The goal of this workshop is to enable participants to develop both listening and responsive techniques that will enable them to communicate more effectively cross-culturally and when communication disconnections occur.  With an emphasis on examining the implications of intent and impact in all our communications, participants will learn how to identify keywords through personal stories, role plays and training vignettes. Participants will also learn the necessary skills needed to resolve conflicts and other diversity misunderstandings where gender, age, class, and ethnic/racial issues are at risk.

Participants will:

• Learn various interactive exercises that can stimulate awareness on issues of difference
• Discover different techniques to assess a variety of communication styles and practices
• Develop effective listening and responsive techniques
• Become more aware of the implications of intent and impact
• Learn a model to facilitate conflicts both personal and interpersonally
• Practice useful and practical mediation and facilitation techniques
• Become more sensitive to the effect of covert and unintentional behaviors
• Learn how to emotionally relate when a crisis or disconnect occurs
• Learn ways to create an environment where individuals can safely communicate their differences and issues of concern