Dr. Virginia's Demo Reel
"Her expertise shines
as she walks the audience through various scenarios"
Jane Krajeck
To share ideas successfully, we study group dynamics, interpersonal comm, nonverbal, and similar very important communication concepts and practices. But that positions us as observers of others, not as the interacter with others that we must be. To interact effectively we must understand our own mental nuances, trains of thought, tracts of interpretation. Then we can not only better recognize those areas of behavior in others, but we are also empowered to use our insights to guide our own and their communication activity toward positive results.
Dr. Virginia Callens Gregg
As IUGTE Conference organizer, I listened to the wonderful presentations by Virginia. They were very informative, the participants learned a lot of new and useful information. Virginia is interesting and easy to listen to. Thank you for what you are doing!
Sergei Ostrenko, Russia
About Virginia
With my PhD in Communication Arts an Sciences led me to become a speech and broadcasting professor and consultant. While teaching, I also presented numerous public and private seminars and workshops nationally and internationally for professionals in myriad areas where fruitful speech interactions are paramount.
During this time, with my own video company, I produced an abundance of training and promotional programs for many profit and non-profit groups. Later, with the addition of my own tradeshow display company, I designed and constructed unique displays and graphics to assist companies in promoting their businesses and selling their products.
I test and grow my own knowledge by continuing to approach and learn from experts in psychology, journalism, sociology, philosophy, acting and other arenas, and adapt this information into the context of my topics. This has increased my acumen into an impressive breadth of concepts, theories and practices, and has empowered me to incorporate insightful and meaningful examples, stories, and commentary regarding general as well as idiosyncratic communications situations of specific audiences.
And hey, in speeches I put it all into layperson's' terms, design activities that are as fun as they are revealing, and empower my audience members with specific tools they can use, and not just notes they can proudly store in a drawer.
Dr. Gregg's individualized psychological approach to why and how we express ourselves opens an entirely new approach to understanding...
Jody Bendel, USA
Dr. Virginia's Talks
Dare to Map your Trains of Thought (and derail when necessary.)
Yes, ‘Dare to’ is daunting, but so is mapping your thoughts. Why? Because what you find may surprise you. And many surprises are pleasant; some are not. In the process, you’ll learn a few steps to identify and map your tracks.
First, you’ll discover if your thoughts ride on one or various tracks. Do they travel along lines of politics, religion, science, the lewd and crude, romance, or? Then you’ll discover how to direct your thoughts onto other tracks like creativity, math, philosophy, or even a specific like playing the didgeridoo. (Did you just say “What the heck is that?”) Third, you’ll become more aware of others’ trains, and how or if you’re able to have everyone’s end up at the same place.
This is vitally important because where your train goes, so do your critiques, instructions, motivations, and anything else you wish to carry to your charges. You’ll want your train to meet up with theirs. Does it?
Interaction: Involves writing statements, adding statements, and responding to statements, and smacking yourself upside the head.
Take-Away: People ‘find the track’ others use, and adjust their own track before responding. They’ll compose their thoughts to accommodate many different approaches to a goal.
Long-Term Results: Participants are more tolerant of and more easily adaptive to people who think differently, bringing more understanding, harmony and camaraderie to the workplace.
Are Your Decisions Based on Facts, Inferences, or Judgments?
A group sees a picture. When questioned, answers vary. A group hears a story. When questioned, answers vary. Why? Because we construe things differently. But how different? And how strongly do we adhere to our interpretations? This is a major factor in any decision- making process. Yet, while we’ve learned about group roles and dynamics, another variable, the clandestine root of people’s stances, determines their openness, biases, prejudices. If people are oblivious to both the fortitude and folly of interpretations, reaching consensus can become tumultuous even among friendly people.
It’s critical to probe and dissect the seeds of our divergent thoughts. We must identify their origins and recognize their nurturing to learn the basis and strength of our internal decisions when adding them to the external pool. Only then can we maximize our good and minimize our detrimental decision-making traits. When group members can check the sentinels and provocateurs of their own internal decisions, the external (group) consensus will be more fair, accommodating, and acceptable.
Interaction: A clever exercise will pit participants against their own decisions and the decisions of others, and they’ll discover first-hand and realistically all we said above.
Take-Away: Participants become keenly aware of the propensity to fall into trappings of past knowledge and ideas and become mindful of the need to recognize and avoid inferences and judgments in their daily behaviors.
Your Capability for Describing Martians
We are intelligent people. We are educated. We have had many professional, societal, and familial experiences. Whether we are new to our positions, growing and moving up in our work, or are an old horse who has seen it all, we are expected to envision future possibilities, generate innovative ideas, explain previously unknown discoveries, out-wit others in inventions and promotions, and do it as a valuable cog in our present circumstance.
How well can you do that? This session will unveil the conditions that stymie you and will expose the instances where and manner in which you can excel. In this session you will learn what is needed to clarify new horizons or old experiences to people who must visualize with you. You will comprehend the value of creating a common language among your group, as well as the importance of exciting them beyond their understood potential.
Interaction: Students will attempt to describe a Martian and other things they have not seen. They will discover what they can and can’t do, and how they can accept that in themselves and others.
Take-Away: Participants are aware of the need to understand cohorts’ backgrounds, life experiences, and personal interests to assist the group to become cohesive and productive in critical situations.
Long-Term Results: Companies or any group of people will conscientiously develop common and specific terms or codes, not to be secretive or keep others uninformed, but to hasten understanding and to guide interpretations and explanations. This will expedite successful communication which will in turn improve any process undertaken.
Dr. Virginia's Fans
Virginia is a natural born teacher. She makes you feel safe, and encourages you to explore new ways into what you thought you new.
Mike Savuika, Romania
The attention to the details is what makes us unique as artists, and Virginia Callens Gregg gives such precious advice that her positive voice echoes in our memory at the most challenging moments of our careers.
Marta Torres, Brazil
Actress, Filmmaker, Producer
As IUGTE Conference organizer, I listened to the wonderful presentations by Virginia. They were very informative, the participants learned a lot of new and useful information. Virginia is interesting and easy to listen to. Thank you for what you are doing!
Sergi Ostrenk, Russia
International Director, Choreographer, Theatre Performance Teacher, Conference Organizer
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Jody Bendel, USA
Jody Bendel, USA. Graphic Art Director, MN State University Moorhead, Freelance Artist and Digital Designer
Dr. Gregg is an entertaining speaker and brilliant at engaging her audience; you don’t even realize you’re learning when she presents. She uses games to make valid points about our communications and suggests simple solutions for improvement. Dr. Gregg's individualized psychological approach to why and how we express ourselves opens an entirely new approach to understanding effective communications - professionally and in real life situations.
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Virginia is a natural born teacher. She makes you feel safe, and encourages you to explore new ways into what you thought you knew already. I loved her combination of professionalism and relaxation. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to be taught by her sessions again
Mike Savuica, Romania
Producer, Director. Golden Shell International Film Award Recipient for “Blue Moon." Coproducer.'
Contact Dr. Virginia's Callens Gregg
The attention to the details is what makes us unique as artists, and Virginia Callens Gregg gives such precious advice that her positive voice echoes ...
Marta Torres, Brazil
