On Friday, March 13, 2026, the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey held a Communication Workshop as part of its Educational Series at its offices in Edison, New Jersey.

The session, “Surviving in The Communication Jungle®: Concrete Tactics for Improving Relationships with Others,” focused on helping participants better understand communication styles and strengthen workplace relationships. In today’s diverse work environments, professionals often interact with colleagues who bring different backgrounds, perspectives, and expectations. The workshop explored how factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic background, and regional differences can influence communication and workplace dynamics.

Using Business Training Works’ Communication Jungle® assessment, attendees identified their personal communication styles - lion, peacock, dove, or turtle - and learned how those styles affect interactions with others. The program also introduced practical strategies for adapting communication approaches, improving collaboration, and navigating challenging conversations.

“Strong communication is essential to building effective teams,” said Shamara Gatling-Davila, Education Manager at the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey. “Workshops like this give our members practical tools to better understand different communication styles and strengthen relationships both in the office and on the jobsite.”

Participants left with actionable tools, including the BRIDGE model for addressing communication challenges and strategies for building stronger relationships across teams. The workshop is one of several professional development programs ACCNJ offers throughout the year to support member companies and their workforce.