Listening Leaders Archived Edition

July 12, 2006

LISTENING LEADERS FAVOR FREEDOM

Listening Leaders® frolic in the favor of freedom.

Two hundred and thirty years have passed since the United States “Declaration of Independence” was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. Coupled with the additional passage of the “Bill of Rights” assuring such freedoms as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of the right to assemble peaceably, and freedom to petition the Government for the redress of grievances, all citizens of the United States are guaranteed enviable personal freedoms and personal responsibilities.

Hopefully as citizens everywhere enjoyed the special festivities of the recent 4th of July, Listening Leaders® throughout the free world paused and reflected on the favor of the true meaning of freedom along with the numerous related responsibilities of listening.

The Austrian Nobel Prize Laureate, Friedrich Hayek, reminds us: “Freedom is important in order that all the different individuals can make full use of the particular circumstances of which only they know. We therefore never know what beneficial actions we prevent if we restrict their freedom to serve their fellows in whatever manner they wish."

In such a spirit, “Golden Circle Listening Leaders®” embrace the important responsibilities of listening to anyone, whether they have been blessed with the freedom of speech or not. This is more than theory as it requires continual and persistent practice. For as has been said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.”

Nearly 70 years ago, Bernhard Rust, the Nazi Minister of Education expressed his fallacious opinion, “The end result of freedom will always be…a dictatorship of the masses. Believe me, behind that word ‘freedom’ demons lurk.” In the world of those listeners who choose to lead by favoring freedom to listen, to understand, to evaluate, and to take meaningful action, demons hold no favor. Listeners will always decimate lurking demons.

For servant leaders who favor freedom, there is no choice. For as David Hume, the Scottish historian and philosopher noted: “There is no such thing as freedom to choose unless there is freedom to refuse.” Of course Listening Leaders® can refuse to agree and act as they reinforce the values of listening and freedom in a number of significant ways.

First, and foremost, they embrace the values and actions of freedom everywhere. They clearly understand that without freedom, the opportunities and importance of listening are meaningless. Without freedom, listeners will only be required to listen to those to whom they are dictated to listen to. In addition they will be required to embrace the meaning of the dictator’s messages and agree regardless of their own values and/or judgments. Finally, they will be required to act in ways counter-productive to the good of the larger whole. The lack of freedom robs individual listeners and societies in many ways.

Second, great listeners honor freedom by embracing the challenges and the responsibilities of all productive listeners. They consistently operate with the recognition that no one can take their place or assume their individual listening obligations. Responsibility to listen resides within each individual and is measured in the belief and practice of the old adage, “If it’s going to be, it must be up to me!” Accepting such responsibility lies at the heart of achieving freedom. As a result, claiming the responsibility to listen in a productive manner must be a driving force for all Listening Leaders®. With certainty, Ashley Montagu paved the way with his simple observation, “What so many human beings in the modern world have failed to understand is that freedom is the greatest of all trusts.”

Third, great Listening Leaders® defend the freedoms of others who represent strongly held opposing views. As freedom allows others to express differing opinions, it also requires the refinement of attitudes and development of significant skills in listening through differences and disagreements. Skilled listeners honor freedom by “agreeing to disagree agreeably.” Freedom-based listening eventually serves the differences of everyone. For as Elmer Davis suggests, “This nation was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the principle ─ among others ─ that honest men may honestly disagree; that if they all say what they think, a majority of people will be able to distinguish truth from error.” But only if listeners defend the right of those they disagree with to speak.

On every day and in many ways, Listening Leader’s® will favor freedom by investing in developing refined listening. Freedom to speak means little in a world of unskilled listeners. However, when freedom is connected with trained, skilled, and responsible listeners, freedom will flourish. Or, as Albert Camus so simply said, “Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.”

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® favor and ferment freedom through listening.

Throughout the world millions of fortunate individuals enjoy the rich benefits of freedom. The freedom to choose: with whom they affiliate; where they live and work; where and when they travel; to believe what they choose to believe; to speak their mind; to pray, or not, to the God of their choice; to produce and serve according to their talents; and, more. Unfortunately, millions have never enjoyed the responsibilities or fruits of such freedom.

Archibald MacLeish captured the core essence of freedom when he wrote, “What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for yourself the alternatives of choice. Without the possibility of choice and the exercise of choice a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing.”

No Listening Leader® should desire to be “a thing.”

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Consider freedoms gift to listeners and listener’s gift to freedom.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

Freedom is the will to be responsible to ourselves ~ Nietzsche
Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and fight for it, we must be prepared to extend it to everyone ~ Wendell Willkie
The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions ~ Adlai Stevenson
Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought~ Pope John Paul II
When men are brought face to face with their opponents, forced to listen and learn and mend their ideas, they … begin to live like civilized men ~ Walter Lippmann
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined ~ Henry David Thoreau

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

A friend’s pastor shared a story of a young man and woman who were preparing for marriage. Following the appropriate pre-marriage discussion and planning, the couple had to come into the church office to fill out a final pre-marriage questionnaire form.

The pastor observed that the young man seemed to be quite nervous about possibly losing his perceived freedom, so the pastor tried to put him at ease with appropriate chitchat and small talk as he pointed out the enduring benefits of marriage. In the process, the young bride-to-be began to become impatient and slightly agitated. Listening to both parties, the pastor pressed on and then returned their attention to the pre-marriage questionnaire.

The young couple was making great progress with the questions, but when the young man came to the question, "Are you entering this marriage of your own free will?" there was a very long pause. Finally, the bride-to-be looked over at her potential husband and said, "Put down yes!”

For some, freedom and listening obviously intermingle in different ways.

A LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS:

Kudos to our forefathers who favored and fought for freedom around the world. Without their valiant sacrifices we could be listening to a different drummer. In addition, kudos to today’s freedom loving patriots throughout the world who favor and are fighting for the freedoms of others. Freedom will eventually be won wherever their valiant efforts and sacrifices are made and listening will be advanced for generations to come.

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:

Generate conditions for listening freedom at every turn.
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

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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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