Winona State University (WSU) partnered with the Madonna Towers leadership team and consultant Julie Zaruba-Fountaine to deliver a “Building Your Strengths” training program designed to enhance communication skills, build trust, and strengthen teamwork among leaders.
By analyzing pre-surveys, participants provided valuable insights into their challenges and opportunities for continued improvement.
During an Exploratory pre-session, leaders at Madonna Towers recognized the importance of open communication and expressed the need to enhance team unity.
Participants aimed to improve communication efficiency, build trust, and address conflict resolution. This sentiment underscored the need for targeted training that addressed the importance of open communication.
WSU contracted with Julie Zaruba-Fountaine, a Well-Being Specialist and Change Management expert with a passion for empowering individuals to overcome these challenges.
Following the training series, participants noted that their understanding of active listening and communication strategies had expanded. Many had not fully appreciated the scope of these concepts before the training.
A respondent shared, “I learned that I need to be more open to others’ ideas and opinions. I need to listen more and talk less.“
For some leaders, the training sparked a newfound motivation to engage in meaningful communication and foster a more inclusive workplace culture.
The course was something that our leaders can apply on a daily basis. By identifying and learning about each team member’s communication style, we have improved our communication methods and it triggered us to be more self-aware in our interactions. The instructor did well at engaging the audience, keeping the session interesting and fun, while also teaching through example.
I witnessed a transformation in the leadership team’s dynamics. The pre- and post-surveys revealed significant growth in understanding diverse communication styles and leveraging individual strengths, with participants expressing increased confidence in open communication practices.
Another participant noted, “I have a better understanding of how to communicate with different personality types and how to leverage individual strengths to benefit the organization as a whole.”
The “Building Your Strengths” training at Madonna Towers has already made a meaningful impact, improving communication practices, strengthening team unity, and boosting leaders’ confidence. While challenges remain, the program has laid a strong foundation for continued growth.
By implementing regular follow-ups, fostering communication champions, and addressing systemic barriers, Madonna Towers can sustain and enhance this progress, creating a workplace where open and effective communication thrives.
