Influential Women launches masterclass on hard conversations at work

Influential Women has launched a new masterclass led by communication strategist Lorilyn B. Alden on how avoided conversations shape leadership, culture and workplace trust. The session is aimed at helping leaders and teams reduce conflict, improve collaboration and strengthen psychological safety. Why it matters: - Avoided conversations can quietly weaken trust, collaboration, productivity and retention. - The masterclass is designed to help leaders and employees address communication gaps before they turn into turnover, morale problems or damaged relationships. - The session frames communication as a core leadership skill, not a soft add-on. What happened: - Influential Women launched The Conversations We Avoid: How Communication Patterns Shape Relationships, Leadership, and Culture. - Lorilyn B. Alden, a communication strategist, author, speaker and creator of the CHAT Communication System™, leads the masterclass. - The launch was announced June 17, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The details: - Alden’s framework identifies four communication styles: Creative, Harmony, Action and Template. - The masterclass examines how those styles shape behavior, conflict resolution, decision-making and relationship dynamics. - Participants are shown how to spot communication patterns, reduce misunderstandings and build stronger team connections. - The session covers why difficult conversations are often avoided and what those omissions can cost organizations. - The training includes practical examples, workplace scenarios and communication strategies. - The curriculum also compares the Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule in communication. - Leaders and professionals are given techniques for adapting communication styles to meet people where they are. - The program aims to help people create environments where colleagues feel safe to share ideas, raise concerns and engage in meaningful dialogue. - Influential Women is offering the masterclass through its broader platform for masterclasses, podcasts, editorial features and thought leadership content. - The platform says it focuses on spotlighting women leaders, founders and experts across industries. - Registration is available through Influential Women Masterclasses . - Influential Women also listed social channels on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook and YouTube . Between the lines: - The launch reflects a broader push to treat communication style as a practical management tool. - Hybrid work, multigenerational teams and fast-moving organizational change are making difficult conversations more important, not less. - The masterclass positions psychological safety as a result of better communication habits, not just a cultural slogan. What’s next: - The masterclass is now available for registration. - Influential Women is likely to keep using its platform to package expert-led training for women leaders and professionals. - Organizations looking to improve culture and retention may use the framework as a template for internal leadership training. The bottom line: - Influential Women is betting that better communication starts with naming the conversations people avoid and giving teams a practical way to handle them.