Title: Listening Leaders: The Ten Golden Rules To Listen, Lead & Succeed

Authors: Lyman K. Steil & Richard K. Bommelje

 ISBN 1-59298-073-2

Genre: Business

 The following review was contributed by: Roger E. Herman

 The belief that listening is a key ingredient to success as a leadership

 sits on the same pedestal as Motherhood, Apple Pie, and The Flag.

 However, just because we respect the importance of listening doesn't

 mean that we know what to do...or do it very well. Now we have a

 guidebook.

 Steil and Bommelje are widely respected as experts in the fine skills of

 effective listening, so they are well-qualified to write this book.

 Their credentials are impeccable.

 The book presents ten "golden rules" of listening leadership, organized

 as Preparation, Principles, and Practices...which lead to taking

 Meaningful Action. The authors nicely tie together good listening skills

 and leadership, showing how each skill contributes to and supports the

 other. Effective listening enables you to be a good leader, and

 effective leadership encompasses good listening.

 Page after page is filled with teaching, practical advice, and examples

 of how real leaders use their listening skills to enhance their work. I

 was struck by the broad variety of leaders cited and with what they had

 to share through the authors. The wise range of people used as examples

 in the book serves to reinforce the universality of the principles. The

 way the teachings of the exemplary leaders are intertwined with the

 balance of the text enriches the readability of the book: it's almost

 storytelling-a highly readable novel or collection of vignettes.

 Adding value to the book is a list of the cited leaders, providing each

 individual's title and organization and the chapter where the leader's

 advice or experience is shared. The book also provides a list of

 resources for further research and a helpful index. Summaries at the end

 of each chapter make it even easier to acquire the vast knowledge

 included in these pages.

 Recommended for current-and future-leaders who seek to strengthen their

 listening skills and their leadership effectiveness.