Leading in uncertainty is the new competency for 21st-century leaders. And now in the age of COVID-19 and its variants, the need for such leadership is all the more pressing. In these times, powerful stories are among a leader’s most essential tools.

In this keynote, I present the three stories you should be telling now to maintain alignment, movement, and possibility. These stories will serve you well as you seek to anchor your team, help them prepare for changes, and navigate the change process with balance.

Who is this for?

Primarily focused on leadership groups: executive teams, religious leadership, management training and leadership development cohorts, etc.

When leaders tell stories well, they have the power to move mountains. Stories can shift systems, inspire revolutions, and elicit empathy. Skillful storytelling is a tool every leader should have in their kit.

In this keynote, I explain through true anecdotes, humor, and research how most leaders tend to make the same four mistakes when it comes to storytelling. And even more importantly, I tell you how to avoid the same traps.

Who is this for?

Primarily focused on leadership groups: executive teams, religious leadership, management training and leadership development cohorts, etc.

Many, if not most of us, fear both conflict and emotions. Why? Because more often than not, we do not understand them. We have not learned their language.

In this keynote relevant to any group or organization, I draw on true stories, my years facilitating groups, and my knowledge of conflict resolution to offer key learnings in service of two important truths:

1. Conflict and emotions are inevitable and invaluable.

2. We can transform our fear of them by learning to speak their languages.

Who is this for?

Any group anywhere that has to deal with conflict and people’s emotions. So, pretty much everyone.

Conflict is a universal experience. Where two or more are gathered, there will (eventually) be conflict. Everyone has to deal with conflict, whether we welcome it or not. And most of us feel overwhelmed and anxious when conflict arises. And when we act out of fear and frustration, conflict tends to get worse.

In this keynote, I walk you through the five most common traps we all fall into when we deal with conflict. I talk about what we say, how we listen, and the way we think. And most importantly, I tell you how to avoid these traps altogether.

Who is this for?

Any group anywhere that has to deal with conflict. So…yeah, everyone.

You need to convince someone of something. Everyone does, whether this is to buy a product, join a movement, donate to a cause, volunteer their time, or just clean their room. Asking people to change their minds and behaviors is a guarantee of social interaction.

But how? The answer is through stories. The neuroscience is now clear that storytelling is the most effective way to engage people’s minds and change their perspectives. No other communication technology is as effective—by a long shot. Because stories don’t just have the power to persuade, they have the power to make people believe the change was their idea. And when people own the solution, it will stick.

This keynote—filled with fascinating neuroscience research, examples, and pro tips—can revolutionize your approach to speaking to your audience. If you’ve been feeling stuck, this can be the start of new movement.

Who is this for?

Any person or group that is needing to persuade.

We all believe in enemies. Sometimes as ideas, sometimes as beliefs, sometimes as cultures, sometimes as people.

But what if we could live in a world beyond enemies?

In this talk, I share stories from my travels through divided societies to illustrate the three crucial steps to dismantling the notion of enemy altogether.

Who is this for?

Organizations, movements, institutions, or groups that care about issues of dehumanization, reconciliation, dialogue across difference, social justice, and peacemaking.