Empathic Communication Leadership Training & Executive Coaching

Conversational Leadership — Navigating Conflict to Connection, Cooperation, and New Possibilities

Mediation

In organizations I provide leadership training and executive coaching for effectively responding to conflict and breakdowns in team dynamics and collaboration. My approach with empathic communication is based in the international work of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and integrates a mediation framework, neuroscience, and mindfulness. I offer 10 "Conversation Maps" for navigating different regions and territories of human conflict and challenges. This approach helps people:

  • Transform challenging situations with the power of conflict
  • Enhance cooperation and collaboration
  • Build relational resilience with challenges and adversity
  • Foster synergy and partnership in team relations
  • Find new creative possibilities and emergent solutions and outcomes
  • Restore ruptured work relationships

My approach also includes a restorative Reconciliation Process for unresolved emotional pain, broken trust and connection, ruptured relationship, perceived harm or damage – when this is the source of the conflict or an aspect of it.

Through conversational leadership you:

  • Lead through empathic communication and conversation, producing results through connection and conflict transformation.
  • Have difficult and healing conversations that catalyze positive change and move the individual, the team, the organization forward into new emergent possibilities
  • Create the understanding, connection, psychological safety, and trust that supports cooperation and synergy

For more information on the "Conversation Maps," click HERE.

Coaching-Training Approach and Testimonials

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Schedule a free 30-minute appointment with John to discuss your organizational needs

Testimonials

“John Kinyon provided grounded and thoughtful training and facilitation of our leadership team through Nonviolent Communication principles. The team appreciated the opportunity to have space outside of normal operations to connect and work through sometimes challenging topics and conversations.”

— Melissa Marshall, MD, CEO, CommuniCare Health Centers

"Since our Leadership Team completed training/work with John Kinyon, I’ve seen several managers evolve to taking slower, more thoughtful approaches in challenging conversations - while discussing topics that could ignite fire. They’re better able to hear each other, to reflect and consider others’ needs, and to respond in ways they’re more likely to be heard."

– Bonnie Shea, PHR, Chief HR Officer, CommuniCare Health Centers

“John possesses remarkable insight into the inner workings of the mind caught in conflict. He has helped me understand my own blocks – needs and issues that have clouded my ability to connect with myself and others. I am deeply grateful that our paths have crossed.”

— Larry R., Attorney and Mediator, Former CEO of Venture-Funded Company

“John, I’m so grateful for the work you have done with my staff and me over the past 4 years. I want to thank you for how you helped me turn around the difficulties I was experiencing with my employees and create a new level of success in my business. You have contributed to these things by how you coached me to communicate differently and model the qualities and ways of relating I wanted to see with my staff. You have a great ability to support people being honest and authentic with each other in ways that bring them together. You have helped us communicate and resolve conflicts in a way that everyone felt heard and understood that then led to finding mutually satisfying solutions. Particularly helpful was when you mediated between two employees with long standing and complex problems - it was truly amazing to watch as they found the common ground of understanding and found the basis for being able to work together again with a growing sense of respect and mutuality.”

— Suzan Steinberg, Business Owner

“At a time of escalated tensions and unexpressed concerns, John's experience and inspirational style with NVC helped to facilitate a reconnection between the principles of the business. After the breakdown in communication, his skills helped create a stronger foundation of trust and empathy, where each person could be heard. This enabled us to move ahead into a creative dynamic process of strategies and goal setting for the company."

— Selma Aslin and Tehra Braren, business owner and company director

“Nonviolent communication sounds like a political thing, but to me NVC is a communications approach that I value in personal and business relationships. John Kinyon is an expert and highly trained NVC facilitator, and is superlative at resolving hard, entrenched conflicts. He has the courage and competence to tackle even situations where people hate one another, and can lead them to find a common ground. John gets to the heart of an issue, and, in the kindest possible way, airs every stake-holder's point of view. His practical judgment, life experience and quiet style earn the respect of the participants, as he calmly draws them to lasting clarity and closure. Any organization--any relationship--could benefit from John Kinyon's teaching and facilitation.”

— Ed Niehaus, organizational consultant