Wanted: The Real Need of Those We Lead (*New keynote from 2017 forthcoming book*)
Many leaders long to bring out the best in those they lead. They want their followers to achieve their full potential, not only to the benefit of their organization, but also because it helps those they lead fulfill an aspiration we all share—to feel significant—to make an impact. The wisdom of leaders who have risen to the top of their organizations and a growing body of new scientific research on the brain prove that authentic and intentional affirmation of another’s core leads to the profound transformation that many leaders seek to engender.
In this highly engaging a practical talk, Dr. Tim Irwin makes the powerful case that a particular type of affirmation is the extraordinarily powerful means to transform the important people in our lives. Dr. Irwin uncovers profound new research that shows the changes that take place in the brains of those who are affirmed in their core. Irwin debunks what he calls “Macho Management”—the extraordinarily ineffective, “I’m going to hold your feet to the fire” approach to motivating their followers. Hard science now allows us to dismiss the patronizing notion that affirmation is a “soft skill.” This is not about superficial compliments. It is about what research now demonstrates is transformative.
This keynote includes a number of stories, video illustrations and practical examples from Dr. Irwin’s extensive research with a large number of leading executives. WANTED is a hardhitting and powerful case on why affirmation is so important for organizational culture, employee engagement, and individual performance. Your audience will leave both be inspired, entertained and equipped to take the principles and apply them to their daily leadership.
Impact: The Hope of Every Great Leader
Many leaders long to make an impact. As Steve Jobs said, we want to make our own dent in the universe—to build a legacy. We want our lives to count for something more than fighting gridlocked traffic. Yet when we look around our organizations, we see few leaders who make a real impact, and worse, some even go down a terrible path of personal destruction.
In this inspiring presentation, Dr. Tim Irwin uses powerful video examples of well-known leaders to illustrate how we can make a lasting impact and how we can guard against the foibles that take so many leaders down. The talk includes practical actions, which participants can implement immediately.
Making Your Corporate Values Come to Life
Most organizations have a statement of values—those qualities senior leaders promote to guide exemplary behavior in employees. Ironically, integrity was number one on Enron’s list of corporate values. While critically important to identify and to promote, these aspirational goals will not ultimately control anyone’s behavior.
How do we get from the wallet cards and banners to the way members of our organizations act? Outward compliance cannot be sustained—internal commitment is the key. How do we migrate a large number of people to take personal ownership of the organization’s behavioral standards?
In this presentation, Dr. Irwin helps organizations put the values that are so central to success into action – to implement, to live out, to measure, and to celebrate.
Ethically Challenged Leadership – How do we fix it?
Most leaders are clear about what is expected ethically. Policies, procedures, rules are all essential, but as we know, these often are insufficient to control behavior. When an organization has an ethical crisis, it becomes a unique, time-sensitive teachable moment. How do we foster ethical behavior especially when it’s not been manifest at the top?
Has your organization recently seen ethical challenges? This message from Dr. Tim Irwin is timely. It helps leaders renew their commitment to high ethical standards, but also offers practical solutions to foster long-term effectiveness.
Lies Leaders Love
Tiger Woods said, “I told myself I didn’t have to follow the normal rules...that I was entitled. I now know that not to be true.” Our beliefs direct our behavior, and when false beliefs lodge in our core, errant behavior is certain to follow. There are certain errant beliefs to which all leaders are especially susceptible. When acted upon these beliefs, there are often disastrous consequences.
Dr. Tim Irwin shows us powerful video examples of leaders who followed predictable stages to their personal and professional failure. This is a hard-hitting message that provides actionable insights to monitor ourselves and to correct those errant beliefs.
Cultivating and Sustaining Extraordinary Organizational Performance
We have become masters of metrics...ways to measure and manage performance. From SMART goals to balanced score cards, our goal tracking methodologies are highly refined. While essential for clear direction and the establishment or organizational priorities, ultimately these approaches don’t produce the internal commitment from which extraordinary performance springs.
How do leaders inspire employees to go beyond expectations? Dr. Tim Irwin walks us through the fundamentals of effective team performance.
