[James Griffeth, Jr.]

You made it to the first session of the SC Leader Training Program, and now you have a few days before the next live class. Before we dive into the content, we want to start right here, with each other.

This first discussion is your chance to introduce yourself to the cohort in your own words and to name what brought you here and what you are hoping to take away. There are no right answers. This is about starting to build the kind of relational trust that makes everything else in this program work.

This Week’s Questions

• Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to this program.
• What do you most want to get out of these 12 weeks?
• When you imagine putting Safe Conversations to work in your life or work after this training, what does that look like? Who are you hoping to reach, and why does this matter to you?

How to Participate

Post your response by end of day Friday.

Then come back Saturday, Sunday, or Monday and respond to at least 2 to 3 of your cohort members. Read what they shared and engage with it genuinely. You might affirm something that resonated, share where your experience was similar or different, or ask a follow-up question that invites them to go deeper. The goal is real dialogue, not just acknowledgment.

[Matt Carroll]

I’d first like to say how much I appreciate the structure and intentionality behind these forums and opportunities for dialogue.

My name is Matt Carroll, and my background is in Digital and UX Experience Design & Development. Outside of work, I love spending time with my fiancée Emily and our dog Finley. We’re serial hobbyists, audiophiles, Netflix binge-watchers, and big fans of slow walks with our puppy and spending time at local breweries together.

One of the biggest things I hope to gain from these 12 weeks is the ability to communicate with more confidence, clarity, and consistency, especially in moments that matter. I want to walk away from conversations more often with a genuine sense of, “That went well,” instead of replaying them afterward wondering what could have gone differently.

I’m drawn to the idea of creating stronger connection with less unnecessary conflict, defensiveness, and misunderstanding. I know that requires discipline, self-awareness, and probably changing some long-standing communication patterns and habits.

I’m hoping to bring what I learn into both my personal and professional relationships. Personally, I’d love to strengthen connection with immediate and extended family and continue building healthier, more intentional friendships. Professionally, I want to contribute to a workplace culture that feels more collaborative, engaged, and human, where people work better together because they understand each other better.

This matters to me because my relationships matter to me. I genuinely value connection, trust, shared understanding, and creating environments where people feel heard, respected, and engaged.

[Author]

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