Picture the moment when a leader realises their carefully crafted message has been misunderstood by their entire team. That uncomfortable revelation became the catalyst for transformation during an intensive leadership communication workshop in Statia, where professionals experienced a fundamental shift in how they perceive themselves as leaders.
For school teacher Rhea Courtar, the breakthrough came during an session exploring “feedforward”—a technique that focuses on future improvement rather than dwelling on past mistakes. “This workshop didn’t just teach me about communication—it transformed how I see myself as a leader,” Courtar shared. “I was moved by the diversity of the group and everyone’s invaluable contributions, the interactive and practical techniques and exercises, and the relevance of the material presented. But the real eye-opener was when we explored feedforward. It was liberating. The exercises weren’t just activities; they were mirrors showing me how I show up for others.”
The three-day workshop, held from 21-23 October and facilitated by Johnson JohnRose of Mazterpiece Communication, challenged a fundamental assumption most leaders hold: that their message, once delivered, is automatically understood. Chamber of Commerce board president Daniela Richardson discovered otherwise. “The workshop was eye-opening. As we learnt, our understanding of how and what we communicate may not be how it is received. We also need to place ourselves on the receiving side of the communication.”
This shift in perspective—from speaker-centred to receiver-centred communication—proved revelatory for participants across Statia’s professional community. The workshop equipped leaders with practical tools to bridge the gap between intention and reception, covering leadership styles and their impact on productivity, strategies for clear team communication, fostering environments for open dialogue and feedback, constructive conflict resolution, setting expectations that distinguish good work from great work, and feedback techniques that drive genuine improvement.
Paula Pandt-Pompier, a special needs coordinator, found the approach both impactful and accessible. “Johnson truly made an impact, and I hope more organisations get the chance to join workshops like this in the future,” Pandt-Pompier said. “It was engaging from start to finish, filled with fun and laughter, yet the message was clear and really hit home.”
The workshop, spearheaded by the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation, fulfilled a long-standing need on the island for high-calibre professional development in leadership communication. Maya Pandt, the director of tourism, expressed satisfaction with the outcome: “This workshop was in the planning for a while now, and we finally made it a reality. Johnson nailed it, and the attendees left quite enlightened, invigorated and with renewed confidence. Such a workshop was very much needed here on the island.”
For Courtar, the impact extended beyond individual growth. “I left feeling inspired, refreshed, more confident, and genuinely excited to encourage open dialogue, growth and collaboration amongst my teammates,” she reflected. “This wasn’t just professional development—it was personal growth that left Statia’s professional community stronger because we had this space to learn and grow together.”
The workshop’s success signals growing demand for transformative professional development opportunities on the island, paving the way for future sessions aimed at strengthening leadership across the island’s professional sectors.