Throughout history, a multitude of Listening Leaders® have discovered that significant values result from engaging in meaningful activities which have sustainable worth. In the process, they salute and support the important never-ending development and reinforcement of measurable listening attitudes, skills, and knowledge. Moreover, to that end, they focus on activities that nourish and advance listening sustainability by developing and refining enduring listening competencies. Simply put, listening sustainability calls for one's capacity to maintain, support, and endure, regardless of existing circumstances.
Listening sustainability demands individual commitment, conscious focus, and endless effort. As worldwide populations increasingly expand and, as the scope and speed of communication technologies continue to increase, the challenge of nourishing and sustaining effective listening will continue to grow. Coupled with never ending human conflicts and catastrophic human tragedies throughout the world, the need for developing and sustaining listening deserves the everlasting spotlight.
Although the "International Listening Awareness Month" is celebrated in the month of March, seasoned listeners understand that sustained listening knows no season, nor boundaries. To that end, committed International listening scholars, researchers, educators, family, business and institutional practitioners recently gathered to explore a multitude of listening related topics pertinent to enhancing sustainable listening research, sustainable listening knowledge, sustainable listening skills, and sustainable listening application. With an eye on advancing the field of listening, serious Listening Leaders® from all fields are invited to go to www.listen.org and become an active member of the ILA. Next year's theme is, "We ARE Listening" and Convention plans are already underway as we continue to sustain the study, growth, and development of effective listening.
This year, as ILA members focused on a diverse variety of listening related topics and issues, the common theme of sustainability permeated the lively presentations, programs, and discussions.
Although the participants represented an eclectic cut of society, and, although the variety of perspectives covered a broad gamut of interests and ideas, there was universal agreement regarding the importance of listening sustainability. Sustainability is imperative for both listeners and our larger worldwide institutions and societies.
To that end, we submit, Listening Leaders® will find profit in advancing and enriching listening attitudes, skills, and knowledge in a variety of practical arenas. Sustainability demands attention to listening research, theories, and practical application.
Although some believe listening research and theoretical development should be limited to the arena of academic researchers and theoreticians, we believe it must be tied to everyday practical application. In the worlds of business, education, church, government, and family, the opportunities to advance the sustainability of everyday pragmatic listening are great. Consider five compelling facts:
First, we are basically communicating beings, wherein listening has been, is, and will likely continue to be the primary communication activity used by most people throughout the world. Consequently, listening is central to the personal, professional, social, educational, and family success for individuals, organizations, institutions, and governments throughout the world. Sustainability is directly tied to our capacity to survive, thrive, and endure
Second, systematic and focused listening instruction and development has been largely ignored in all quarters of society. Thus, the compelling need and opportunity for pragmatic listening and leading development is great.
Third, although ineffective listening is costly, listening is a complex, innate and learned human process that can be dramatically and significantly improved.
Fourth, the reward and return of listening training substantially exceeds the investment of training and development.
Fifth, listening research provides an opportunity for constant testing and refinement of our individual and collective listening theories and practices. On-going development and expansion of listening theories will provide additional supporting material for trainers and practitioners. Focus on pragmatic development will provide individual opportunity to sustain both the gains and profits of enduring listening.
When that happens, everyone wins.
Listening Leaders Salute and Support Sustainability
Any attempt to create sustainable win-win listening relationships, requires integrity and honor, for listener integrity and honor lies at the foundation plate of stimulating listening sustainability. Integrity provides the foundation plate for all productive listening and long-term relationships. As Jean Baptiste Molire wrote in Le Misanthrope, "If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, and kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless...." So let's take a simple test by asking, Do you say what you mean and mean what you say? Are you honest in what you purport? Are you honorable and do your actions match your words? Are you a truth-teller or deceiver? Do you keep promises? Can you be trusted? Are you consistent?
In turn, as we listen to others, we will find profit in considering the same questions. Are those we listen to standing on the bedrock of integrity and honor? Do they say what they mean and mean what they say? Are they honest in what they purport? Are they honorable and do their actions match their words? Are they truth-tellers or deceiver? Do they keep promises? Can they be trusted? Are they consistent?
LISTENING LEADER TIP OF THE WEEK: Recognize and Applaud Deserving Listeners You Know.
GOLDEN CIRCLE LISTENING LEADERS QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
- What can't be cured must be endured ~ Proverb
- It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself ~ Thomas Paine
- My strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure ~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Nothing that can be said is so absurd that some philosopher has not already said it ~ Cicero
- He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so ~ Walter Lippmann
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