Commpolium
Ask. Listen. Interact. Succeed.
The World's Premier Community for
Communication across Cultures Co-Creation
A community to support you in understanding others, expressing yourself and achieving your goals.
To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different
in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding
as a guide to our communication with others.
Tony Robbins
Co-Creation Provides Answers to Communication Questions in Supportive Groups Where Everyone Discovers Solutions Together
Experience the power of co-creation, in which people with similar challenges come together to explore better ways of expressing themselves more confidently and understanding others better. Meeting with others, virtually or at an agreed location, regularly to discuss those issues that just don't disappear on their own. The power of minds meet to create the same type of interaction necessary to succeed in professional and personal circumstances. Many minds are always better than one, and the relationships established and nurtured provide additional, immeasurable value.
Co-creation is not training, seminars or group coaching. Members bring expertise to every meeting and assist others in looking outside their own limitations. The answers to those questions asked are based on real-life experience from others who want to develop themselves and the other members of the group. Everyone contributes and everyone benefits. The community is available on an online platform to get input and give assistance between meetings.
When you co-create on Commpolium, you'll receive:
regularly scheduled meetings with the other members of your group
connections to like-minded people worldwide who are striving to become better communicators across
cultures
lifetime access to our global community on a secure platform and all resources provided there by
members of various co-creation groups
support from Rhonda L. Bowen, chief steward of Commpolium with over 30 years' experience in
communication across cultures
Communication across cultures isn't easy.
Imagine yourself in this position: You are young, well-educated woman who is the head of a national office of a leading global company in your field. You also happen to be quite petite, and many of your peers and counterparts from other parts of the organization tend to be taller men from other parts of the world. What do you say to a middle manager from headquarters when he asks you when the tea and coffee are going be served, thinking you're only in charge of providing refreshments? How should you react? What do you say, or do you just stay quiet and not say anything at all? In a few minutes, the older gentleman will find out you're in charge of the entire office. And this isn't the first time this has happened.
This is a true story from a Chinese client of mine who got her Ph.D. in the Netherlands and worked for one of the best-known companies in her field based in Germany. We discussed this issue and decided that she couldn't grow taller, nor did she want to become loud and brash when she spoke to others. We chose a different plan. She bought some very pretty, unusual jewelry to wear when she met people for the first time. This way nobody thought that she was from the service team and this was a topic of conversation she could use as an icebreaker when meeting new people in a professional context. Many times communication is not what you say, but what you express in other ways.
If this story resonates with you, or you've experienced something similar, then Commpolium may be the place to find like-minded peers to work on your challenges and express yourself more confidently and effectively, saving you time, energy and other resources to do more of what you really want to do.
Is Commpolium right for you?
Are you a BEST (business, engineering, science, technology) professional?
Do you struggle with interacting with people who see the world differently than you do?
Do you wonder why you have to waste so much time and energy just to get your message across?
Do you wish you could just discuss what's important and not have to clarify all the misunderstandings?
Do you wish you had more time to do what you love not just fulfill your professional commitments?
Are you willing to participate actively, not just take it all in, to make yourself and others better communicators?
You may be wondering, what is Commpolium? Commpolium comes from a combination of words. The comm part stands for communication and community. When people interact in an intentional manner, everyone wins. Polium is part of the word thermopolium, according to Wikipedia, a small shop in ancient Rome that had L-shaped counters into which large storage vessels were sunk, which would contain either hot or cold food. People could easily purchase prepared foods - just as in modern times. And travelers or people new to an area could meet others and get information there. The image above is from a real ancient thermopolium that still exists in Italy today.
The idea for this community is to build a virtual thermopolium, as a place for people to meet and get “food” in the form of insights, support, and interactions about communication. Interactions among people often take place around tables, such as a kitchen table, where not only food but also ideas are exchanged. Since the food in ancient times was stored in an amphora, this image was chosen to use as the logo.
The logo has four colors that reflect the impulses that can come in the form of food and drink which contribute to our communication:
Brown stands for either chocolate, coffee or tea; choose the one you like best that gives you a quick pick-up or a boost of energy.
Green stands for salads and many vegetables, something to give you fresh new ideas.
Yellow stands for whiskey, a beverage to drink when thinking about something on your own.
Red stands for red wine (or choose white, if you prefer) often drunk when people are together and exchange ideas.
What Commpolium Is
Commpolium is a community for B.E.S.T. professionals to improve their communication across cultures. As in any community, giving and taking are both necessary and appreciated by all involved.
Commpolium is a space to share all content, ideas, insights, wisdom and inspiration for all of us to become more professional communicators. Right or wrong don't play a role, but accepting new thoughts and using them appropriately is a benefit for everyone.
Commpolium is an experience that promotes mutual understanding and respect for differences. Everyone who joins and adheres to the values and principles we share is welcome.
What Commpolium Is Not
Commpolium is neither a collection of online courses nor a classic membership platform. Those who choose to join a group based on co-creation make a financial and time commitment for a designated period. The community is open for interaction at no charge outside of these groups.
Commpolium is not designed for those who only want to consume. Active participation is expected and the only means to make sure that everyone receives benefit is by giving, not just taking, in the community.
Commpolium is not static. As more people join and new ideas and programs develop, the experience within the community will be dynamic and open for any impulses that provide value to the community as a whole.
Meet the Commpolium Chief Steward
Rhonda L. Bowen is a communication guide with over 30 years’ experience in
communicating across cultures, negotiation, facilitation and supporting teams.
As an American who has lived in Germany since 1983, she has worked with people from more than 70 countries.
Her coaching practice, established in 1988, has brought insights and support to thousands of
BEST professionals (business, engineering, science, technology).
She supports them in becoming more effective and efficient in their communication across cultures.
This saves time, resources and effort and leads to better results and higher success in business and personal goals.
All of this experience has paved the way for her to create this community.
She is dedicated to groups of people who want to share their insights and inspire others and themselves.
She knows this is the best way to creatively develop communication skills
to enhance both professional and personal aspects of people's lives.
She's a lifelong learner who is looking forward to inspiring, supporting and learning with you.
Find your best options for better communication: become more confident and improve your results.