Conversational Intelligence

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Elevating Leadership One Conversation at a Time

 

Conversational Intelligence® (C-IQ) is the body of work developed by the late Judith E. Glaser and The CreatingWE® Institute. It integrates neuroscience, trust, and the “chemistry of conversations” to show leaders how every interaction can either trigger fear and self-protection or trust and co-creation.  

 

At its heart, Conversational Intelligence® is the hardwired, learnable ability to connect, navigate, and grow with others by shaping conversations that move people from “I-centric” to “WE-centric” thinking. 

 

What Certified C-IQ® Providers Do

 

Certified Conversational Intelligence® practitioners around the world (for example, coaches at firms like Lead2Success and Driven Pros) typically:  

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• Use C-IQ Catalyst Tools® and other proprietary C-IQ assessments to help leaders see the neurochemical impact of their conversations.  

• Facilitate workshops, masterminds, and in-depth programs that teach leaders how to elevate conversations from Level I (Tell) to Level III (Co-Create).  

• Design C-IQ Roadmaps that shift teams and organizations from “Protect” to “Partner & Co-Create,” strengthening trust, collaboration, and innovation.  

• Apply C-IQ to culture transformation, helping organizations build healthier, more resilient cultures grounded in high-trust, high-quality conversations.  

• Coach leaders and teams to navigate difficult, high-stakes, and emotionally charged conversations with more awareness, skill, and confidence.  

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The C-IQ Accreditation Pathway, created by The CreatingWE® Institute, trains and certifies coaches and consultants in several phases—from Foundations (self-mastery and awareness) to advanced levels that include certification in C-IQ, TRUST, and DNA Catalyst Tools®, and the application of C-IQ to teams and full organizational systems.  

 

Our Conversational Intelligence® Offering

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At Organizational Leadership Coaching® (OLC), Conversational Intelligence® is offered as a distinct, stand-alone modality rooted in the legacy of Judith E. Glaser and The CreatingWE® Institute.

 

Dr. Gary Charles Patterson, MCC is a Certified Conversational Intelligence® facilitator and provider, trained under the auspices of Judith E. Glaser’s organization. Drawing from this accreditation, he offers C-IQ-based work for both individual leaders and organizations.

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1. Conversational Intelligence® for Individual Leaders

 

A tailored, coaching-centered experience for leaders who want to transform how they communicate, influence, and build trust.

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Core elements can include:

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• C-IQ Catalyst Tool® Self Assessment
  Understand your personal conversational patterns, trust triggers, and protective behaviors.  

• Neuroscience of Trust & Threat
  Learn how conversations activate different brain states and how to design interactions that keep people in high-trust, high-creativity modes.  

• Three Levels of Conversation
  Practice moving from transactional “telling” conversations to transformative “co-creating” dialogues that shape culture and results. 

• Trust-Building Conversational Rituals
  Apply specific conversational practices that prime others for openness, honesty, and shared success.

• Application to Real Leadership Challenges
  Use live, current leadership issues as practice arenas for C-IQ tools—difficult feedback, conflict, alignment, change, and strategy conversations.

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Outcome: Leaders become more trusted, more effective in high-stakes dialogues, and more capable of creating environments where people feel safe, heard, and engaged.

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Conversational Intelligence® for Teams & Organizations

 

Designed for leadership teams, departments, boards, and cross-functional groups seeking healthier culture and more effective collaboration.

 

Typical package components:

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• C-IQ Introduction Workshop
  A half-day or full-day experience introducing foundational C-IQ concepts, the neuroscience of conversations, and the impact of trust/distrust on performance.  

• Team C-IQ Map & Conversation Audit
  Mapping where the team’s conversations currently sit—Protect vs. Partner, “I” vs. “WE”—and identifying specific conversational patterns that are helping or hindering progress.  

• C-IQ Tools for Meetings & Decision-Making
  Applying C-IQ frameworks to staff meetings, retreats, planning sessions, and feedback conversations, so the way you meet aligns with the culture you want to create.

• Trust & Culture Labs
  Facilitated sessions using C-IQ tools (such as TRUST and DNA-related frameworks) to build a culture of psychological safety, accountability, and shared success.  

• Integration & Follow-Up Sessions
  Ongoing coaching and check-ins to ensure C-IQ practices become part of the team’s conversational “muscle memory.”

 

Outcome: Teams move from guarded, siloed, and reactive patterns to high-trust, co-creative, and strategically aligned dialogue.

 

Conversational Intelligence® Integration with Leadership & Strategy

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For organizations engaging in strategic planning or leadership development, C-IQ can be integrated as a functional overlay to:

• Strategic planning retreats

• Executive off-site meetings

• Change and transformation initiatives

• Leadership pipelines and cohorts

• Coaching and supervision programs

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C-IQ ensures that how you talk about strategy is as intentional as the strategy itself.