D&I2601. What’s your CQ? Building Communication that Builds Trust and Psychological Safety in the Workplace

You’ve heard of IQ. Maybe even EQ. But what about CQ—your Communication Quotient? CQ is your ability to engage effectively across different contexts and with a wide range of individuals by signaling safety, building trust, and creating space for meaningful dialogue. CQ is an essential part of a healthy workplace and helps build high-performing teams.
In this interactive session, we’ll explore communication practices that foster respectful, supportive, and psychologically safe work environments. Using real-world examples and guided discussion, we’ll examine how to demonstrate advocacy from the perspective of those striving to be effective allies and through the varied lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. This dual lens reflects the important truth that people experience workplaces—and support—differently. Participants will learn how to signal allyship and support, how to recognize those signals in others, and how everyday interactions can either strengthen or erode trust. Expect a dynamic, conversation-driven experience with audience participation, reflection, and Q&A.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how a strong Communication Quotient (CQ) builds trust, psychological safety, and stronger workplace relationships.
• Identify authentic allyship signals, understanding how allyship is both expressed and perceived across varied lived experiences
• Recognize how unconscious assumptions influence communication and apply awareness-based strategies to adjust interactions in real time.
• Apply practical communication tools to move from passive intention to active advocacy through everyday conversations.