Communication is More Complex Today

Everyone does it but not always well. As a leader or manager, the stakes are higher and the risks greater. Without exception, my clients underestimate or overlook strengths, experiences, and ability that can improve communication. I use the tools below to help you assess and build interpersonal or cross-cultural skills. Projects are designed for you to continue learning on your own. 

Communication is Common Sense- and Common Sense is Cultural

Cultural Detective© is an experienced-based, online communication tool that improves communication in people and organizations. Developed by hundreds of global experts, it offers 50+ country profiles and lots of free information. Other tools include 'lenses' for experiential learning around:

• ​Self-Discovery
• Women & Men
• Team-Building
• Generational Harmony
• LGBTQ+
• Blending Cultures and Bridging Cultures

The Business of Culture

Geert Hofestede's Cultural Dimensions, to understand differences in social skills. While this global management tool focuses primarily on national cultures, many of the Six Dimensions are useful for understanding personal communication styles in US Americans. More

Equity Starts with Economics

Center for Partnership Studies was founded by Rianne Eisler, and offers free, Caring Economy data. CPS provides insight into a lost worldview and offers a roadmap to shift from domination systems to partnership systems, to create a future that nurtures humanity and saves our environment. CEC's four pillars of society: Economics & Values, Gender Socialization, Family & Childhood, Words We Use/Stories We Tell.

Focus on Shared Values

Resolution Washington uses a facilitative mediation process to resolve conflict. It's based on the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service's 40-Hour, Basic Training, an 8-step model that helps parties communicate better in the future and release previous conflicts. This tool is a key facilitation and training skill used in the workplace, courts, and communities.  

The Systems Are Working 

Community Adaptive Leadership is a Harvard-based model to create a region-wide common good. 
Adaptive Leadership (AL), helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in changing environments, by dissecting dysfunction and using conflict as a guide to find long term solutions. As a graduate of Leadership Eastside's Community Leadership Academy, at  Saybrook University, I can facilitate difficult, but vital, conversations that get to the heart of problems.

Neuro-Diversity: How You're Smart 

Multiple Intelligences - Howard Gardner's theory proposes that people are not born with all of the intelligence they will ever have. He introduced eight different types of intelligences consisting of: Logical/Mathematical, Linguistic, Musical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Naturalist, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal. This model influences how people get along and learn. Linguistic and logical-mathematical modalities are most valued in schools and US American white culture. More

Start With Strengths

Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets model identifies positive (internal and external) supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. Search's 50+ years of research has expanded to include global cultures. These principles also apply to communities, businesses, and organizations. 

Philosophies

YIN / YANG - A Taoist/Daoist symbol that represents complementary, interdependent energies: shadow and light, feminine and masculine, yielding and resisting, sound and silence. These are key principles behind effective communication and conflict resolution.

TING - This Mandarin Chinese character symbolizes listening with the whole body, since it's believed that only about 1/2 of verbal communication is conveyed with words- body language and visuals are a big part of messaging. TING is a key part of our evaluative process.