After a short summer break and more than a month since the last meeting, an online workshop was organized for the participants of the EWA program, to further educate participants in specific areas of developing entrepreneurial ideas. The focus of this workshop was on the importance of empathy and active listening in a business environment, skills that are crucial for success in modern business.
After a brief introduction, Marija Mažić, project manager and business trainer, explained the components of active listening and presented these concepts within the context of entrepreneurship.
Through an interactive approach, Marija emphasized the importance of these skills for improving business, highlighting how they help in recognizing the needs of customers, employees, and business partners.
“Active listening, as a layered skill, enables a deeper understanding not only of the spoken words but also of the emotions and thought processes behind them.”
The second part of the workshop focused on empathy as a skill that involves putting oneself in the speaker’s perspective, recognizing emotions, withholding judgment, and communicating acknowledged feelings. It has proven to be essential for building trust and improving relationships in a business environment.
One of the most important parts of the workshop was the emphasis on applying active listening in various business situations. Marija introduced techniques such as… paraphrasing and reflecting which enables participants to understand the speaker and build deeper connections with them. She also shared specific examples of how empathy can help reduce stress in the workplace and increase productivity.
Focusing communication on both relationships and results
“In communication, there are two extremes: one extreme is focused on relationships, and the other is focused on results.”
Marija emphasized that as good entrepreneurs, we must be able to balance these two extremes to achieve optimal results. We can do this by analyzing the current state of our communication and then adjusting it to a new, desired state.
Marija Mažić at the EWA Masterclass Workshop
Practical part of the workshop
During the workshop, participants were divided into groups where they had the opportunity to develop their empathy and active listening skills through paraphrasing and reflecting techniques. By interacting with other participants, they improved their active listening and understanding skills. The exercise was designed so that one participant acted as a customer, while the other tried to sell her product, aiming to discover the key reasons the customer would purchase the product and then tailor her value proposition accordingly.
After the workshop, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from Marija and other mentors. This interaction further enriched the workshop, allowing participants to discuss challenges they face in their entrepreneurial ventures.
The next online workshop for participants of the EWA 2024 program will be held 26th of September, 2024.
Impressions of the EWA participants
The first EWA workshop provided participants with valuable knowledge and tools to help them further develop their entrepreneurial skills. The focus on empathy and active listening as key elements of successful business proved extremely beneficial, laying a solid foundation for future workshops and the progress of all participants in the program. Here are some highlighted comments from the participants:
“The presenter was open, natural, and spontaneous, which greatly contributed to the positive impression during the workshop.”
“The flow of the lecture was good. The workshop was very useful in terms of entrepreneurship.”
“Great workshop and presenter, well-structured, excellent exercises, and interaction.”
More about the EWA program:
“Empowering Women in Agrifood” is a six-month support program for women entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers in the agrifood sector. The program aims to improve the position of women in the agriculture and food industry and promote the development of sustainable businesses. Through the program, participants receive education, mentorship, and support to develop their business ideas in the agrifood sector. Learn more about the EWA project:
