Countdown to 250: Leadership & Listening

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.  

Winston Churchill  

*This Countdown to 250 series will examine the powerful role that early American Revolutionary leaders played in the 18th century—and the impact they can have on 21st century leadership development.  As the 250th (“semiquincentennial”) anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence draws closer, may all of us choose to positively impact those in our spheres of influence in revolutionary ways too. 

 One of the most fascinating aspects of the United States Revolutionary War wasn’t uncovered until the 20th century—and was not fully explored until the 21st.  Indeed, the Culper Spy Ring had been kept under wraps for so long that one of its members, the only female of the secret six, remains a mystery to this day.  The courage that Winston Churchill exhorts in the quote above was evident not only in the spy ring members’ bravery but also in their ability to listen to details that often eluded others. 

The coordinator of this mysterious group was equally courageous. On one occasion, Benjamin Tallmadge had to confront a senior officer, Colonel Jameson, who’d unwittingly released a British spy and allowed him to head to West Point. Tallmadge encouraged Jameson to reverse his decision immediately since the man had been caught with stolen plans to that strategic locale. Little did either of the two Americans know that Benedict Arnold, West Point’s current commander, played a key role in the traitorous activity they’d uncovered (for more on this intriguing part of U.S. history, see George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the American Revolution by Kilmeade & Yaeger, 2013). 

What would have happened if that spy had rendezvoused with Benedict Arnold, and both had escaped safely to the British who were awaiting them? Would West Point, a key military stronghold for the fledging American army, have fallen? And would that loss, compounded with Arnold’s betrayal, have proved pivotal—a physical and psychological defeat that American leaders couldn’t have overcome? 

Fortunately, both Tallmadge and Jameson exhibited courageous acts of leadership that have application for all of us today: 

1. Tallmadge listened to his instincts, and he was an intuitive leader. Having more experience with espionage than Jameson, he sensed something was awry—and he explained that fact to his superior officer.  When Jameson resisted (probably due to his own deference for his senior officer, General Benedict Arnold), Tallmadge persisted, displaying the “stand up and speak” kind of courage that Churchill himself exhibited in his own leadership.
2. Jameson, despite his initial reticence to recall the spy, listened to his subordinate’s suggestions. Colonel Jameson realized that Tallmadge’s plan could have backfired on him, but ultimately he understood that this “sit down and listen” moment might prove to be more important than either men knew at that time. 

 In Revolutionary Leadership: Transcendent Lessons from the Life of George Washington (Wilke & Wilke, 2023), the team at LEADon® explains that developing the exceptional skill of  listening is a top-down process.  In other words, you and your leadership team must put this skill set into practice—then you should intentionally cascade the art of listening throughout your organization. 

How can you begin this ‘revolutionary’ approach? Here are three basic steps to get you, your team, and your entire Corporate Family® started: 

1. Actively listen to others.  This means that everyone’s attention is fully focused on the individual speaking, which is only possible when other distractions (like cell phones) are eliminated. 
2. Ask clarifying questions.  When you don’t understand something being communicated, seek further information.  For instance, “I hear you saying (fill in here). Is this correct?” or “When you said (whatever is unclear to you), what did you mean by that?” 
3. Allow for think/answer time.  When it’s your turn to speak, give your audience time to process the information you’re sharing. This is especially important when asking questions, because people often need a moment (or more) to gather their thoughts and reply properly.   

 Regarding this final point, the team at LEADon has worked with some leaders who struggle with the silence that can occur when working with individuals and groups.  Yet sometimes this silence is simply “think time” that people may require before speaking; in other instances, however, certain individuals may not have been practicing #1 or #2 above.  So, you may need to repeat the information (make sure they’re actively listening this time) or ask clarifying questions of your own ( “Do you understand what I’m trying to communicate?” or “Is there something that I’ve said that isn’t coming across clearly?”).  Remember that role-modeling these three “A’s” may be the greatest lesson about the art of listening your team members ever receive. 

If you have any clarifying questions for the LEADon team, please feel free to contact us at www.LEADonUniversity.com.  While you’re on our website, check out the Resources section, including The LEADing Blog where you’ll find numerous topics that can add to the leadership development process of your Corporate Family. And be on the lookout for our next Countdown to 250 blog—it will be posted on LinkedIn and at www.LEADonUniversity.com soon.