We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cheryl Gerde a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cheryl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I began my business using art for awareness. I was hosting social events and offering training but I realized those should probably be separate services. So I split them into two separate companies. Now needing a new name for the training side, I thought about what I was trying to accomplish. Since I try to improve communication I thought about what that takes. We all communicate, sometimes with intention, sometimes with little thought. It’s really the moments of intention where any change can occur.

Similarly, in art, negative space is the area around and between what is usually considered the main attraction. In music it is the rest between notes, in dance it is stillness or transition between movements, in visual art it is the background that supports the subject matter. The silence, stillness, and space are what help inform meaning in the work of art. Similarly, the reflective moments between our actions and reactions are what inform the choices we make! Communication is an art!

The Space Between was the right name for this process of reflecting and choosing better communication that I use in effective training. The Space Between is where connection can occur and that’s my ultimate mission!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always been curious about people… what makes them tick, how I can understand them better, and what relationships can create beyond what just a single person can do. Education was a natural profession for me since I like to create and share ideas with others. I also wanted to “do big things” as I realized in my childhood. And after 20 years in academia, franchise training, research, and public education, I was ready to dream big enough to put my entrepreneurial spirit to the test.

Simultaneously, my personal life has always been full of art and imagination. As a life-long dancer, movement completely captivates and fascinates me! I have had the great fortune to train in many dance styles, in a variety of settings, across the country throughout my life. My life changed though even more when I was introduced to theater improvisation, specifically through the lens of self awareness. The combination of these 2 arts gave me the modality I would later use to build culture and connection through joyful means.

So, I get asked a lot “So, how this works?”
In my new model, I lead teams through 5 half day experiences that cover awareness, non-verbal communication, assumptions, validation, and boundary setting. This is all accomplished through play, games, and art! Imagine tapping out rhythms with your coworkers, playing human tic tac toe, or making a group mural with post-it notes… It feels like fun teambuilding or a happy hour at work BUT there are true results that come with the experiences. I utilize research and frameworks to highlight and reflect on the communication that comes from within individuals and between people in the groups. In addition, every participant is seen, heard, and honored during every visit! Between visits I provide individual exercises and reflections to support the experiences or can be hired on a contract basis for more intense needs.

The results usually surface first as an increase in individual awareness and improved teamwork, which then leads to improved conflict resolution, improved decision making, and ultimately, increased job satisfaction. When teams have common communication vocabulary and strategies, productivity increases and that means more bottom line results for the company!

I really try to meet participants where they are. I create a safe environment for everyone to experience challenge and growth. I am most proud of my ability to bring joy and learning to people in a gentle way that makes our ability to work together easier and more enjoyable. I want to live in a world with more empathy, more intentionality, and more fun! It is hard to be human but it is possible to choose more joy!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Most of the time my clients have come from networking and talking about what I do. I find that when I’m bubbling with enthusiasm, people want to understand the secret to exuberance and passion. I also use social media platforms but find word of mouth from those that have experienced results has created the best draw.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

My book collection and the library have definitely supported (and continue to support) my entrepreneurial journey. ‘Deep Human Connection’ by Stephen Cope really put a wholistic view on connection for me. I also like the ‘Go-Givers Sell More’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann which reinforced and expanded upon being service oriented in business. I truly believe if you serve people in their best interest, selling is unnecessary in business!

Contact Info:

• Website: connectingthespacebetween.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectingthespacebetween/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnectingTheSpaceBetween
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thespacebetween/