Team Building Training for CKON Radio Staff

Teaming building and conflict resolution were the two main goals to be achieved by training offered to CKON employees by Kyle Blanchfield. Ms. Blanchfield is a lawyer, mediator and educator and, for a time, a judge who worked with some New York State Tribes on family issues. Today, she continues to educate students on mediation techniques at St. Lawrence University and offers workplace mediation training to various organizations.

The training was held on Thursday, September 19th and Friday, September 20th at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Human Resource Training Center. The main topic for discussion was how to build a successful team for today and for the future. Everyone realized that to achieve team building one must look at what leads to conflict. The participants were introduced to the Emotional Climate Skills theory to help minimize conflict. CKON staff participated in discussions ranging from earning respect to effective communication and other topics such as egotism, judging and blaming. “Staff came away knowing that if there is conflict everyone must work towards improving the working climate. Judging and blaming doesn’t help any issue to be resolved” commented the CKON General Manager.

The management staff of CKON acknowledges they want to create a helpful environment for those employees who need it and are hopeful that they can bring further team building efforts forward.

CKON thanks the Akwesasne Employment Resource Center, Teiosakentison Elijah and Josh Sargent for their assistance in maintaining radio operations while the training took place.