I have been aware of New Ventures Maine (NVME) since the organization was called Women, Work and Community. When I was getting my undergraduate degree through the ASPIRE program as a divorced, single parent at the age of 36 I was connected to people and resources through NVME that helped me immensely.

I’m a lifelong learner, continually working on myself and seeking resources to help with my journey. Growth is constant.

I am also a hard worker. I have been working since I was a teenager and have broad work experience that includes managing a fast-food chain and running three of my own small businesses.

Doing a job well doesn’t mean the job will go well. I have run into workforce communication issues and have struggled with interpersonal dynamics in my working life. I’m very verbal and sometimes language can be confusing or get in the way of understanding.

I’ve been with my current employer for over five years and have experienced difficulties with my small group of colleagues for much of that time. About five months ago I was feeling frustrated as I could not understand where workplace communication issues I was experiencing were coming from. I reached out to speak with an NVME coach.

Talking to my coach and taking the Workplace Communications Basics class really helped my situation. Learning from others taking the class was helpful and valuable. It was a small, mixed-age group of people with varied experience and we could really learn from one another. Even though I was in a unique working environment with its own nuances, I could take what I learned and apply it. I gained clarity and learned communication tools and strategies that I could apply at work and I’m continuing to practice those strategies regularly.

I’m grateful for the resources NVME has to offer and would highly recommend this class to anyone who is searching for ways to communicate more effectively at work.