Building Trust: The Secret to Non-Verbal Communication

Presented by Alison Haider

The ability to gain both instantaneous and sustainable trust is essential to our daily roles as talent development professionals. Whether we are intentionally conscious of it or not, the nonverbal messages we send to others greatly affect the level of trust we can build. Without trust, collaboration, leadership, and our ability to effectively facilitate learning all suffer.

As professionals in the field of talent development, we know that effective communication skills are high on the list of qualities we value and trust. Although we communicate all day every day, we often aren’t as effective communicators ourselves as we like to think. We must bring awareness to the nonverbal messages we are sending to and utilize research-based ways to use these nonverbal tools to our advantage.

Even if you are the subject matter expert in your field, a lack of ability to effectively harness your nonverbal skills can drastically diminish your ability to persuade others to the course of action you desire. Learning the secrets to your nonverbal visual and vocal tools, strategic use of presentation aids, and how to truly persuade will allow you to build levels of trust that ensure your messages are being received exactly as you hope they will.

From this engaging and insightful presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Develop conscious awareness of the messages their nonverbal communication is sending
• Understand the true goal of any presentation
• Understand the three components of persuasion
• Have an improved ability to utilize visual aids for communications
• Facilitate information more effectively in a professional environment

Bio:

Alison is a dedicated professional with a proven track record in the field of learning and development. In 2023, she was promoted to the position of Director of Learning at Tero International. This role builds upon her prior experiences as a Learning Specialist and Senior Learning Specialist within the organization.

In her role as Director of Learning, Alison holds a priority in ensuring a consistent high-quality experience for all Tero participants. She is a certified facilitator for Tero workshops and plays a vital role as a member of the Executive Coaching team, providing valuable insights and guidance to professionals at all levels. Alison is certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment inventory and values the ability to facilitate the journey of self-knowledge and self-awareness through this tool.

Throughout her career, Alison has prioritized a commitment to professional growth for both herself and others. Her professional journey began with a near decade tenure of leadership in the non-profit sector, where she honed her passion for learning and development while overseeing volunteers and staff. She designed and implemented diverse programming for youth, adults, and families, underscoring her ability to tailor training to various demographics. Alison’s expertise in active supervision, community engagement, conflict resolution, and diversity and inclusion training further enriched her repertoire.

Educationally, Alison holds degrees in Communication and Theatre, with a minor in Business. Her studies in Communication included a special focus on interpersonal communication and interpersonal domestic violence prevention. With a passion for learning, Alison continues to pursue professional development opportunities which ensure that she remains at the forefront of industry best practices.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Alison is an ardent theatre enthusiast. She has actively engaged as an actor, director, stage manager, administrator, and technical artist in over 45 productions, earning several theatrical awards including Achievement in Acting, Excellence in Theatre, and Southern Minnesota Best Actress. Her involvement in the arts inspires her desire for the participant experience to always be a safe place for collaborative learning.

In her leisure time, Alison finds joy in reading, hiking, traveling, attending community cultural events, and spending time with her family.