The Art of Artful Listening!
I've been doing a bit of reading in different fields lately and was reflecting on a statement Doctor Jerome Groopman made in his book, How Doctors Think. From his perspective,the best way to know what is going on with your patients is to get them to talk openly about their situation or problem. He said that, in his estimation, understanding comes from deep intentional listening.
Horray for Dr. Groopman. We have been talking about the art of listening for 20 years now. Listening matters in every aspect of our lives, personal as well as professional! Listening is an ongoing process and not a product that can be sealed and sold. Artful listening can only happen when we consciously commit to the process by giving our full attention to the speaker. 
No doubt this is easy when we're interested in what the speaker has to say. However during periods of high stress, personal or professional fatigue, high intensity time schedules or overload, the challenges increase almost exponentially. These are the times of testing!
So back to the Olypiads game...practice! Remember to remember to practice because all of our practice will improve our game over time! It doesn't matter what field we're in or what family hurdle we are facing, listening more deeply with an eye to the unspoken messages that might be lingering between the lines, will help us every time.
Thanks, Dr. Jerome Groopman for the reminder!
About D. Trinidad Hunt
D. Trinidad Hunt - International
author, consultant, trainer and teacher has decades of experience in the area
of curriculum writing and program development. As co-founder of the Élan Enterprises, Trinidad
developed and delivered organizational training programs for business leader,
not for profit companies and schools across the USA and internationally. The effect has been education for the entire
community.
Having been a classroom
teacher for many years Trinidad’s love of children has never waned. The past decade has seen her attention return
to the classrooms of the world. Her work is
ground on the belief that children hold the hope of future generations.
Her
internationally acclaimed books include
- Learning to Learn - Maximizing Your Performance Potential
- Operator’s Manual for Planet Earth - An Adventure for the Soul
- Remember to Remember
- Wisdoms Way – The Art of the Great Leader
- Roadmap to Success
Trinidad lives on the big island, but her office is located on the main island, you can contact her via the office:
Elan Enterprises LLC
47-430 Hui Nene Street
Kaneohe, HI 96744
USA
P. +1 (808) 239 4431
E. ElanTrin@aol.com
Adventures In Excellence
I had an opportunity to attend a Women in Leadership conference presented by our governor in Honolulu yesterday. I came away more inspired than ever about leadership today and the programs we do across the globe.
Eight women from various professions around the world shared their stories and their thoughts on leadership. I was actually surprised that it was targeted towards women. It was all about leadership with a capital L and leadership with a capital L has no gender.
Some inspired thoughts that I walked away with that I wanted to share with all of you:
- Leadership isn't about me - it's about we!
- Extraordinary opportunities are accompanied by extraordinary challenges! It's the nature of the game; don't resist it!
- Don't let the opportunity to make a difference pass you by! As the saying goes -
If not me, who?
If not now, when?
- Appreciate what you have every single day and expand from there!
- Good will and respect always work!
- Stay calm under fire!
- If you make a mistake, fix it fast and don't make it again!
Remember to remember your life is your great adventure!
Aloha from Hawaii, Trin
The Power of Intention
Life always has a way of tugging at my awareness and moving me towards the fulfillment of my goals and intentions. This tug sometimes comes in the form of a small inner voice, as it was when I was lead to the discovery of my home in Kona. In that particular case, I had written down my intention in my little intention notebook. I knew exactly what I needed and wanted: an open airy home with a view, a pool, wheel chair access to a downstairs apartment for my parents, and separate master bedrooms for guests. The voice was adament on this one. "Turn right at the next street. There's a house for you in this area." And I was lead right to the home that fit the exact description that I had given.
So back to present time. I've been asked quite frequently about starting my personal retreats again. So I've had it on the back burner of my mind, but I haven't moved forward on scheduling it. In other words Procrastination Polly was hanging out dallying with my intention.
However, the universe gave me a giant shove this morning in the form of a serendipitous meeting with a couple from California. I was having breakfast at a coffee shop that I frequent on the stunning Kona coast when a woman at another table noticed what I was reading. She caught my eye and started talking with me and finally asked me to join her and her husband at their table. They introduced themselves as Claudia and Cliff, a retired couple who had been visiting Kona every year for 27 years. Claudia said it was my energy and glow that caught her eye. She wanted to know where I came from, what I did, and why I was so happy.
To make a long story short as the proverbial saying goes, we spent the next two hours talking. By the time we were finished they were asking me to to do a retreat so they could come and learn meditation and some of the higher principles of life and living. The universe could not have made the message any clearer. I promised to get the program scheduled within the next three weeks (only because Lynne, who sets the schedule, is on vacation with her family right now).
So there it is. I have put my word behind it. We are going to be scheduling at least 1 five day retreat and 1 or 2 weekend retreats for 2009. I'm excited about it. These personal growth programs are still my passion. They are a joyous expression of our humanity, our goals, dreams and reason for being. The only reason I ever stopped doing the retreats was because of a very full travel schedule. But I'm home for some extended times now and I'm ready to give it a go!! I'll let you know as soon as they are dated.
Thought you might like to see a shot of the open air pagoda where I teach meditation.
It's on the lower terrace of my home. You can see the rest of the property at my website: http://www.elan-learning-institute.com
Until such time as the dates are set, Aloha, from Hawaii and from me... Trin
Day 1 Leadership Friday
It's Monday in Hawaii and I have had a few days to reflect on the results of our first day with our first group of students. I'm going to be brief... FANTASTIC!!!
We opened with a message from the elders of the tribe to the up and coming generation. At this point every student sat up and gave 100% of their attention. Introductions and bonding followed. Then we began the magical work of expanding each young person's awareness of themselves in relationship to each other, their community and their world.
We did lots of individual and group activities focused on releasing the leader within. As the day wore on, the students began to drop their boundaries, open their hearts and connect with their personal dreams and goals. The commitments to action at the end of the day were quite awesome... "Give up my sarcasm", "Step out of my comfort zone of shyness", "Reach out to help those around me" and more. I was definitely touched with the depth and breadth of these young people and their longing to learn!!
We neglected to get parental consent for photos. So I don't have any at this time. 
I do have one we took of the adult team from left Lynn Fujioka, me, Amy Weintraub, and Lisa Kupau my office manager. Amy is an Oahu project manager for Women in Technology and works with isisHawaii on a sub-contract basis.
I also thought you might like to see the slides from the day. So I am uploading them for your perusal now.Download seed_day_1_08.pdf
And why am I so excited about this? This is leading edge work with the goal of revamping education to match the students and the times!! I know there are many of you who have thought long and hard about this. I would love to hear your thoughts on all of it
Will connect again soon! Aloha for now, Trin
Leadership Friday
Great news!!! Day one of the Leadership Friday course was a great success! I have some nice moments to share but I'm on the way to a meeting this morning so I'll do that as soon as I have a chance to get to my computer. I hope to follow up soon... Until then, aloha for now!
Trin
Shifting Perspectives – Reinventing Education
Lynne Truair and I arrived back in Honolulu to stunning blue skies, a stack of mail and a hundred unanswered emails (the server was down at the Melbourne apartment). Top of the e-list was the successful kick off of the SEED Academy, an experimental school-within-a-school program.
The program is a result of a partnership between the University of Hawai‘i Månoa Office of Student Equity Excellence & Diversity (SEED), Kapolei High School, isisHawaii and Ainoa, Inc.. With Lynn Fujioka at the helm, the SEED Academy has finally achieved its official launch.
It works like this. During traditional school hours, SEED Academy students receive academic core instruction (e.g., English, history, mathematics, science. social studies, etc.) through virtual delivery. "Live†teachers, are available for course guidance and to aide in on-line navigation.
After traditional school hours, SEED Academy students attend project-based, hands-on, inquiry led courses by active professionals in their field. The 2008-9 roster includes: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and leadership (that's me).
The pilot program has already received rave reviews from students, teachers and principals with 4 other schools asking to participate in January 2009.
I kick off our 3 day course titled "Life Without Limits - Global Leadership in the 21st Century" on Friday. It runs for a full day for 3 Fridays in a row and has already been nicknamed 'Leadership Friday' by the students.
I'm at extreme excitement!! I have spent hours with educators, concerned parents and students looking for a rebirth in our educational methodologies. After 5 years of focused dialogue we have finally stepped forward with a new model. We will 'kaizen' (tweak and improve) it from here.
Aloha for now. I'll keep you posted as we progress!
The Power of the Modern Myth
I had an exciting opportunity to hear Richard Olivier, the son of Lawrence Olivier the great British actor. Richard shared the lesson's of leadership imbedded in the Shakespearian story of Henry V. Listening to Richard rekindled my passion for the power of archetypes and myth to reveal the path of purpose, of life, and of leadership. During my days in University I loved the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell and use some of their archetypal templates to this day in my 3 and 5 day retreats.
The morning proved exciting in more than one way. I was able to reconnect with a couple of people who had participated in programs that we offer through CSE in Melbourne, Australia.
Belinda Vertriest of Billanook College had an inspiring story to share. She was a year 7 coordinator when she took the 3 Day Women in Leadership program a year ago. She said that the program helped her find her voice and strengthened her confidence. So much so that when her boss announced her retirement, Belinda threw her hat in the ring, applied for the job, and got it!! She will be the head of the middle school at Billanook College next year. A BIG CONGRATS TO YOU, BELINDA!!
It's been a great trip to Melbourne and now home to my final days of summer in Hawaii!
August and September Aussie Trip
I'm almost ready to head home to resume my summer in Hawaii after two terrific weeks in Melbourne. But before I leave your shores, I promised I'd have the presentation material.
The VIEU Support Officer Conference - Download retrain2.pdf
Roadmap to Success
Yea, finally! The final edit of my new book just arrived. It's been 11 months in the making and the target release date is set for September. It was touch and go there with my production manager for a bit when I was told that each of the articles had to be a certain length and mine was just too long. Not so; my editor stepped in and refused to cut one line. So it went to press as is and I'm anticipating the moment when I will be getting this wonderful edition in my hands.
This book was a dream long in the making as many people over the years have asked me about the secret to my success. In the days leading up to the final production I was thrilled to be part of the working team along with Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, and Brittany Stewart, production manager for Insight Publishing, to bring this book into fruition.
Roadmap includes 12 movers and shakers sharing their personal views on the path to achievement. Having reached extra-ordinary levels of success in their fields of endeavor, these professionals will be talking about their insights and discoveries along the road.
I'd love to hear from you. Share with us your secrets to success in the comments.
