Because Every Relationship Matters
Today's Workplace Reality
In today's rapidly evolving workplace, teams face unprecedented challenges. From managing hybrid and global teams to navigating complex networks of relationships, organizations need new approaches to communication and connection. The cost of not addressing these challenges is significant - with employees losing an average of 3 hours per week to workplace conflict and managers spending 40% of their time managing tensions between team members.
Connect First offers a transformative solution. Our virtual certification program helps organizations develop the communication skills needed to thrive in this new reality, turning workplace challenges into opportunities for deeper connection and sustainable growth.
Transform Your Workplace
Through evidence-based, relationship-centered communication practices, Connect First enhances team dynamics and builds psychological safety. Our virtual certification program ensures your organization develops the communication skills needed for creating environments where every relationship matters and teams and their leaders truly thrive.
The Impact of Workplace Stress
Workplace triggers like high-pressure situations, difficult conversations, team conflicts, and overwhelming deadlines activate our stress response system, leading to increased heart rate, elevated stress hormones, and heightened emotional reactivity. This physiological response impairs our performance in crucial ways:
- Difficulty maintaining focus and attention
- Impaired judgment and decision-making clarity
- Reduced productivity and creativity
- Diminished capacity for clear thinking
Connect First offers a transformative solution. Our virtual certification program helps organizations develop the communication skills needed to thrive in this new reality, turning workplace challenges into opportunities for deeper connection and sustainable growth.
Core Training Components
Understanding Communication Patterns
Connect First begins by exploring how communication fundamentally shapes workplace dynamics. Through evidence-based research and practical examples, participants learn to:
- Recognize how communication styles impact workplace relationships
- Identify patterns that create or diminish psychological safety
- Learn how stress and trauma responses affect workplace interactions
- Discover the role of empathy in building stronger teams
Building Relational Well-being
Once participants understand communication patterns, they move into developing concrete skills for fostering healthier workplace relationships. Through structured practice and expert guidance, participants learn to:
- Master the fundamentals of Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
- Develop skills for creating psychological safety
- Learn techniques for de-escalating workplace tensions
- Practice tools for strengthening workplace relationships
Creating Cultures of Connections
The final component focuses on implementing these skills systematically across teams and organizations. Participants gain practical strategies to:
- Implement strategies for authentic workplace dialogue
- Foster environments where every voice matters
- Build trust through consistent communication practices
- Transform conflicts into opportunities for growth
The Journey to Connect First Certification
Phase 1: Foundation Training (8 weeks)
Your journey begins with our comprehensive foundation course that builds essential communication skills:
- Complete initial assessment and planning
- Engage in weekly self-paced learning (1 hour)
- Participate in live practice sessions (75 minutes)
- Build core communication competencies
Phase 2: Empathy Gym (6-18 Months)
Transform theory into practice through our innovative virtual practice space:
- Strengthen skills through weekly practice sessions
- Apply techniques in real workplace scenarios
- Receive expert feedback and guidance
- Earn progressive digital badges marking your growth
Phase 3: Advanced Performance
Demonstrate mastery through practical application:
- Show proficiency in workplace settings
- Guide others in communication transformation
- Document real-world implementations
- Achieve FSU relational well-being certification
Phase 4: Sustainable Integration
Create lasting organizational change:
- Integrate practices into daily workplace culture
- Develop internal communication champions
- Sustain ongoing skill development
- Participate in regular renewal and advancement
Program Benefits
- Enhanced workplace psychological safety
- Stronger team relationships
- Improved conflict resolution capabilities
- Reduced workplace stress
- Increased employee engagement
- Better team collaboration
- More effective leadership communication
- Sustainable cultural transformation
Ready to Transform Your Workplace?
Contact FSU RISE today to:
- Schedule a program consultation
- Learn about joining upcoming cohorts
- Discuss organizational implementation and start your own organizational cohort
- Join our learning community
Email: RISE@fsu.edu
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Connect First: Because every relationship matters
Developed through a groundbreaking partnership between Florida State University's Resilience Institute and Dr. Cindy Bigbie, Connect First brings evidence-based communication practices to modern workplaces.