The small talk before the meeting, the informal debrief on the way back to offices afterward, finding out about the kids and family... What does this have to do with the workplace? SO MUCH! Building connections is crucial to our work across roles in higher education institutions. Oftentimes, we are listening to respond rather than listening to understand, power dynamics may skew conversations to be one-sided, or spaces do not seem to welcome discussion or the contribution of ideas and thoughts. This session will demonstrate how to model meaningful dialogue in communities of practices across roles where participants are heard, understood, and valued. The results: students, faculty and staff feel central to the work and ready to roll up their sleeves.