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Being overheard is unnerving for leaders (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sheikhs

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'leaders' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Arab leaders ' mean 'sheikhs' so perhaps 'leaders' could also mean 'sheikhs')

'being overheard is unnerving' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'being' could be 'sheik' (sheik is a kind of being) and 'sheik' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sheikhs that I've seen before include "Arab leaders" , "Arab rulers" , "Arab chiefs" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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