ESSENTIAL TRAINING FOR INDUSTRIAL SUPERVISORS.

CARROLLTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1999--

New Interactive Multimedia and Video Training Series from PRIMEDIA 

Workplace Learning Focuses on Managerial Skills for Industrial

Supervisors

PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning today launched their new training series, the Essentials of Leadership for Industrial Supervisors, designed specifically to train industrial supervisors in effective managerial skills. The series is being released in both interactive CD-ROM and video formats.

"Our industrial customers have stressed with us repeatedly that they need good supervisory skills training, but that there is a real lack of such materials for manufacturing and other industrial settings," said Bill Joiner, Vice President and General Manager of PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning's Industrial Services Group. "In response to this feedback, we have developed our Essentials of Leadership series which uniquely addresses the supervisory training needs of industrial supervisors."

The Essentials of Leadership series consists of eight programs that cover the fundamentals of effective management using examples from typical on-the-job situations in industrial settings. "Managing Yourself" is a program that familiarizes trainees with how to make a smooth transition from the role of worker to that of supervisor including delegation and time management tools. "Managing a Work Group" develops the skills for building and maintaining a high performance work group such as setting performance goals, reinforcing good performance, cultivating employee involvement in group tasks, and diagnosing performance problems.

Two other programs in the series focus on communication skills. The first, "Clear Communication," shows supervisors ways to improve their basic communication skills including effective listening, and giving and receiving feedback. The "Interpersonal Communication" program applies the listening and speaking skills taught in the "Clear Communication" program and demonstrates techniques that supervisors can use to defuse situations when people become emotional on the job.

The "Team Advantage" program covers the use of teams, roles and responsibilities of team members, and the dynamics of team development; in addition, this program addresses strategies for dealing with problems that teams face and tips for improving the efficiency of a team. "Problem Solving" teaches a basic process that can be used to solve almost any type of problem in the workplace. Techniques for making solid, informed decisions and implementing them successfully on the job is covered in the "Decision Making" program, with attention to consensus building and successfully converting decisions into actions. The "Discipline" program provides guidelines for preventing discipline problems before they occur, and approaches to effectively deal with these problems when they do arise.

"The ability of supervisors and managers on the shop floor to communicate and to problem-solve effectively is vital for the smooth, safe and successful operation of industrial plants," Joiner said. "Effective people skills are just as critical in these environments as in any other business, and the Essentials of Leadership series powerfully equips industrial supervisors with the skills they need to perform as leaders in their own situations."

The Essentials of Leadership series is available in two formats: interactive CD-ROM and video, each of which has accompanying trainee handbooks and an instructor's guide. The CD-ROM series is priced at $2995, the video series at $1995. The individual CD-ROM programs cost $450 each, and the individual video programs cost $295 each. The Essentials of Leadership for Industrial Supervisors may be ordered by contacting PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning (PWPL):

--By phone at [phone]

--By fax at [phone],

--By email at [e-mail]

--By mail at 4101 International Parkway, Carrollton, TX 75007

For further information or to order a free evaluation CD-ROM disk or videotape on the Essentials of Leadership series, visit the PWPL Industrial Services Group website at www.workplacetraining.com.

PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning, a division of PRIMEDIA Inc. (NYSE:PRM), is the acknowledged leader in producing and providing industry-specific education, information, and training to dozens of industries worldwide. PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning has pioneered the delivery of industrial programming by a wide array of state-of-the-art technologies including satellite, CD-ROM, and online media. For more information on the company and its information and learning resources, visit the PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning website at www.pwpl.com.