Meet Kathy Ziola | Author of Live Compassion

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathy Ziola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathy, what do you attribute your success to?
I would say the most important factors behind my success are persistence and having something wonderful to contribute in the world. When I first learned Nonviolent Communication (NVC) I knew immediately that I wanted to become a trainer and teach it. The trainers at that first workshop I took 18 years ago actually dissuaded me, saying there were very few people who make a living doing this and that it was very difficult and chances of becoming sustainable in the work were slim. While I could see the reality of that at that time, I was so inspired by the work that I pursued it deeply, even ravenously, and became a certified trainer and built my own business. Persistence and unwavering commitment were key in sticking with it over the years as the business has ebbed and flowed. It took about six years before I could let go of my other work in the healing arts and focus full time on training and coaching in NVC and have a sustainable living.

Having a model of communication that matches my values and helps me live my deepest values every day, and seeing how powerfully it supports others in doing the same fuels my commitment and passion. Having that passion and heart centered commitment shines through as I teach and coach people in the skills and consciousness for having authentic relationships. I believe this contributes to my success as people report their experiences of working with me as positive, supportive, and transformative.

I have had a lot to learn along the way with many challenges and the insecurities of being self-employed. Persistence, commitment, and passion have carried me through, and continue to do so.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is called Communication Works. I offer training and communication coaching for the public, businesses, organizations, couples, families, and individuals in all walks of life. I lived in western Colorado raising my kids until 2012. I was teaching all over the state and realized that I needed a larger population base to draw from with convenience for me and participants. When my youngest graduated high school I was the one who left the nest so to speak. By that time, I was traveling to the Denver area frequently to teach Nonviolent Communication Trainings. It was an easier destination for people to come to from around the country or internationally.

It has been a challenging journey for me developing my business. I have been self-employed most of my life and I am an expert in the services I offer. The hard part for me is the ongoing need for marketing and recreating audiences to participate. As a psychotherapist, healer, and communication trainer, I was not trained in marketing and business practices and did a lot of winging it for some years, learning by trial and error. I have taken training in marketing over the years which helped a lot, and yet it remains my biggest challenge. The most important thing I have learned in that realm is that I am sharing something so very valuable and letting people know about it is really a gift to educate them so they can make an informed choice. Letting people know the beautiful transformation that is possible through what I have to offer is the key. And then trusting that the people who fit best will come into my sphere of influence.

When I learned this work starting in 2005, I traveled all over the US and Canada for four years to gain my training. And it was not presented in a well laid out learning progression at that time. It was a huge investment and big effort. I enjoyed every minute of it. When I moved to the Denver area to expand Communication Works, I committed to creating a learning path that made sense as a progression so that people can come to Communication Works as a very beginner and follow a clear path that goes all the way to advanced and into becoming a facilitator. I think this is one of the key things that I have developed that has been unique in terms of what was available for NVC training worldwide at the time.

As I progressed as a trainer, I wanted to keep growing myself. It has been very exciting for me to create and facilitate a nine-month program for people who want to dive deeply into the skills and practices of living with compassion through language and relationship. I love training and coaching facilitators. What I appreciate about this program, and actually all my courses, is that I limit the number of participants so every person receives maximum attention and coaching within a space that supports learning with a sense of comfort and safety. Everyone gets the opportunity to interact and engage fully.

I am proud of not only creating my business, but maintaining and growing it through some extreme family difficulties that caused me to lose my house which was my only financial security. I was also able to thrive throughout the COVID shut down, and am now balancing my work with caring for my aging mother. Resilience and a lot of deep inner work and support from friends have gotten me through some very, very hard times. I believe these things contribute to the strength and wisdom I offer others.

Something I am very delighted and excited about is that I just published a book entitled “Live Compassion, Your Daily Guidebook for Integrating Nonviolent Communication.” It was a big project and took so much more energy, time, money, and commitment than I had imagined. I am very pleased with the final product that was over three years coming together. At the request of numerous students telling me they longed for some way of keeping what they learned in trainings top of mind and in daily practice, I created this book filled with the basics of NVC and then 365 days of practices and inquiries to learn and integrate the work. It is interspersed with some of my original poetry and success stories from students and me for inspiration throughout the year of working with the book. I see it as a wonderful support tool for anyone who is learning or teaching NVC.

The variety of skills and tools that I have developed in my life and the experiences I have had using them provide me with a unique way of supporting people in their growth and in meeting life’s challenges. Blending skills as an NVC trainer, therapist, coach, energy healer, yoga and meditation teacher, spiritual counselor, and event organizer helps me easily relate to and support people of all kinds in many settings. Having been the owner and manager of a relationships training center in the 80’s, a co-owner of a wellness collective, co-created a peer counseling program in Delta County, and being one of the co-founders of the Rocky Mountain Compassionate Communication Network have been some of the highlights contributing to my success now, and are arenas in which living NVC has been extremely beneficial.
I am moving in the direction of supporting well-being for lawyers and legal professionals through training in Nonviolent Communication.

There are so many challenges for all of us in trying to find ways to live in harmony and to collaborate effectively. I am very passionate about this work. And I have at least three more great book ideas that I am excited to publish in the next few years!
Big gratitude goes out to all the people who have supported me in this work and participated in the trainings and coaching over the years. Together we create a more compassionate world!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Except for about 6 months of living in NYC and a year’s worth of travel, I have lived in Colorado since I was 12. When someone comes to visit me, depending on where I live in CO at the time, I do my best to show them the beauty and fun of Colorado’s mountains. Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is a must since I am in Loveland now. In Denver, I loved taking people out for some Improv shows at the Bovine Theater when it was operating or Denver Center for the Performing Arts for some great theater. The Denver Botanic Gardens would be another place I would take someone if we were in the Denver area. Heading up to Crested Butte is one of my favorites for a longer trip. Glenwood Canyon is gorgeous and hiking up to Hanging Lake is a treat. Heading out to Ouray for some hot springs action, cross country skiing on the Grand Mesa, backpacking in just about any high country in CO is fantastic! I guess you can tell what I love about Colorado most.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so very grateful to Marshall Rosenberg, PhD for his beautiful model of Nonviolent Communication and his key book “Nonviolent Communication, A Language of Life.” His legacy is impacting the world as we trainers continue to share his work in every arena of life in over 50 countries.

Website: www.nvctrainingsource.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathyziola/

Linkedin: a. https://www.linkedin.com/company/communication-works-nvc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathyZiola

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comworksconnections

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@communicationworks1284

Other: www.livecompassionbook.com www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-ziola