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Breakout Session 302: Think Differently: How to Build Trusting Relationships and Environments for Real and Lasting Change

Leaders share a mission to advocate for a new, elevated level of care that acknowledges the mind, body, and spirit. This work requires leaders who are agents of change to think differently, to show up ready to advocate for patients, pitch new ideas, and build rapport with decision makers. The most fundamental skill to accomplish this mission is to build an environment of trust through intentional communication. We all communicate differently, and when communication breakdowns occur, it’s easy to classify someone as being “difficult.” But in reality people confuse unique communication styles with unhelpful behavior. During this session, participants will be invited to think differently. We will examine the tendencies of four communication styles. Each participant will build awareness of their own style and reflect on the elements of a trusting environment that are necessary for positive change.

  • Examine how being open to thinking differently can change our perception, to change our circumstances
  • Discover 4 unique communication styles and how to communicate with each one in a way that builds trust and leads to improved outcomes for holistic health and well-being for everyone.
  • Demonstrate practical steps leaders can take as soon as they return home to think differently to build trusting environments, for positive change.

Angie Gray, Owner/CEO, High Performance Nursing, La Porte City
Angie Gray is the founder of High Performance Nursing and the Nurse Leadership Mastery Program™. Through her work, she teaches nurse leaders and future nurse leaders the essential communication, relationship, and self-care skills to manage the emotional and physical demands of work and life, so that they can experience well-being and more joy in everything they do while creating better outcomes in all their relationships and for their organizations and patients. Angie has a nursing background and 30 years of experience in the wellness industry. She is a leadership, relationships and communication trainer, speaker and prevention educator. She has been featured on stages across the country, including co-hosting with Dr. Oz on the Dr. Oz show for two segments called the Future of Nursing.


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