Listening Leaders

[ListeningLeaders]

Listening Leaders Newsletter



June 4, 2008

LISTENING LEADERS FACE FEAR FORWARD

Listening Leaders® face fear forward and reap their just rewards. For the thoughtful listener knows, fear will either shackle us or serve us. Of course fear impacts different people in many different ways. Some are fearful of new situations, or different environments. Some are fearful of new people or new ideas. Some are fearful of the future and change. Some are fearful of remaining the same. Some are fearful of failure, or success. Some are fearful of both.

On the other hand, by facing fear forward, fear can be put into its proper perspective and serve as a significant listening tool. As a motivating force, fear holds great power. For those who are fearful of ignorance, listening to the learned will advance knowledge. For those who fear costly punishment, listening will reinforce the importance of obeying the law. For those who fear the adverse impact of ill health, listening to wise Doctors will lead to practicing a healthy life style. For those who fear the negative consequences of financial ruin, listening to knowledgeable financial advisors will lead to a path of wise fiscal planning and practices. As Shakespeare wrote, “To fear the worst, oft cures the worst.”

The secret to facing fears forward lies in listening carefully to our existing fears. The initial task is simple, yet significantly important. Four steps will help map the way. The undertaking must begin with the careful identification of the fears that impact our daily listening. The second step requires thoughtful reflection on why we hold the fears that we hold. The third step demands determination of any past, present, and potential future impact our fears have had or will have on our listening behavior. Finally, Listening Leaders® must create a workable strategy and take action to listen beyond their fears. As Franklin D. Roosevelt reminded a nation in his first Inaugural Address in 1943, “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

The pathway for all Listening Leaders® requires the constant reminder how debilitating fear can be to the serious listener. For to paraphrase Virgil, the Roman poet, “Fear lent wings to his ears.”

LISTENING LEADER® KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® face fears forward.

An old fable highlights the importance of facing and overcoming our fears. For once upon a time there lived a very fearful little mouse that lived in constant fear of a nearby cat. But one day he met a wise and powerful magician. The mouse explained his fear and asked the magician to turn him into a cat so he would no longer live in fear. The magician smiled, waved his magic wand, uttered some magic words, and poof, the mouse became a cat.

But the dog was bedeviled by a tiger and remained living in constant fear. When the magician once again appeared, the mouse turned cat turned dog explained his new fears and asked to become a tiger with long teeth and powerful claws. The magician smiled, waved his magic wand, uttered some magic words, and poof, the mouse/cat/dog became a tiger.

However the mouse/cat/dog turned tiger discovered another set of fears. Hunters with traps and guns were everywhere. As a new tiger, he lived in constant fear of his life and once again called for the wise and powerful magician and asked to become a man.

Where upon, for the first time, the magician spoke. “As a mouse you knew nothing about the fears of cats or dogs or tigers. Nor do you know about the fears of men. So I will return you to who you really are and allow you to deal with the fears of being a mouse. The magician smiled, waved his magic wand, uttered some magic words, and poof, the mouse/cat/dog/tiger returned to being a mouse. The moral of the story is simple: listen to your fears and stir what you’ve got!

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK:Listen beyond fears.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

  • It is a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire and many things to fear ~ Francis Bacon
  • In the Nineteenth Century men lost their fear of God and acquired a fear of microbes ~ Anonymous
  • Fear has many eyes and can see things underground ~ Miguel de Cervantes
  • A good scare is worth more than good advice ~ Proverb

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Winston Churchill lived and listened through a broad variety of real fears. None of which seemed to include his wife. At a formal banquet in London, the attending dignitaries were asked the question, “If you could not be who you are, who would you like to be?” Naturally everyone was curious to hear what Churchill would say. Napoleon? Julius Caesar? Alexander the Great?

When it finally came Churchill’s turn, the old man, who was the dinner’s last respondent, rose and gave his answer without a hint of fear.

“IF I COULD NOT BE WHO I AM, I WOULD MOST LIKE TO BE” ─ and here he paused to take his wife’s hand ─ “LADY CHURCHILL’S SECOND HUSBAND.”

All Listening Leaders® should be so smart and quick

LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS

Kudos to Golden Circle Listening Leader® Joe Shuster on the publication of his powerful new book, “Beyond Fossil Fools: The Roadmap to Energy Independence by 2040.” Featured in Chapter 1 of our “Listening Leaders” book, Joe Shuster is a problem-solving, myth-busting, genius who illuminates the inherent problems of a world driven by “Fossil Fools” and, filled with energy foolishness. More important, Joe Shuster provides a crystal clear 30-year workable plan for providing enduring “Future Fuels” that will solve the energy problems for generations to come! The pathway to “Energy Independence by 2040” for our children and grandchildren is precise and crystal clear, provided “Fossil Fool” readers take action today.

“Fossil Fools” is a must read and deserves to be placed on “the world’s required reading list” for everyone who desires and depends on clean, affordable, and available energy for all future generations. Joe Shuster’s wisdom deserves to be listened to and acted upon by all serious residents of the 21st Century! For more information, go to: www.beyondfossilfools.com Congratulations Joe!

DO YOU KNOW HOW OTHERS PERCEIVE HOW YOU LISTEN? Find out by taking the Listening Leadership Behavior Inventory (LLBI). The LLBI is a 360 evaluation, web-based tool that is designed to assess how you perceive your own listening behaviors and also how others perceive how you listen. Listening Leadership® is the process of guiding yourself and others to positive results through the power of listening. The first half of your 22 page, individualized and comprehensive report will present information on your scores on each of the Ten Listening Leader Golden Rules. The second half of the report will present the comparison between your scores and your observer scores. The gap analysis of the 10 Golden Rules shows the difference in perception between your scores and your observers' scores. The fee for the LLBI is $55. To purchase the inventory and receive your 7 digit registration code, please go to www.ListeningLeaders.com

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:
  1. Face fears forward.
  2. 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
  3. Send us your listening leader insights, examples and stories.
  4. Start a Listening Leaders Reading and Discussion Group. Invite your Librarian to purchase our Award winning LISTENING LEADER book.
  5. 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.
  6. Invite us to identify specific needs for listening development of leaders in your organizations.
  7. Ask about our proven listening leader training programs and our customized in-house train-the-trainer strategies and our Certification program.
  8. 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

    © 2007 by International Listening Leadership Institute.
    All rights reserved