Overview
Community Conversation is a forum for discussion and exchange among nonprofits in Southwestern Vermont. We hope that colleagues from across the region will meet, share, and learn about one another, creating new connections. The day will be led by Marti Fischer, a consultant, executive coach, writer, and speaker.
Following the keynote address, the day will continue with module table discussions led by Marti Fischer.
Schedule of Events:
9:30 Registration Check-in & Breakfast
10:00 Welcome & Introductions
10:15 Keynote Address: Marti Fischer
10:30 Module and Discussion Breakout Sessions (Details TBA)
11:45 Lunch Break
12:30 Final Breakout Sessions, Discussion, Q&A (Details TBA)
2:00 Announcements & conclusion
Modules:
Uncovering my communication style
This module helps you understand how others perceive you and how you build relationships and trust. In this module, we will blend whole-group, small-group, and individual work to understand how you communicate now, with time for developing strategies to build stronger relationships.
Me, talking about me- A personal and organizational elevator speech
We will blend verbal and non-verbal techniques to develop a memorable and repeatable elevator speech that can be used with donors, funders, and stakeholders.
Giving and Getting Feedback
Using the Situation-Behavior-Feedback model and incorporating elements of active listening, we will workshop giving and getting actionable feedback that builds trust and accountability.
Featured Speaker
“Achieve Your Next”
Communicating with Confidence in a Fast-Paced World
The world moves quickly, sometimes in unpredictable ways. For us to be heard and for our organizations to be remembered, we need to communicate clearly, tell compelling stories, and listen deeply.
Today’s session will help you better understand your communication style and offer communication strategies for building relationships and telling compelling stories. We will focus our day on three areas: understanding and capitalizing on your personal communication style, organizational communication that inspires action, and communication for building relationships that last. The concepts and frameworks discussed can be implemented with boards, staff, donors, and funders. You’ll leave the session with confidence about your communication style and tools that can be implemented immediately.
The day will be a highly interactive experience that blends somatic coaching with improv theater connection activities to build rapport, learning modules that introduce concepts, and opportunities within each module for peer-to-peer workshopping.
Marti Fischer is a New York City–based consultant, executive coach, writer, and speaker who thrives behind the scenes, helping others succeed. She specializes in taking the fear out of career transitions and in transforming managers into confident, effective leaders. Since 2006, she has worked with professionals at every level, from interns to CEOs and board members, supporting them in strengthening interpersonal communication, developing leadership skills, growing their organizations, and securing or shaping work they truly want.
A longtime writer, she publishes a monthly blog focused on careers and managing teams. She is the co-author of The Nonprofit Consultant’s Playbook and the author of the forthcoming book Breaking In: The Intern’s Guide to Getting In, Fitting In, Standing Out and Being Remembered.
Her career began in media, where she spent more than 15 years negotiating national advertising time on both the agency and network sides. That experience taught her that successful negotiation is rooted in relationships and human dynamics. These insights continue to inform her work as a coach and consultant. She also contributes her expertise as a member of the Advisory Council of CITYarts and as an advisor to Youth Advocacy Corps.
She finds deep fulfillment in watching her clients excel and enjoy their work. She is especially proud of her collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, co-authoring a series of workplace resource guides to help individuals navigate disclosure, communication, and relationships following a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
She is certified in Basic Mediation, a member of the Institute of Coaching, and a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, skiing, golf, and exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
More Information
REGISTER HERE>>
A light breakfast will be provided free of charge.
Library parking is limited. For those who are willing and able, please park offsite to leave space for daily patron traffic. The Zion Episcopal Church, located 0.1 miles from the Library on Main St./VT-7A, has graciously offered its lot for additional parking. The MCL offsite parking guide can be viewed here>>
*SNOW DATE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11*