Listening Leaders Archived Edition

July 4, 2007

LISTENING LEADER LAZER LESSONS

THE COURAGE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP

N. Williams has demonstrated what it takes to be a Listening Leader with his following story:

This week it struck me how guilty I am of getting wrapped up in the noise and chaos of over communication and allowing this to get us off course. I was about to go into a meeting, my mind was already planning what I would be doing after the meeting, and as I entered the room I was still speaking on a cellphone and essentially was not being "in the moment". As the meeting began it became apparent that I was not the only one. The other attendees were either late, typing frantically on blackberries, or had to leave the room to take or make cell phone calls. The meeting continued in this light and it was clear that the participants were distracted, disengaged and not in the right place to discuss what was essentially a subject and decision we would have lived with for a long time to come.

I took a deep breath, waited for everyone to "become present" and suggested that we adjourn to review 3 key points that had somehow surfaced during the chaos and reconveve at a time where everyone could bring something to the table uninterrupted. When I was asked why, I explained my observations and then listened. At first people disagreed, feeling that another meeting would be a waste of time, but then someone else also had the courage to point out that this meeting was in fact a waste of time. The other leader pointed out that no one was listening to each other, and this was not the right time or place to make a decision that would have a big impact on many of our team members. It was interesting to make a recommendation and to see the reactions that followed.

Time is a precious resource and only through listening to each other would it be maximized. After some more dialogue we reconvened and made a commitment to regroup once we each had made the time to recap the pertinent information and at a time without interruption. This flies in the face of the compulsion to multi-task, but in my mind was essential to have meaningful dialogue. I hope when this happens we will all come with a mindset to listen actively.

LISTENING LEADER LAZER LESSON: Sometimes to move forward you have to have the courage to slow down or stop.

SEND US YOUR LISTENING STORIES: One of the best ways to learn is through stories. We are seeking stories that illustrate both positive and negative listening situations. Send your stories to Rick Bommelje - RKB@ListeningLeaders.com

A special thank you to D. Day who responded to the last Listening Leaders Lazer Lesson with this story:

I read the story of the lady being re routed. My daughter had a similar experience a few months back and was very frustrated. She was heading to Hawaii on vacation with some friends. She was 2.5 hours from the airport and was going to leave for the airport 5 hours before it left. She had worked at the hospital till 6 A.M. and planed on leaving at that time to catch a plane that was to leave at 12:30. They called her at 7 A.M. and told her the flight had been changed to leave at 9 A.M.. She told them she was 2.5 hours away from the airport and it would not be possible to be there till 9:30. They said that was her problem. She left to try to catch the flight 150 miles from where she lived. I try to help her by calling the airline to have them switch her to a different airline and I stay on a line for almost an hour and never was able to talk with a representative. My daughter also tried to call back as she was traveling and all she got was a machine that kept transferring her to a different machine, the same as me. She finally got to the airport and was told that they do not transfer to other airlines to help and did not offer to pay for her motel to stay overnight to catch a plane the next day. NOBODY WANTED TO LISTEN. I am tired of talking with machines and people from another country who do not speak English. I work at a farm machinery dealership in the mid west as a sales representative. If our dealership treated the farm customers like big corporation treat people. We would not have one customer. What happened to the customer is right, and to try and help around problems that arise. You probably cannot completely solve a problem like what happened but people want to talk with people not machines. WE NEED PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO LISTEN AND TAKE ACTION. Corporation have made their employees afraid to talk to people. It takes a big business to long to make decisions and they feel if they don't have to talk people they will just give up and say that is the way the world works

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC LISTENING LEADERS WORKSHOP – September 19, 2007, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM in Winter Park, Florida. For details, go to www.ListeningLeaders.com

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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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25 Robb Farm Road
St. Paul, MN 55127
651-483-3597
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