Listening Leaders Archived Edition

May 31, 2006

LISTENING LEADERS HONOR HUMBLE HEROS

Listening Leaders® find and honor humble heroes.

With the passing of another Memorial Day, we are reminded to pause in somber remembrance and give thanks to the multitude of heroes who have paved our freedoms way.

The everlasting importance of honoring heroes was captured by the Swiss philosopher, Henri Frederic Amiel, when he observed: “Heroism is the brilliant triumph of the soul over the flesh, that is to say, over fear. Fear of poverty, of suffering, of calumny, of sickness, of isolation, and of death. There is no serious piety without heroism. Heroism is the dazzling and glorious concentration of courage.”

In turn, William Canton recommends, “We all should have one or two heroes to help us stand fast and think right.” To expand the importance of listening to heroes, Canton ’s poem ‘Heroes’ points the way:

“For you who love heroic things, In summer dream or winter tale, I tell of warriors, saints and kings, In scarlet, sackcloth, glittering mail, And helmets peaked with iron wings.

They beat down Wrong; they strove for Right. In ringing fields, on grappled ship, Singing they flung into the fight; They fell with triumph on their lips. And in their eyes a glorious light.

That light still gleams. From far away, Their brave song greets us like a cheer; We fight the same great fight as they, Right against Wrong; we, now and here; They, in their fashion, yesterday.”

Although ‘heroes’ come in many ages, sizes, shapes, and forms, one thing is certain. They deserve to be listened to and honored in many ways and in any time. Listening to their stories is the price of entry, and emulating their heroic action provides the priceless payoff. Five guiding questions will serve all active and aspiring Listening Leaders® well: 1) Who are your heroes? 2) Why are they your heroes? 3) What are their untold stories? 4) How do you honor them by your listening? 5) For whom will you serve as a humble listening hero?

Reflection is the necessary beginning, true reverence is the required core, and regular action provides the desired ongoing ending. For as the German playwright, Bertolt Brecht, counseled: “Unhappy the land that has no heroes.”

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® identify and actively honor heroes.

We are indebted to our multitude of “Golden Circle Listening Leader® heroes who constantly share thoughtful items. In this day of unending conflict around the world, Roger Ingebritson captured the importance of remembering ‘heroes’ on another Memorial Day, by highlighting the evocative power of hero-centered poems.

To this day, Dr. John McCrae’s "In Flanders Fields" remains one of the most memorable war poems honoring heroes ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres in the spring of 1915. The death of his young friend and former student, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, particularly affected McCrae. Killed by a shell burst, Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae spent twenty minutes of precious rest time venting his anguish by composing fifteen lines of unforgettable poetry.

“In Flanders Field” by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D.

“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields.”

Although John McCrae’s poem has inspired numerous contemporary poets, the best-known reply-poem is “We Shall Keep the Faith” by Moina Michael, the American woman who also took the initiative to make the poppy the symbol of remembrance. ________________________________________

“We Shall Keep the Faith” by Moina Michael

“Oh! You who sleep in Flanders' Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew; We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died.

We cherish, too, the Poppy red, That grows on fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies, That blood of heroes never dies. But lends a lustre to the red, On the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders' fields.

And now the torch and Poppy red, Wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught, We've learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders' fields.”

We tip our hat and lend our ears to heroes everywhere. War heroes, family heroes, classroom heroes, church heroes, friendship heroes, personal heroes, professional heroes, business heroes, medical heroes, and sports heroes are just a few whose stories and lessons deserve to be listened to.

For as Will Rogers reminds everyone, “We can’t all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” But first we need to listen and learn their lessons of heroism.

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Listen to the special stories of your special heroes.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

They died to save their country and they only saved the world ~ Hilaire Belloc
Society is founded on hero worship ~ Thomas Carlyle
Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
Heroism feels and never reasons and is therefore always right ~ Emerson
It is better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward ~ Dolores Ibarruri
A hero is a man who does what he can ~ Romain Rolland

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Milton Berle claims he was a hero to many. “When I was in the army, I saved a hundred men. I killed the cook.”

With his comedic insight Berle observed the unmistakable truth that, “Nowadays the real hero in a movie is the one who sits through it.”

A LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS:

Kudos to all of our lifelong heroes who have shared their incredible stories. We appreciate your model and the opportunity to listen and learn. Lifelong hero’s enflame the passion and privilege of listening and leading in humble and heroic ways.

BECOME CERTIFIED TO TEACH LISTENING LEADERSHIP IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. For certification details, go to www.ListeningLeaders.com

WE ARE LISTENING and invite your action:

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:

Select your heroes and listen to their stories.
Forward this newsletter to your children, grandchildren, 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
__________________________________________________________________

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

Listening Leaders is a weekly e-mail newsletter for people who understand the value of Listening Leadership in their life.

It is brought to you by
the INTERNATIONAL LISTENING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
We welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.
Please e-mail: ClientServices@ListeningLeaders.com.

Also, please visit our website: www.ListeningLeaders.com

Join our Golden Circle of Listening Leaders who are spreading Listening Leadership attitude, skills and knowledge worldwide! Forward your copy to anyone you believe will benefit from reading The Listening Leaders!

COPYRIGHT AND REPRINTS
Reprint permission is granted when the following credit appears: "© International Listening Leadership Institute. Reprinted with permission from ‘“The Listening Leaders Newsletter,' a weekly Internet newsletter”. For your own personal subscription, go to www.ListeningLeaders.com"

PRIVACY STATEMENT
Your e-mail address is absolutely confidential. We will NEVER give, sell or share your address with anyone.

Subscribe Cancel Update

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

[ListeningLeaders]