Listening Leaders Archived Edition

August 6, 2008

LISTENING LEADERS PRACTICE PHILANTHROPY

Listening Leaders® practice planned philanthropy starting with the gift of listening. Obviously philanthropy is exercised in many ways. At times with money; sometimes with time; oftentimes with talent. But, one thing stands clear. All philanthropy and giving are the byproducts of one’s heart and soul, and listening holds a central role.

For as our philanthropic friend, Nido Qubein is quick to say, “Philanthropy and giving are a commentary on how a human being chooses to live his or her life. It is an extension of one’s beliefs, values, and mind set. At the end of the day, it is an expression of gratitude for the country in which we live; the economic system which we enjoy; and, the professions in which we are invested.”

As a consequence, Listening Leaders® listen for the numerous opportunities to give to those in greater need, because it nurtures one’s heart; nourishes one’s mind; and, adds significance to both the recipient’s and giver’s life. In fact, planned philanthropy rewards both the present and the unending future.

History is replete with advice about the value of giving. The marker on Christopher Chapman’s grave in Westminster Abbey bears the date 1680 and captures the true sense of giving. It reads: “What I gave, I have. What I spent, I had. What I left, I lost by not giving it.”

Or, as Longfellow wrote, “Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare think.” In turn, John Bunyan reminds us, “There was a man, though some did count him mad; The more he cast away the more he had.”

Of course there are some who believe they have little to give, and that their gift will make little difference. Worry not, for Canon Farrar reminds everyone “What We Ought To Do” in the following words. “I am only one, but I am one; I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do; And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

In this spirit, Listening Leaders® follow the path of all servant leaders, by listening to their heart and the true needs of others. As they establish a significant and lasting legacy, they “Take Meaningful Action” by planning and practicing meaningful acts of philanthropy.

LISTENING LEADER® KNOWLEDGE NUGGET: Listening Leaders® practice planned philanthropy.

Many gifts come when least expected. Moreover, as the baseball season winds on, we are reminded that helpful gifts are often offered from unexpected sources and sometimes in strange ways. But like all gifts, potential benefits abound if one listens very carefully.

Consider an old story of gift giving that occurred on a hot afternoon in St Louis. The great baseball player, Stan “The Man” Musial, was having a field day against the crusty Chicago pitcher, Bobo Newsom. In three consecutive trips to the plate, Musial hit a sharp single, slammed a long triple, and hammered a towering home run. Bobo Newsom was frustrated beyond repair.

As Musial approached the plate for the fourth time, Charlie Grimm, the Chicago manager, decided to yank Newsom and take a chance on a rookie relief pitcher. As the rookie arrived from the bullpen to take the ball from Newsom, he asked a simple question. “Bobo,” he asked, “does this guy Musial have any weaknesses?” With charity in his heart, Bobo gave the rookie a gift that must have pleased all baseball experts. As he trudged off on his way to the showers, Bobo simply grunted: “Yeah, he can’t hit doubles!”

LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Listen for unexpected gifts.

GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift ~ Pierre Oreille
A gift confers no rights ~ Nietzsche
In giving till it hurts, some people are extremely sensitive to pain ~ Anonymous
The wise man does not lay up treasure. The more he gives, the more he has ~ Chinese Proverb
Whe It is more blessed to give than receive ~ John 20:35

A LISTENING LEADER GIGGLE:

Blaise, our Contractor friend, shared a story about a man who feared that his wife wasn’t hearing as well as she used to. He thought about getting her a gift of a hearing aid, but wasn’t quite sure how to approach the issue. So he called the family Doctor for some advice.

The Doctor told him there was a simple informal test the husband could perform at home to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. Then the Doctor explained, “Here’s what you do. Stand about 40 feet away from your wife and speak to her in a normal conversational tone and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet and repeat your message. If she still does not respond, go to 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.”

That evening when his wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner and he was in the den, the husband said to himself, “I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens.” Then in a normal conversational tone, he asked, “Honey what’s for dinner?”

Hearing no response, he moved closer to the kitchen and repeated, “Honey what’s for dinner?” Hearing no response from his lovely bride he moved into the dining room where he was about 20 feet away and once again asked, “Honey what’s for dinner?”

Again hearing no response he walked to the kitchen door about 10 feet away and again asked, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

Hearing still no response, the now frustrated husband walked directly behind her and said, “Honey, what’s for dinner?

To which she turned with a smile on her face, and said, “Ralph, for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!”

Sometimes the best gift Listening Leaders® can give is to ourselves.

LISTENING LEADERS KUDOS

Kudos to Golden Circle Listening Leaders® throughout the land that practice planned philanthropy in their many ways. Congratulations for your gift of listening: to those in need of an empathetic ear; to young children who want to share information about their new discoveries of life; to superiors, colleagues, and subordinates in search of someone to bounce ideas off; to suppliers, vendors, and customers who seek the gift of service in different ways; to all health care providers who desire to be listened to for your sake; to all politicians who deserve to be listened to carefully as we cut to the quick and make sound and informed decisions about who we give the privilege of leadership to; to our family members and close friends who simply deserve our gift of loving listening. To these and more, planned philanthropy begins at home and grows beyond the activities of listening. In short, we salute givers everywhere!

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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:

Give generously

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.

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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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