In industries built around people—especially marketing, sales, and leadership—communication is the force that drives everything. Yet despite its impact, it’s still labeled a “soft skill,” often undervalued and overlooked. Communication strategist and public speaking professor Naimah Ward, who will lead a three-hour workshop at the RISE Medicare Marketing & Sales Summit in Las Vegas later this month, wants to change that.
Naimah Ward, founder of iSpeakConfidently, says effective communication isn’t just about speaking. It’s about ensuring the message you intend to send is the same one others receive. When those two don’t match, miscommunication takes over.
To ensure sales and marketing professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and credibility, Ward, will lead a new three-hour afternoon interactive workshop, “Communicating with Impact: A Practical Workshop for Leaders,” on the first day of the RISE Medicare Marketing & Sales Summit, February 25, at Caesars Palace.
The workshop, which is limited to 20 attendees, will begin with participants assessing their communication style—not the version of themselves they hope to project, but who they are today.
Participants will explore their habits, strengths, and blind spots, from listening skills to tone, clarity, and nonverbal communication. Only then can meaningful growth happen.
This isn’t a sit‑and‑listen workshop, she explains. It’s an interactive training designed to surface real communication patterns in real time.
Attendees will learn how to:
- Become more effective communicators by speaking with clarity, confidence, and intention—especially under pressure
- Adapt messages to different audiences
- Align verbal and nonverbal communication to build credibility and trust
- Practice active listening to clarify meaning, gather feedback, and re-route when needed
And the best part? Every skill taught can be applied the moment participants walk out the door.
Audience-centered communication: The approach that changes everything
Great communication isn’t about sounding knowledgeable or polished; it’s about connection. For Ward, being audience-centered is the heart of effectiveness. “Communication happens when something is said. Effective communication happens when meaning is shared,” she explains.
“When you're audience-centered, you're not focusing on yourself. You're thinking of strategies to convey your message to your audience,” she explains.
This is especially important in a field where you must engage or manage people with different learning styles, personalities, and expectations. She emphasizes that communicators must adapt—not expect others to.
From the marketer trying to understand client pain points to the sales professional building trust, audience‑centered communication is what differentiates transactional interactions from lasting relationships.
Listening well—actively, empathetically, attentively—is not only important but effective, she explains. It builds trust, fosters relationships, and leads to more sustainable success.
Whether dealing with clients, colleagues, or teams, communication anchored in empathy always outperforms communication driven solely by agenda, Ward says.
Why effective communication matters now more than ever
She also notes that technology has changed how people interact—and not always for the better. From reduced eye contact to reliance on texting shortcuts, the basics of human connection have eroded.
“People are now hiding behind the screens… it’s diminished our ability to share thoughts face to face,” Ward says.
Virtual meetings add another layer of complexity, requiring more intentional delivery and energy to keep audiences engaged.
The workshop, she says, will help professionals strengthen interpersonal skills across all platforms—written, virtual, and face‑to‑face.
It will also help attendees become more confident in public speaking, the number one fear for most adults. Ward understands this well; she once feared it too. She emphasizes that impactful communication isn’t about charisma or personality—it’s about developing practical skills that can be learned, practiced, and applied in real-world situations.
The outcome: Better communicators, better leaders, better teams
As the workshop concludes, Ward aims for participants to leave with two key outcomes:
- Authentic self‑awareness—a clear understanding of who they are as communicators today.
- The tools and strategies to make immediate improvements—and the confidence to apply them.
Ultimately, she says, the session aims to reshape how professionals think about and practice communication, not just at work, but in every part of their lives.
The RISE Medicare Marketing & Sales Summit will be held February 25-27 at Caesars Palace. Ward’s workshop, “Communicating with Impact: A Practical Workshop for Leaders,” will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Registration for the workshop is limited to 20 attendees. Click here for the full agenda, roster of speakers, and how to register.