Weekly, on Wednesday mornings at the Lakeway Activity Center, members of the long-standing Lakeway Men’s Breakfast Club gather, as they have for decades—for coffee, donuts, camaraderie, and a guest speaker. Active since at least 1988, the gathering has become a cherished local tradition for many Lakeway men, offering both fellowship and opportunities to learn from speakers representing a wide range of professional backgrounds and community leadership roles.

This morning’s guest speaker was Stephanie Threinen, founder of Cool, Comms, Collected, who many members already recognized through her work in the community managing communications for the Lakeway Municipal Utility District, a local water utility. For this presentation, Stephanie joined the group in her role as a professional communicator, sharing insights from her Cool, Comms, Collected workshop series—five free community workshops she hosts at the Lake Travis Community Library.

Condensing the key ideas from the multi-session series into a single interactive presentation, Stephanie introduced participants to practical strategies for becoming more intentional communicators in everyday conversations. The discussion focused on several core topics, including:

• The 3 C’s of Effective Communication – emphasizing clarity, curiosity, and connection as guiding principles for productive dialogue.
• Active vs. Passive Listening – understanding the difference between simply hearing words and fully engaging with a speaker’s message.
• Reading Non-Verbal Clues – recognizing how body language, tone, and facial expressions often communicate as much as spoken words.
• Mindfulness in Conversation – staying present and attentive rather than thinking ahead to what to say next.
• Asking Better Questions – using thoughtful questions to deepen understanding and encourage meaningful dialogue.

True to the format of the Cool, Comms, Collected workshops, the presentation was interactive and conversational. Members of the Breakfast Club—many of whom are highly educated retirees with diverse professional backgrounds—were quick to engage in the discussion, asking thoughtful questions and sharing examples from their own experiences.

One participant raised a scenario that resonated with many in the room: he described how conversations with adult children or grandchildren can sometimes become tense when discussing topics like career choices, finances, or differing viewpoints. He asked how to keep the conversation productive without it turning into an argument or sounding like a lecture.

Stephanie used the example to highlight the value of active listening and curiosity. Rather than immediately offering advice or a solution, she suggested starting with open-ended questions such as “Tell me more about why you’re thinking about it that way” or “What’s most important to you in that decision?” Approaching the conversation with curiosity instead of correction can often lower defensiveness and open the door for more meaningful dialogue.

Other participants posed similar real-life situations, asking how she might respond in different communication challenges. In response, Stephanie emphasized that there is rarely a single “correct” way to communicate.

Each person and situation is different, so effective communication often requires observation, experimentation, and adjustment—trying an approach, reading the response, and adapting as needed.

This perspective resonated with the group and sparked additional conversation about how communication skills evolve over time and how intentional listening can strengthen both personal relationships and community connections.

The morning concluded in the spirit that has sustained the Lakeway Men’s Breakfast Club for nearly four decades—neighbors learning from one another, sharing ideas, and enjoying thoughtful conversation over coffee. Stephanie’s presentation offered practical tools and fresh perspective, reminding attendees that communication is a skill that can always be refined, no matter one’s age or experience.