Listen Up! Women Hone Their Listening Skills In The Workplace
July 24, 2006 (Des Moines, Iowa) — Although many executives recognize the importance of effective listening and how ineffective communication can stunt company growth, few have time to think through their listening style and how it affects those around them. Listening effectively to the needs, frustrations and ideas of employees, clients and partners is paramount to breakthrough growth within an organization.
As a dedicated partner to women owners of growing businesses, the Principal Financial Group® will offer the complementary teleclass Now Hear This! - Lessons on Effective Listening on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at noon CST. During this class, women business owners will get an edge by learning the importance of effective communication for their organization's bottom line and how to quickly improve their own listening skills.
"Listening is a key and underutilized business tool that can benefit an organization greatly if leaders go beyond simply being present for a conversation," said Michelle Swanda, corporate marketing manager of The Principal®. "This class will teach women business owners how to listen to frustrations and ideas within the workplace and become better communicators."
Meet the Speaker
Judith E. Glaser is one of the most innovative and pioneering change agents and executive coaches in the consulting industry. Glaser founded Benchmark Communications, a firm that works with CEOs and their teams on competitive challenges, serving as a valuable partner to companies such as Verizon, Citibank, Pfizer and Merrill Lynch.
Glaser has appeared as an expert source in elite media many times, including the Today Show and Fox TV, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. She has also written several books including, Creating WE: Change I-Thinking to We-Thinking & Build a Healthy Thriving Organization and The DNA of Leadership, both of which made Amazon Business Books' Best Seller Lists in 2005 and 2006 and were selected by Forbes and the Business Book Review as two of the top business books of 2005 and 2006.
"In today's frenzied business world, executives must realize the importance of really listening to those they work with," Glaser said. "If management asks questions, they will uncover any negative feelings that may exist within their organization as well as ideas that could revolutionize their business. When leaders learn to ask the tough questions and really listen, they set the stage for interactive dynamics necessary for breakthrough business growth."
A principal faculty member and board member of The Limial Group, Glaser has served as an adjunct professor at the Wharton School of Business and has been awarded the Benno Curtis Entrepreneur of the Year and Quality Consultant Award. Named New York City's 2004 Business Woman of the Year and a founding member of The Executive Woman's Business Forum, she is currently on the boards of the We Are Family Foundation, WITH (Women in Transition Helping and Healing), State of the World Address and Positive Media Workshop.
Glaser earned her bachelor's degree from Temple University in interdisciplinary studies and, as a research fellow, earned her master's in human behavior and development from Drexel University. She also studied at Harvard University's Bales School of Social Relations and has received a Master's Certificate from Fairfield University in corporate and political communication.
How to Get Involved
Pre-register for classes at www.principal.com/women. Space is limited. All classes are held at noon CST (1 p.m. EST, 11 a.m. MST and 10 a.m. PST) on the dates scheduled. In-depth information about the 2006 classes, topics and speakers, as well as previously-conducted teleclasses via streaming audio, is available at www.principal.com/women.
About The Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies and national network of financial professionals. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $205.3 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 16 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.
1) "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2) As of March 31, 2006.
