Listening Leaders Archived Edition

JANUARY 24, 2007

LISTENING LEADERS ESTACTICALLY EMBRACE EUPHORIC EVENTS

Exactly one year ago, the Listening Leaders Newsletter focused on the challenge of listening and leading in difficult times. As was noted, “In times of personal and grave difficulties, nothing challenges the task of listening like extraordinary and unexpected news of tragic events.” In a dramatically different vein, we also personally know that nothing matches and tests careful and complete listening as the excitement of listening to great news.

One fact is simple. In times of personal excitement, listening to wonderful news provides a joyful, yet different set of challenges for all listeners. Unlike the challenge of listening to negative messages that provide the “kicks in the gut that take your breath away,” listening to euphoric messages makes one “want to shout and sing.” In both extremes the challenge is great, for whenever effective listening is required, wonderful news can also challenge productive and effective listening.

For cancer patients and their loving and supportive circle of family and friends, there are no sweeter words than, “The year-long treatments have been successful and you are in complete remission.” Enthusiastic euphoria takes over for as Emerson so aptly observed, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Simply put, one wants to dance into the night.

Listening to positive news should remind everyone of the positive elements so clearly embedded in Ecclesiastes 3:1-6. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Including: “a time to heal; a time to build up; a time to laugh; a time to dance; and a time to embrace.” Or as Henry Ward Beecher so aptly said in his 1887 Proverbs From Plymouth Pulpit, “It is not the going out of port, but the coming in, that determines the success of the voyage.” Joy is abundant.

Yet several facts seem clear. Moments of joy require a variety of special listening strategies for the benefit of all of the parties who are involved in sharing and receiving great news. Anything less misses the opportunity to fully embrace the “good news.”

First, joyous news simply calls for the thoughtful and thankful embracing of the news.

Second, long awaited positive announcements inevitably trigger emotions of unparalleled joy, euphoria, thankfulness, and gratitude. And, in such moments of excitement and euphoria, listeners may only hear what they want to hear, and thus may miss qualifying portions of the larger message.

Third, different people listen to and respond differently to positive realities. The pessimist may engage in disbelief and dismiss the opportunity to embrace legitimate positive information, and the optimist may get caught up in the good news and not ask additional important questions.

Fourth, in times of joy and excitement, listeners profit from the supplemental assistance of listeners who are more personally detached. Like most things, power resides in larger numbers. When listening to exciting news, four ears are better than two; six beat four; and, eight trump six. In addition, the group can celebrate!

For like listening to devastating news, the challenge of listening to euphoric news requires listening through and controlling one’s positive emotions. Or as George Gissing so aptly observed: “I have the happiness of the passing moment, and what more can a mortal ask?”

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® embrace exciting news

The lesson for every Listening Leader® who enjoys the euphoric opportunity to listen to messages of “good news” resides in the fulfillment of hope. For as Samuel Johnson observed in the 18th century, “Hope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness, and captivity would without this comfort, be unsupportable.” For as Shakespeare’s King Lear said, “The worst is not/So long as we can say this is the worst.”

Thus, the important lessons for all Listening Leaders® who enjoy moments of uplifting joy involves the simple act of unconditional acceptance, followed by appropriate actions of thankful gratitude. For as Robert Frost so aptly observed, “Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” Joy is abundantly deserved, inasmuch as John Dryden reminds everyone, “Sweet is pleasure after pain.”

So in every moment of joy, remember to weigh the important message imbedded in the Fables Of Bidpai, “There is no gathering the rose without being pricked by the thorns.” Then embrace the wisdom of Emily Dickenson, when she wrote: “Take all away from me, but leave me ecstasy, and I am richer than all my fellow men.

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Be grateful for joyous news.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

The first wealth is health ~ Emerson
That which does not kill me makes me stronger ~ Nietzsche
He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity ~ Ben Johnson
It is God’s giving if we laugh or weep ~ Sophocles
Happiness is like a sunbeam, which the least shadow intercepts ~ Chinese Proverb
It is as healthy to enjoy sentiment as to enjoy jam ~ G. K. Chesterton
Live thy life as it were spoil and pluck the joys that fly ~ Martial
Gratefulness is the poor man’s payment ~ English Proverb

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Potential exciting events lie around every corner for those who see and hear clearly. Roger a wise and friendly Norwegian shared a story about a Minnesota Doctor who wanted to take a day off to go hunting. .

So he told his assistant, “Ya Ole, I am going hunting tomorrow and want you to take care of the clinic and our patients.” “Okay” says Ole. .

When the Doctor returned from hunting, he asked: “So Ole how was your day?” Ole was proud and replied, “I took care of three patients and all went well. The first one had a headache so I gave him TYLENOL.” “Bravo ya Ole, what about da second one?” asked the Doctor. .

“The second one had a stomach burning, so I gave him MAALOX” replied Ole. “Bravo, bravo, Ole! Ya good at dis and what about da third patient?” asked the Doctor. .

“The third was a woman who ran in yelling: ‘Help Me, Help Me! I haven’t seen a man for 3 years!” “And what did you do Ole?” asked the Doctor. .

“I did what every good Doctor would have done. I put eye drops in her eyes.” .

LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS

In moments of ecstatic and uplifting communication kudos always flows to numerous Golden Circle Listen Leaders®. Today we extend special kudos to Dee Steil for exhibiting a multitude of positive listening attitudes and skills as she battled through the mystery of her multiple myeloma diagnoses, treatment, and recovery over the past year. The announcement of “remission” is a great message for every fighter.

In addition, we extend special kudos to Dr. Jeffrey Jaffe and his team of outstanding Oncologists and Nurses at Regions Hospital, and to the gifted Dr’s. and Staff at the University of Minnesota Bone Marrow Transplant Center. Led by Dr. McGlave, the extraordinary stem cell transplant team of Dr’s Vercelloti, Brunstein, Arura, Weisdorf, and McClune and their extensive support team proved to be both experts in their field as well as skilled Listening Leaders®. In the process of communication, these teams of individuals clearly understand how to make the unknown known, the obscure clearer, the healing process manageable, and in Dee’s case, the end result exciting and enjoyable. To a person, they are truly models of Golden Circle Listening Leaders®.

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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:
Find and relish joy through listening where and when you can.
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

© 2007 by International Listening Leadership Institute.
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