HEARING FROM THE EXPERTS: Lauren Radford, Adrian Burns and Chansity Daniels were all panelists at the recent Chamber Connect luncheon.

THOMASVILLE- Imagine Thomasville held their quarterly Chamber Connect Luncheon on Thursday, where Chamber members heard from several panelists about the importance of the reflective structured dialogue (RSD) approach. 

Andrea Collins, Executive Director of the Thomasville/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce welcomed the crowd, stating the topic of the Chamber Connect Luncheon would really allow members to “get into the weeds of communicating through conflict.” 

Imagine Thomasville’s Workforce Development Coordinator, Katie Chastain served as moderator for the event, prompting each panelist with questions related specifically to communicating through conflict, before having attendees practice the communication tools. 

Panelists included Chansidy Daniels, Director of Talent Management at Flowers Foods; Adrian Burns, Executive Director of The Gathering Place; and Communications Expert at Big Oak Benefits, Lauren Radford. 

Chastain opened the questions up with Daniels, asking her to explain the communication trainings she holds with Flowers Foods and how they impact her in day-to-day conversations. 

“One of the trainings we do is collaborating through conflict,” Daniels said. “In that, we try and get in front of any conflict that may arise. We try and look at different scenarios and discuss how would we would like employees to work through those.” 

Daniels shared that conflict is natural and oftentimes necessary in order to get a better place. In order to prepare, Daniels also has all employees undergo a personality assessment that helps determine employees’ communication preferences. 

“It’s very enlightening,” she said. “It’s also a great team builder.” 

While Imagine Thomasville does not offer the same personality assessment Flowers Foods took, they are certified to facilitate the Emergenetics Profile, which is a scientifically valid and reliable personality assessment, to help participants understand the ways they think and behave. 

The assessment provides team members a better understanding of who they are and allows employees and managers to learn ways to communicate effectively with each type of profile. 

Burns, who is not only Executive Director of The Gathering Place, but a member of numerous boards, has seen her fair share of conflict. She agreed that personality assessments are helpful, but also spoke on how it’s important to make sure everyone feels represented. 

“One of the things about being involved in several boards is it always important to make sure there is representation,” Burns said. “If you’re a business owner, you may feel like there’s no place for you in the nonprofit world, but there always is.” 

Burns spoke on the upcoming industry tour and how if businesses open up their facility to students, it could change their lives. 

“Even if they are just open to having students shadow them, it can change a life,” she said. “We see communication as what is just right in front of us, but this type of communication reaches neighborhoods we may never see or even live in,” Burns said. 

Radford, who has an extensive history in communication training, due to her former position with the City of Thomasville, agreed with Burns, noting that is virtually impossible for everyone to have the same experience due to various backgrounds and socio-economic statuses, but a shared experience is possible. 

When working with the City, Radford attended a seminar hosted by the Fanning Institute at University of Georgia and learned about the power of RSD. 

“So often, when we are listening, we aren’t listening to understand each other; we are listening to respond,” Radford pointed out. 

Radford said it is important to begin each conversation with mindfulness, creating a safe space for others to communicate. Mindfulness is equally as important as creating boundaries in conversation, though.

“Both parties should have an equal amount of time to speak their minds,” Radford said. “There should also be ground rules coming into the conversation.” 

Ground rules can be as simple as not to criticize the views of others or respecting the timeframe.

Radford then challenged the crowd to practice the RSD approach. Everyone paired off, before being given one minute to speak. They then took a three deep breaths, before the partner responded with their opinion, something Radford implements when having difficult conversations at her place of work. 

Upon concluding the exercise, attendees were challenged to utilize this form of dialogue in their place of work, or at home during tough conversations. 

Imagine Thomasville thanked everyone in attendance and encouraged attendance at their next Chamber Connect lunch.