Author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable
Passion is the driving force behind Robert Thompson’s success. As a sought-after leadership keynote speaker and executive coach, Robert’s passion for personal and professional leadership touches the lives of thousands of people every year. Known for his practical, street-savvy style, Robert’s fusion of real-life stories and conversational techniques connect with his audience at an intimate, intense and individual level. His refreshing approach to leadership is both thoughtful and thought provoking, engaging participants in open, honest and authentic interaction. When Robert steps up to the plate, plan to participate and prepare to be challenged.
When Robert Thompson speaks to an audience about leadership, he often sees before him a room full of potential film stars. Most, however, are playing secondary roles in movies with lousy scripts authored by others. Thompson’s message is that becoming a leader means choosing to write your own script and committing to play a starring role in it.
Thompson’s book, The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable, tells the story of just such an evolving storyline.
It follows a group of business colleagues who arrive at an off-site meeting with a lackluster script and finish by transforming it into a blockbuster. Using plain, frank language, Thompson brings out what meeting participants are really thinking… about the actual effectiveness of their managers and teams… about yet another offsite meeting… about their own fears of being exposed as a poser… about not knowing all the answers, or even the right questions.
By speaking what others are saying to themselves inside, but afraid to express out loud, Robert Thompson establishes a starting point for creative discussion of what can change and how to start from now. People quickly get the concept that they are self-determining individuals who make choices every day about whether to cower, cope or create and that the outcome of these choices is their present story. Thompson’s “Never Ending Story” process provides proven steps for creatively re-writing and starring in one’s own life, as an individual and in groups, both professionally and personally.
Many of Thompson’s speeches draw on and build off of situations dramatized in his book, The Offsite. Sometimes he even brings along characters from the book who, in their fears, follies, inspirations and triumphs, are easy for audiences to relate to. Using The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership(TM) and Robert’s Rules: The Four Commitments(TM), the above topics can be combined and modified to fit your audience’s characteristics and needs.
Available Programs:
The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership - ===Model the Way=== *Clarify your values by finding your voice and affirming shared ideals. *Set the example by aligning actions with shared values. Leaders establish principles concerning the way people (constituents, peers, colleagues, and customers alike) should be treated and the way goals should be pursued. They create standards of excellence and then set an example for others to follow. Because the prospect of complex change can overwhelm people and stifle action, they set interim goals so that people can achieve small wins as they work toward larger objectives. They unravel bureaucracy when it impedes action; they put up signposts when people are unsure of where to go or how to get there; and they create opportunities for victory. ===Inspire a Shared Vision=== *Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities. *Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations. Leaders passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future. ===Challenge the Process=== *Search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and by looking outward for innovative ways to improve. *Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from experience. Leaders search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve the organization. In doing so, they experiment and take risks. And because leaders know that risk taking involves mistakes and failures, they accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities. ===Enable Others to Act=== *Foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships. *Strengthen others by increasing self-determination and developing competence. Leaders foster collaboration and build spirited teams. They actively involve others. Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts; they strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity. They strengthen others, making each person feel capable and powerful. ===Encourage the Heart=== *Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence. *Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community. Accomplishing extraordinary things in organizations is hard work. To keep hope and determination alive, leaders recognize contributions that individuals make. In every winning team, the members need to share in the rewards of their efforts, so leaders celebrate accomplishments. They make people feel like heroes. Copyright Kouzes Posner. All Rights Reserved.
Robert's Rules: The Four Commitments - SHOW UP... ...with an open, honest and authentic presence. Be Present. You are center stage and in the spotlight every day. Leadership is a moment-to-moment, scene-by-scene choice. Demonstrate it daily by listening deeply. Involve others and evolve yourself by closing the gap between your beliefs and behaviors. Create a credibility path so others want to join with you. Your Voice Matters! SPEAK UP... ...with passion, clarity and understanding. Be heard. Discover your true voice. Help others find theirs. Speak from your heart. Create a vision story that offers a script of a positive future and everyone's role in it. Your Action Matters! STEP UP... ...with a fresh, creative perspective. Be an action hero and a creative quick change artist. Erase limiting thoughts. Blow up the petty bureaucracy in your business and in your mind. Question everything, especially systems, policies and procedures. Plant seeds of creative dissension. Your Gift Matters! SERVE UP... ...with conviction and compassion. Be of service. Create a diversified cast of talented leaders. Honor their individuality. Collaborate and coach them so they deliver their best performance. Offer recognition through creative, specific and meaningful rewards. Help them create their masterpiece. Commit. Without commitment, nothing changes.
ROI/Tangible Program Benefits:
- Learn Robert's Rules for Leadership
- Understand the difference between leaders and managers
- Discover why leadership is for everyone
- Learn how to help people discover (or re-discover) their passion
Testimonials/Client List:
"Robert is an accomplished presenter who challenges his audiences to stretch beyond their current ideas about leadership and how they represent themselves to others...both in their professional and personal lives. He is both thoughtful and thought provoking. He uses storytelling as a means to engage others to participate in meaningful discussions."-Director, Organizational Development, Palomar Pomerado Health
"Robert encourages everyone to lead themselves and others in an open, honest and authentic manner. You'll find his genuine, real-world approach to leadership issues refreshing. His passion will stimulate you, and you'll appreciate his ability to truly listen to your thoughts and concerns."-Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank
"[Robert] connected with our audience in a very personal way! His delivery and personality made everyone feel as though he was a longtime friend, and not simply a presenter. His message received unanimous praise and left everyone feeling inspired and motivated to take his simple, yet powerful message to make changes in the way they manage their organizations."-CA Sanitation Risk Mgmt Authority
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