Listening Leaders Archived Edition

February 6, 2008

LISTENING LEADERS TREASURE & TRAIN TRIUMPHANT TEAMS

Listening Leaders® understand the value in training triumphant teams, as teams abound at every turn. Moreover, as we live in a dependent world of others, the central importance of listening within triumphant teams is inescapable. Regardless of the nature of such teams as: family teams, business teams, political teams, military teams, educational teams, sports teams, religious teams, community teams, international teams, three factors remain clear.

First, and foremost, as each engaged individual listener brings value to their team, in return, every triumphant team brings value to each participating individual. Teams of individuals hold the opportunity to accomplish what individuals cannot accomplish individually. Triumph comes from a creative collective group listening and working on purpose and in harmony.

Second, triumphant teams profit from the collective interaction of trained and skilled listeners. Listeners who develop and exhibit supportive listening attitudes and productive listening skills and behaviors within their teams provide invaluable benefit to their teammates. As Dr. John Maxwell, author of “The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player” astutely observed, effective leaders become, “Enlargers.” By listening, enlargers add value to their teammates. They listen for the gifts, talents, and uniqueness in other people. Enlargers help their teammates grow their talents for the benefit of the individual and the team. In the process, enlargers who listen carefully to others, grow in turn.

Third, Listening Leaders® chart the listening course and provide the important modeling and mentorship of all their invaluable team members. Teams do not fully triumph unless they have leaders who are committed to train others in becoming productive listeners. As outlined in our award winning book, “Listening Leaders: The Ten Golden Rules to Listen, Lead, & Succeed” Listening Leaders® must practice and master four distinct levels of listening and leadership. They include: 1) Listening to and leading yourself; 2) Listening to and leading others; 3) Teaching and engaging other listening leaders; and, 4) Teaching others how to teach and engage other listening leaders.

Anything less, and team listening is subject to failure. For as Senator Feargal Quinn, CEO of Ireland’s Superquinn observed, “If we want to create a workplace where people can achieve things and realize their individual talents to the fullest, then we must find additional ways of listening to each other.” In short, listening within and amongst all teams is critical.

LISTENING LEADER® KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® train teams to listen and triumph.

Congratulations to the New York Giants, the 2008 NFL World Champions! With the completion of Super Bowl XLII, the National Football League provides another case study and an interesting model of teams committed to training in the pursuit of ultimate triumph. Since 11 teams came together in 1920 to create the fledging American Professional Football Association, to the present-day multi-billion dollar league of 32 NFL teams, training at all levels has been central to the pursuit of excellence.

Although every NFL game day spotlight is focused on the extraordinary play, and replay, of gifted athletes, ultimate success depends on the effectiveness of listening in a multitude of activities. From the wide ranging communication required in every aspect of the front office operation, to player selection, to coaching, to media relations, to satisfying fans, and more, listening drives success or failure. Triumph in every field requires tens of thousands of hours of study, committed listening, sound leadership and preparation, repetitious practice, teamwork, and sacrifice. For as Aristotle reminds us, “We are what we repeatedly do.”

Effective listening has also played a major role of sponsor and advertiser’s success as the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport beginning in the 1970s and 1980s. Over the years, the Super Bowl has become a top-rated TV offering with more than 100 million worldwide viewers. Many viewers report they pay more attention to the commercials than the game or half time activities. Considering this year’s $2.6 million investment of airing each 30-second Super Bowl commercial, the attention, judgment, and response of listeners separates winning and losing commercials.

So as football fans gather around the water cooler to discuss, dissect and debate the results of the latest game and commercials, everyone should be able to agree with the simple conclusion: In every endeavor under the sun, listening matters. Equally important, for those who desire to be successful and win, training matters.

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Establish a schedule for concrete and ongoing listening training.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

Leaders are dealers in hope ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
It takes a team to do anything of lasting value ~ John Maxwell
Excellence then is not an act, but a habit ~ Aristotle
There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves ~ Lyndon B. Johnson

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Marriage provides the ultimate opportunity for listening and teamwork. Our long-time Golden Listening Leader® friend, Pete Johnson, shared the following story of a reporter’s interview of an 80-year-old lady who had just gotten married, for the fourth time. The reporter asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered. "Interesting," the newsman thought.

He then asked her if she would tell him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years of marital bliss. After a short time, she smiled and answered proudly, “I first married a banker when I was in my early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in my 40's, later on a preacher when I was in my 60's, and now in my 80's, a funeral director.”

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked, “Why did you marry four men with such diverse careers?”

She smiled and explained, "Well, I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and now, four to go.” It just goes to show, triumphant listening teams come in many combinations.

LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS

Kudos to opposing Super Bowl coaches Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick for their lifelong commitment to, and focus on, teaching young men to be the best they can be. As past Assistant Coaches with the New York Giants, they both enjoyed the pleasure of triumph in Super Bowl XXV. Obviously 3-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick’s disappointment in New England’s 2008 Super Bowl loss will remain etched in his and his organization’s memory forever. On the other hand, to the victor go the spoils, as Tom Coughlin’s team will be feted throughout the land.

Regardless, we salute both coaches and, congratulate all of their organizational staff and players, for their contribution to the listening and viewing enjoyment of millions. For they all remind us of the wisdom of President Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” speech in 1910. Roosevelt reinforced the value of all involved combatants, when he said:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Congratulations to all who remember that listening and training remains a forever foundation for those who desire to triumph.

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:

Train, train, train.

Forward this newsletter to your children, grand children, 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 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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