Listening Leaders Archived Edition

February 8, 2006

LISTENING LEADERS LUST TO LEARN

Listening Leaders® are invigorated by the quest of life long learning.

As every casual observer understands, outstanding leaders are driven by a constant desire to know and a lust to learn. They have a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity that motivates constant wonder, investigation and study.

Although some believe that “curiosity kills the cat” Listening Leaders® know that inquisitiveness and interest enlarges the mind and expands everyone’s opportunities.

Ask the majority of today’s young students about their reaction to, and pleasure of, the challenges of school and learning and the response is often tepid at best. Yet the overwhelming majority of seasoned and productive leaders will tell anyone who listens, the quest for meaningful knowledge is critical and never ending. In addition, experienced souls know listening lies at the core of all significant learning, for as G. K. Chesterton so aptly expressed, “There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; there are only uninterested people.”

The facts are simple. First, in a world that moves at warp speed, there is more to know today than ever, and the challenge of knowing more, and more, and more in every succeeding day, week, month, and year ahead will only continue to expand exponentially.

Second, every present and future significant leader must appreciate that listening will forever continue to operate at the hub of their “lust of learning” wheel. For through listening, learning results. Eliminate listening and learning is cut-off at its knees. Limit learning and knowledge suffers. Limit listening, learning, and knowledge, and the essence of true leadership never materializes. In the words of an old Proverb, “Knowledge is the mother of all virtue; all vice proceeds from ignorance.”

Third, effective leaders thirst to listen to those who know more than they know. It was the wise observation of the 18th century British poet, William Cowper, who said, “Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom in minds attentive to their own.” Oliver Wendell Holmes reinforced the point when he wrote,” It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.”

Fourth, in addition to curiosity, the lust for learning through listening requires humility. As observed by Golden Circle Listening Leader® Dr. Sandy Shurgart, “Everyone has something to teach each of us, but it requires humility, and humility is about character, not about skill. Character is formed at a glacial rate.” Thus, we need “leaders who are open to learn something from everybody.”

Unfortunately, too many unproductive leaders are content with what they already believe and know. Their child-like curiosity has died. They exhibit little humility as they believe they are all knowing. They do not seek out or discover the wisdom of others. They do not know how or when to leverage a love and lust of learning. Thus, they do not listen beyond their own repetitious and hollow words. As a result they lead those who follow them down a path of little value and minimal opportunity.

On the other hand, Listening Leaders® never lose their lust and love of learning and listening.

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® are committed to life long learning.

Curious life long listeners, learners, and leaders are constant students and seekers of the elusive “Value Moments of Listening (VM of L), for one never knows when or where the valuable “nuggets of gold” lie. For example, when Libov Andreevna in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard asked Trofimov, “Are you still a student?” the answer was both simple and astute. Trofimov wisely responded like all wise Listening Leaders®, “I expect I shall be a student to the end of my days.”

Listening Leaders® are constant and consistent students, searchers and seekers. They cultivate a listening habit of curiosity. Although they recognize the simple reality and difficulty of listening to all people talk on all things at all times, productive listeners seek information and insights that will serve those they lead.

It has been said, “If you want one ounce of gold or a one karat flawless diamond you discard 200,000 tons of rubble. If you want the oil you must deal with the sludge, and if you want the wheat, you must separate the chaff.” Obviously if you want the wisdom, you must listen to and through the babble.

Curious leaders in search of knowledge and wisdom operate with the powerful insight that comes from knowing they will never find the value moments unless and until they fully listen. In the view of one of our favorite Listening Legends, Carole Grau, “Like the gold miners of the past, present-day listening miners discover untold treasures of information and insight by simply listening and digging.”

Or as the 20th Century industrialist, known as the “captain of industry and king of steel,” Andrew Carnegie believed, When you mine gold, you don’t go into the mountain looking for dirt. You look for gold, no matter how small, or how much dirt you have to push aside.”

Thus, a love and lust for listening and learning lies at the heart of all who desire to thrive in the ranks of Listening Leaders®. For as the British playwright, Alan Bennett so wisely observed, “Life is rather like a tin of sardines and all of us are looking for the key.”

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Be curious, be humble, and be wise.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds ~ John F. Kennedy
Teach the tongue to say ‘I do not know’ ~ Maimonides
Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite ~ Karl Popper
Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future ~ Euripides
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect ~ Samuel Johnson
Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth ~ Ecclesiastes 8:9
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning ~ Proverbs 1:5
He is no wise man that cannot play the fool on occasion ~ Thomas Fuller
The most useful piece of learning for the uses of life is to unlearn what is untrue ~ Antisthenes
He who learns but does not think is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger ~ Confucius

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Curiosity generally serves listeners better in the beginning than at the end of events. Or as the old Proverb claims,” It is easy to be wise after the event.”

We heard a story about a tour bus driver who was driving a bus full of seniors when he was tapped on his shoulder by a little old lady who offered him a handful of peanuts. Not having had time for breakfast, he thanked her and gratefully ate them all.

About 15 minutes later, the little old lady tapped him on the shoulder again and handed him another handful of peanuts. He thanked her again and ate them all. As the bus rolled on, the little old lady kindly repeated the same gesture five more times. Each time the bus driver expressed his appreciation and ate the peanuts.

As she was about to hand him the eighth handful of peanuts, his curiosity finally kicked in and he asked the little old lady why her fellow travelers didn’t eat the peanuts themselves.

"We can’t chew them because we've no teeth", she replied.

Puzzled, the driver asked, "Well then, why do you buy them?"

To which the little old lady replied, "Oh that’s simple. We just love to suck off the chocolate they’re dipped in."

Obviously, it pays to be curious at any time…but earlier is usually better than later.

A LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS:

Kudos to Dr. Mark Brady and Jennifer Austin Leigh on receiving a ”Fresh Voices 2006 Book Award” from the Writers Marketing Association for their latest book in the category of Self Help.

Check their new book, A Little Book of Listening Skills – 52 Essential Practices for Profoundly Loving Yourself and Other People by Mark Brady, Ph.D. & Jennifer Austin Leigh, D.Div. Paideia Press, ISBN: 0-9768898-0-3

Dr. Brady is the Editor of the 2003 book, The Wisdom of Listening, a collection of writings from wise teachers on listening. Congratulations on your continued work in advancing love through listening to yourself and others.

WE ARE LISTENING and invite your action:

ONE-DAY "LISTENING LEADERS WORKSHOP" COMING TO CENTRAL FLORIDA - MARCH 8, 2006. For brochure, please send an email to RKB@ListeningLeaders.com

Together, we can change the listening attitudes, skills, and knowledge of leaders throughout the world. We appreciate and invite your assistance in expanding our listening leader’s connections. Eight simple steps in advancing this important movement include:

Review and refine your preparation for ensuring listening learning moments in your busy daily schedule. Create challenges and rewards for curiosity amongst those you lead.

Forward this newsletter to your children, grand children, friends and colleagues. More important, invite them to Subscribe to the “complimentary and weekly” newsletter by going to www.listeningleaders.com

Send us your listening leader insights, examples and stories.

Start a Listening Leaders Reading and Discussion Group. Invite your Librarian to purchase our Award winning LISTENING LEADER book.

As meeting, conference, and convention attendees spend the bulk of their time listening, please let others know of our availability to Keynote Conventions and customize Listening Leader Workshops.

Invite us to identify specific needs for listening development of leaders in your organizations.

Ask about our proven listening leader training programs and our customized in-house train-the-trainer strategies and our new Certification program.

We can help, we are committed, and we are listening.

Listen, Lead On & Make Today Count! – Manny & Rick

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LISTENING LEADERS: THE TEN GOLDEN RULES
TO LISTEN, LEAD & SUCCEED

By Dr. Lyman K. Steil
& Dr. Richard K. Bommelje

Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press
(ISBN 1-59298-073-2)

A pioneering book that directly connects listening with leadership.Based on more than 50 collective years of work with listening leaders throughout the world, Dr. Steil and Dr. Bommelje have created 10 practical, proven, and priceless rules to enhance everyone's listening and leadership success. Although outstanding leaders are outstanding listeners, most leaders have neglected the development of their listening attitudes, skills and knowledge.

“This is the most significant book ever written on listening and leadership and will profit leaders at all levels in all types of organizations and enterprises.” Dr. Ralph Nichols, Father of the Field of Listening

ORDER YOUR COPY at www.ListeningLeaders.com or www.amazon.com

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Dr. Lyman K. (Manny) Steil
25 Robb Farm Road
St. Paul, MN 55127
651-483-3597
LKS@ListeningLeaders.com

Dr. Richard K. (Rick) Bommelje
8530 Amber Oak Dr
Orlando, FL 32817
407-679-7280
RKB@ListeningLeaders.com

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