Alissa Carpenter

The new wave of leaders is upon us. Previously, we would assume the individuals with the longest tenure would be the ones in leadership roles but that is no longer the case.

Organizational leaders are found in all generations in the workforce and understanding how to identify talent is essential to the growth and sustainability of an organization. Retaining, training, and spotting talent is not easy and communicating across generations can be difficult. This interactive training will bring to light organizational challenges and opportunities to create a stronger and more cohesive generationally diverse workforce.

Not everyone thinks, acts, and feels the same way as you do. We all come from different experiences, backgrounds, and DNA, which can sometimes lead to us to butt heads. And being “different” definitely isn’t easy, whether you’re the only woman or person of color in your office, or the only person of a particular religious or political belief on your team. Or perhaps you just have a different way of looking at a project, and having your voice heard in a sea of the same opinions feels like you’re constantly trying to find a life jacket.

Alissa will empower individuals who sometimes feel like outsiders by providing them with the tools to have constructive conversations with their peers and provide a gentle wakeup call for those on the “inside,” who are doing the idea squashing.

Our workforces are more diverse than ever. Teams are working across geography, generations, and cultures… From virtual spaces and varied mindsets. So how do we achieve authentic understanding in the workplace with so many different people in the mix? It begins with communicating across our differences and with candor.

But it’s one thing to talk about communicating more effectively, and another to implement strategies—especially during those frantic times in the office when you’re under a deadline, feel pressure, and are addressing issues with people who you don’t always see eye to eye with. According to a study conducted at the University of Kansas, it takes an average of 50 hours to turn an acquaintance into a friend, and 200 hours to make a close friend. Authentic communication and relationship building takes time! It’s essential to understand what communication means in the workplace and how to effectively use this time to build relationships that make a difference.