Listening Leaders Archived Edition

February 21, 2007

LISTENING LEADERS PERPUATE PAST PRESIDENT’S PRACTICES

Listening Leaders® will find profit when they examine and emulate productive listening practices of select past Presidents.

As the special sales, vacations, and celebrations of “Presidents Day” have passed for another year, it is worthwhile to pause and reflect on the listening and leadership activities of President George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Like national leaders of every era, President Washington and Lincoln faced the challenge of listening to a variety of conflicting voices in times of daunting challenges and change. In the process, they provided key lessons and direction for all leaders who desire to listen and serve others. Three lessons are worth emulating and perpetuating.

First, both Washington and Lincoln were focused and disciplined. As all successful leaders understand, self-discipline lies at the heart of all listening and leading success. For in the absence of disciplined listening, the “Ten Golden Rules to Listen, Lead & Succeed” cannot, and will not, be put in play.

Second, both Washington and Lincoln were selfless Listening Leaders® who were committed to a larger cause. Serving as prima facie examples of listening servant leaders, both exhibited listening loyalty to interests beyond themselves.

Third, both Washington and Lincoln listened and led driven by deep-seated faith. Moreover, in the biblical words of James 2:26, they realized that “Faith without works is dead.” As a consequence, they listened and led at the highest possible level.

Of course the enduring examples of both President Washington and President Lincoln provide a broad array of additional lessons to serve Listening Leaders® of all ages. The challenge of emulation is simple: one just needs to get past the President’s Day sales, long-weekends, school closings, and celebrations and play “follow the leader.”

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® profit by playing “Follow Sound Leaders.”

Listening Leaders® who choose to profit from historical models will find valuable lessons in George Washington’s 110 hand-written “Rules of Civility in Conversation Amongst Men.” Based on a 1664 translation, and written around 1745 when he was fourteen years old, these “Rules” illustrate Washington’s value of self-discipline.

Amongst the 110 Rules, Washington wrote: “For every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present.”; “Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he were your enemy.”; In visiting the sick do not presently play the physician if you be not knowing therein.”; “Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of anyone.”; “Be not forward, but friendly and courteous, the first to salute, hear and answer.”; “Reprehend not the imperfection of others.”; “Think before you speak.”; “When another speaks, be attentive yourself, and disturb not the audience.”; “If any hesitate in his words, help him not, nor prompt him without being desired; interrupt him not, nor answer him till his speech be ended.”

Although times and expressions change, the need for Listening Leader® wisdom and self-discipline continues. For as Euripides observed in 431 B.C, “Do not consider painful what is good for you.”

In 1782 an officer in the Revolutionary Army proposed to George Washington that the newly liberated colonies could never become a nation under a republican form of government. Rather he proposed the establishment of a kingdom with Washington as King.

With great loyalty to his country’s interest, Washington listened and then responded with abhorrence. “I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischief that can befall my country. If you have any regard for your country, or concern for yourself, or posterity, or respect for me, banish these thoughts from your mind.” To heighten his strong sentiment, Washington signed his letter, “Your Most Obedient Servant, G. Washington.”

Fourteen years later, President Washington offered powerful advice regarding the importance of faith to all future Listening Leaders®. In his 1796 “Farewell Address” Washington said, “Observe good faith and justice toward all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.”

Thus, in the wake of another President’s Day celebration, all Listening Leaders® will find profit in examining and emulating Washington’s and Lincoln’s power of discipline, loyalty, and faith. For as Aesop reminds us, “Example is the best precept.” LISTENING LEADER® TIP OF THE WEEK: GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Become the new model.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

If men live decently it is because discipline saves their very lives for them ~ Sophocles
Perfect discipline requires recognition of infallibility. Infallibility requires the observance of discipline ~ George Kennan
Wisdom and virtue are like the two wheels of a cart ~ Japanese Proverb
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see ~ St Augustine
Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others ~ Eric Fromm
A man consists of the faith that is in him ~ Bhagavad-Gita

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Everyone knows animals and pets can be some men’s best friends. From the beginning, nearly 400 presidential pets have often been the most popular White House residents.

The presidential love affair with animals dates back to George Washington, who was devoted to his horse, Nelson. John Quincy Adams kept an alligator on the grounds, and Thomas Jefferson had a pet bear. Abraham Lincoln’s White House included a menagerie of rabbits, turkeys, horses and goats.

Theodore Roosevelt had more animals than any other president. Roosevelt and his six children’s collection included dogs, bears, lizards, guinea pigs, a badger, a blue macaw, chickens, a barn owl, rabbits, a pony and a pig named Maude.

Many presidential pets were gifts from visiting dignitaries. Such was the case with Rebecca, a raccoon, presented to Calvin Coolidge, who built a special home for her and walked her by leash on the White House grounds.

Fala, Franklin Roosevelt's Scottish terrier, was present when Winston Churchill and the president signed the Atlantic Charter in 1941 aboard the USS Augusta. Fala was also the subject of the first presidential pet biography, a tradition continued by first lady Barbara Bush in her book about the Bush's springer spaniel, Millie, and Hillary Clinton in her book about Socks the cat and Buddy, the president's chocolate Labrador retriever.

Herbert Hoover bought a German shepherd and named it King Tut with the assumption the dog would enhance his image with the public. Richard Nixon had Checkers, and John Kennedy had a number of dogs, rabbit and guinea pigs, plus a pony named Macaroni. Lyndon Johnson made the mistake of being photographed holding his dog by the ears.

Obviously as this assorted array of pets have sat at the feet of many presidents in the Oval Office, and on numerous presidential laps in the White House living quarters, they have served as important listening posts for each Commander-in-Chief in challenging times.

But the strange and funny part about most pets is simple: The reason they have so many friends is that they wag their tails instead of their tongues.

BECOME CERTIFIED TO TEACH LISTENING LEADERSHIP IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

You will become fully equipped to deliver a unique and proven Workshop that provides practical and measurable results. For certification details, go to www.ListeningLeaders.com

ORDER YOUR “LISTENING LEADERS WORKSHOP ‘IN A BOX’.

You don't have to wait for the next live Listening Leaders® Workshop! The entire workshop is in a format that you can take at your own pace in the comfort of your own office or home. For 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 and emulate listening activities of your favorite President

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]