CASE STUDY
Communi-cating for Impact
with DHL Women in Leadership
Introduction and Background
DHL hosts an annual Women in Leadership Conference, bringing together top female talent for a week of inspiration and learning. In a recent conference held in Istanbul, Inclusionem was privileged to support the Women in DGF (DHL Global Forwarding) Conference through a "Communicating for Impact" Workshop.
The primary aim of this workshop was to raise awareness among the participants about their communication styles, the voices they use in different contexts, and whether those voices are effective in achieving their intended impact. The focus was on helping them align their communication intentions with actual impact and encouraging them to reflect on why they communicate the way they do and what might be hindering them from communicating as they desire.
Objectives
The key objectives of the workshop were as follows:
Awareness of Communication Styles: To help participants understand their communication styles, particularly the voices they are most comfortable using.
Alignment of Intention and Impact: To guide participants in aligning their communication intentions with the impact they wish to create.
Reflection on Communication Challenges: To provide space for participants to reflect on the factors influencing their communication choices and identify barriers to effective communication.
Strategies and Initiatives
To achieve these objectives, a two-fold approach was employed:
Voiceprint Assessment: Before the face-to-face workshop, participants completed an online communications assessment called Voiceprint. Inclusionem is the only provider of this assessment in the Middle East. Voiceprint utilizes a model of nine different voices to map an individual's preferred communication style. It also highlights the voices used under pressure and assesses how one comes across, shedding light on the actual impact of their communications.
Interactive Face-to-Face Workshop: The workshop's core consisted of interactive exercises focused on communication. Participants were guided on how to apply strategies to use or modify their voices to achieve their desired impact.
Challenges and Solutions
One of the key challenges in any workshop is encouraging participants to step out of their comfort zones and critically examine their communication habits. In this workshop, the solution lay in creating a safe and non-judgmental environment where participants could openly discuss their communication challenges and receive constructive feedback and strategies to help them enhance their preferred voices.
Results and Impact
The workshop yielded tangible results:
Practical and Interactive Learning: Participants engaged in practical, interactive learning that went beyond self-awareness. They were challenged to bridge the gap between their communication intentions and the impact they were having.
Tools for Change: Attendees left the workshop equipped with tools and strategies to shift and reframe their communication styles. They were empowered to communicate more effectively in various contexts.
Conclusion
The "Communicating for Impact" Workshop offered by Inclusionem at the DGF MEA Women in Leadership Conference was instrumental in helping top female talent understand the nuances of their communication styles. It encouraged reflection, self-awareness, and a commitment to aligning communication intentions with impact. By utilizing the Voiceprint assessment and providing interactive face-to-face sessions, participants gained valuable insights and practical tools to enhance their communication effectiveness. This case study showcases the value of empowering individuals to communicate with intention and impact, ultimately contributing to their success in leadership roles.