Listening Leaders Archived Edition

May 30, 2007

LISTENING LEADERS LISTENING LEADERS REMEMBER, REST, & RESPOND

Listening Leaders® choose to celebrate Memorial Day everyday by the simple acts of remembering, resting, and responding.

It is important to remember that since the time of Cain and Abel conflict has existed throughout the universe. With man against man, neighbor against neighbor, country against country, conflicts inevitably arise over differences of values and philosophies. Coupled with the defense of property and land, life and limb, security and freedom, one can confidently predict that warfare will continue until there are no longer any engaged combatants.

Thus, although Listening Leaders® may debate the value of any given conflict, it remains important to consistently pause and pay homage to those who have died in the defense of anyone’s democracy and freedom. For it is that freedom that allows all present and future listeners to and listen to all sides of every argument and engage in productive open debate .

Equally important, effective Listening Leaders® must also find time to rest in moments of serious conflict. For the simple fact remains, listening in all situations can be taxing. In moments of conflict, the multiple tasks of listening are even more challenging. As conflict is exhausting, rest is imperative for it reduces stress and provides the potential to bring calmness to the mind.

Consequently, rest lies at the heart of moving from the dark depths of negative emotions to the positive peaks of rational dialogue. Leaders in conflict will discover the power of pausing, taking a step back, resting, and committing to mutually listening to each other. For as Cyril Connolly observed, “The man who is master of his passions is Reason’s slave.” Ultimately productive Listening Leaders® find that the ultimate benefit and power of listening resides in responding without conflict. For in conflict, although someone may win, everyone eventually loses.

In short, everyday can be dedicated as Memorial or Decoration Day. Simply remember and pay homage to all who have fallen in the ultimate line of duty. Stay rested and ready to listen and lead in all cases of conflict. Equally important, vow to respond to all conflict laden situations with reason and mutually beneficial dialog. For only in mutually beneficial dialog can conflict be avoided.

Listening Leaders® remember, rest and respond.

LISTENING LEADER KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® honor the fallen and raise the bar of dialog.

With the recent celebration of Memorial Day, it is important to remember it was originally called Decoration Day. A day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Although more than two dozen cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, there is evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. Memorial Day is about reconciliation and coming together to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, Memorial Day was first officially observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1915, Listening Leader® Moina Michael was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," and penned the poem:

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.

Then she responded with the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. By selling poppies to her friends and co-workers money, was raised to benefit servicemen in need. This tradition quickly spread to other countries around the world. Moina Michael was indeed a Listening Leader® who remembered and responded in order that we can honor those at rest.

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Listen to the silent voices of the past.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

Nothing is more exhilarating than to be shot at without result ~ Winston Churchill
It is the end that crowns us, not the fight ~ Robert Herrick
We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction ~ Aesop
All the trouble in the world is due to the fact that man cannot sit still in a room~ Blaise Pascal

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

In a letter to his survivors, an old soldier shared the following advice:

“Remember, I look this way because I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved. However, I’m not really sure how I got over the hill, because I never really reached the top. But I do know that I have become old because everything has either dried up or leaks. And in the process, I have learned the older I’ve become, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Yet, every time I think about going back to my youthful days, I remember the challenge of Algebra.”

LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS

Kudos to all who have died in the service of their country and all who honor their service. For it is in their memory their true value is held. Rest in peace and know that your sacrifice was not in vain, for we will listen and remember!

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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:

Remember the fallen, arrange rest, and respond wisely.

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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