UPFRONT GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT
12 16
People to Know Business Calendar
14 Getting Going 15 New at the Top 18 It Happened When? 20 The Trouble with Business
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NEWS & PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE CHAMBER NETWORK
BOOK REVIEW
Listen Up!
Good listening increases the likelihood of making better decisions.
By Dr. Fred Hill
into three sections. The sections are: Listen Up!; Sorting the Chaos; and Reaping the Benefits. My two favorite chapters are:
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othing causes bad decisions in organizations as often as poor listening. It often makes the difference between profit or loss; between a cohesive team or a fractured one; between a long career or a short one. Countless managers are told on their performance reviews to ‘become better listeners.’ But that’s more easily said than done. Bernard Ferrari, adviser to some of the nation’s most influential executives, has seen firsthand why listening isn’t a ‘soft’ skill – it’s the most powerful tool at any business person’s disposal. He makes a compelling case that anyone can improve from a mediocre listener to a Power Listener. It just takes a commitment to practice some new skills and habits. Here are a few samples of how some major business leaders view Ferrari’s ideas: “Bernie Ferrari’s work is not a set of theories, but rather a clear framework for how to use listening to get to better information and make better decisions.” — Dominic Barton, McKinsey & Company
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3 Respect Your
Power Listening; Mastering the Most Critical Business Skill of All by Bernard T. Ferrari, Penguin Group, New York, 2012, ISBN 978-159184-462-4
–––––– “Bernie’s ideas and framework are based on countless conversations in which he was able to witness firsthand the remarkable power of listening in business.” — Steve Hasker, Global Media and Advertiser Solutions, Nielsen –––––– “Bernie has broken down the art and skill of listening and created a framework to improve efficacy and judgment.” — James P. Gorman, Morgan Stanley The book is organized with 13 chapters, tucked
Business Central Magazine // M AY/J U N E 2 0 1 6
Conversation Partner. In respecting your conversation partner it would be wise to assume your partner has many of the necessary tools to develop a good solution when one is needed. A good listener may only be a bridge between the partner and someone else who can give better help in solution-seeking. L Connecting Better Listening to Better Judgment. There is no blueprint for improving how you think, how you make better judgments, and arrive at superior decisions. However, there are tools to do it. This book has lots of these tools. Dr. Fred E. Hill is an emeritus professor from St. Cloud State University
NEWS REEL INITIATIVE FOUNDATION HIRES Jeff Wig joined the Initiative Foundation as vice president for economic and business development. He focuses on growing and developing economic partnerships, creating business opportunities, and expanding the Foundation’s technical assistance program. Estelle Brower joined the organization as vice president for strategy and organizational development. Her primary role includes leading strategic planning and evaluation efforts, as well as guiding nonprofit programs, grantwriting and communication. Carrie Tripp joined the Initiative Foundation as vice president of external relations. She directs the Foundation’s fundraising and donor relations initiatives and links community leaders to programs and services.
PROCESSPRO RECEIVES RECOGNITION Pharma Tech Outlook named ProcessPro one of the Top 10 Enterprise Software Solution Providers for ProcessPro’s Premier ERP software. Pharma Tech Outlook recognizes providers that help clients gain total real-time visibility of a company’s information so that a company can run more efficiently and grow more profitable.