other times our sounding boards will notice the answer for us. Ephesians 5:13 says, “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light…” So the more we talk things through, the more they are brought to light, hopefully exposing the answer.
3. Sounding boards allow you to be challenged by respected people
It’s hard for anyone to take positive feedback or criticism, but it’s even harder when you don’t know that person. One of the reasons we feel this way is because someone who doesn’t know us will often come across as attacking our identity rather than our action or idea. But, first, failure is an event, not an identity. Second, when you have a healthy sounding board, you welcome input from that friend or counsel.
4. An outsider can see when you are part of the problem
This is the hard part. Sometimes we can’t acknowledge or even know that we are the problem. I’ve been there more times than I can count. It’s a complex concept, mainly if it needs to be conveyed correctly. But again, having that brought to your attention by someone not affiliated with your team and entirely focused on supporting you means you will probably accept it easier.
5. It allows you to avoid the bureaucracy and political games
It’s unfortunate, but the struggle for power is absolute in many larger companies and organizations. We see people start caring more about money than about people. By having a sounding board outside of this political struggle, you use their wisdom as a catalyst for your internal thoughts and ideas. This will help you avoid worrying about “rocking the ship” because you know your sounding board will give you their unbiased opinion.
To sum it up…
A sounding board provides you with a chance to reflect and an opportunity to explore. They allow you to speak from the past and into the future. You will leave these people more encouraged, focused, and determined. So please pick out some people in your life who will be excellent sounding boards for you and use them frequently. Just remember to find ways to serve them in return.