Uniting what divides us
Managers and rising leaders are encouraged to attend this year’s session offered by Everyday Boston, a nonprofit that connects people through the sharing of stories. This pre- conference session is a unique opportunity to meet other attendees, and explore what unites us.
Special Thanks to Pre Conference Sponsor
Even before the pandemic, American employers were raising alarm bells about a “soft skills deficit” in this country. We’ve forgotten how to listen to each other. We’ve forgotten how to communicate with each other. It’s affecting how well we do our work and how satisfied we are when we do it.
In fact, public health officials are describing a “loneliness epidemic” at work, with consequences for productivity, teamwork and job satisfaction. Add to that the health risks—weak social connections and loneliness are associated with a reduced life expectancy similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day—and we’ve got a problem. Everyday Boston’s Curiosity and Connection Training is designed to strengthen the listening and communication skills employees and job seekers need to succeed in the workplace and beyond.
Through a series of interactive, story-based activities, participants practice active listening, framing effective questions, and asking follow-up questions as a group. Then, in a community-building exercise, we will pair up to interview each other about our life experiences. The two-hour training strengthens soft skills that are critical to surviving and thriving in today’s economy. Among them: Curiosity, creativity, problem solving, empathy, persistence and collaborating across differences.
In this diverse economy, we think anyone who’s working, or wants to work, can use the extra training in listening, communicating, and using their curious mind. Maybe you do, too.
Join us.
Cara Solomon is the Founder and Executive Director of Everyday Boston, a nonprofit that brings people from all backgrounds together through the sharing of stories, strengthening communication and understanding across the city. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Cara is a former reporter for The Seattle Times and The Hartford Courant. She also continues to freelance as a journalist. Most recently, Cara worked as the Communications Manager for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School.
Cara Soloman
