Speaking & Workshops

Communicate powerfully with anyone about what you value.

Our introductory Breaking Through Gridlock workshop is designed for leaders, activists, and community-builders who want to develop the capacity to communicate powerfully with anyone about what they value.

The Workshop

An inquiry into your own conversations

This workshop invites participants into an inquiry about their own conversations, their own moments of inauthenticity, and the common pitfalls we all encounter in pursuit of a better world. During the session, participants develop the capacity to transform the conversations that matter to them, and explore the possibility of advancing this approach in their organizations, and as part of larger movements.

Through changing the conversations closest to us, we create a better world right now: strengthening our immediate relationships within our families, communities, and organizations, while experiencing our own sense of purpose and accomplishment. If we all develop the capacity to have productive conversations about the things that matter to us, the possibility exists to solve big problems, and to create a better future together.

Format

90 minutes to multiple days

The workshop works well as a three-hour session. The minimum time for an impactful workshop is 90 minutes; multi-day engagements create a structure for several iterations of action and reflection.

Audience

10 to 500 participants

Using live-response technology, workshops of all sizes feel like small, intimate discussions. Shorter talks offer people insights into what could be possible.

Consulting

Custom engagements

We run workshops and consult for companies, organizations, communities, and investor groups interested in changing conversations to effect positive change.

Participant Experiences

What participants say

I had gotten stuck with a VP of my company, as I repeatedly proposed a change of course for a major project. In the workshop, I saw that I had been arrogant and overbearing in these conversations, and decided to try out something new. Literally the next day, a bargain was struck.

Brent Segal, R&D Executive, Lockheed Martin

It turns out that the best way to improve conversations about sustainability (or anything else) is to go deeper. Not deeper into the subject matter, but deeper into yourself so that you better understand how to overcome your own personal barriers to better communication. These insights are already helping me at work and at home.

Scot Case

This workshop provides key tools to address difficult conversations in work as well as life.

Jason Metnick, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Forestry Initiative

I learned the importance and power of planting a seed in each and every conversation.

Roman Smith, Director, Sustainability Operations, AT&T

The reality is that sustainability is all about change, and making change creates difficult conversations. This work provides a positive, open and honest way to have these difficult conversations that both maximizes effectiveness and strengthens relationships.

Ali Ahmed, Senior Manager, Global Energy Management and Sustainability, Cisco Systems

This was a stellar workshop for our constituents who are professionals in retail and consumer products companies. Participants powerfully reflected on how they think and talk about sustainability, and found ways to be more effective in their roles.

Adam Siegel, VP, Sustainability & Retail Operations, Retail Industry Leaders Association
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