John Baldoni

Grace under Pressure: Leading Through Change & Crisis
Crisis can bring out the best in leaders; they must rise to the challenge of a world turned upside down. The very best leaders do this by leveraging their purpose with their sense of grace.

Leaders need to demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, provide clarity in times of uncertainty, and deliver hope when fear abounds. And do it all with a sense of grace that reflects humility, empathy and respect for others.

In his keynote, John Baldoni reveals how leaders use the concept of grace to help us learn, grow and fulfill the “greater good.” The presentation explores three concepts:
• Take Care of Your Team (Adversity, Stress, Resilience, Affirmation)
• Take Care of Yourself (Make This Your Finest Hour!)
• Prepare for What’s Next (Capitalize on the Crisis)

Lead with Purpose: Giving Your Organization a Reason to Believe in Itself
When an organization succeeds it is because they know what they do and why they do it. We say they have purpose.

It is up to leaders to make certain that organizational purpose is understood and acted upon. Based upon research and interviews with business executives in multiple sectors I have concluded that there are five key people-smart things that businesses must do to succeed in the new future.

In this presentation, John will explore:
• How defined purpose can help your team thrive and achieve
• Ways to make people your first priority
• How to turn good intentions into great results
• How to make employees “comfortable with the uncomfortable” (i.e. ambiguity)
• How make it safe to fail (and prevail)
• How to create your legacy with emerging leaders

Lead with Spine
Leading with spine is rooted in the moral authority we exert to act upon the “better angels of our nature.” SPINE as an acronym forms the “backbone” of my presentation.

• Strength is standing up for what you believe and acting on those beliefs. “Moral authority,” wrote Stephen Covey, “comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect.”
• Principle is rooted in purpose. Principle becomes the very marrow of the spine. It gives it the ability to remain upright in the face of adversity.
• Integrity is the expression of ethical behavior. Telling the truth and holding oneself accountable is fundamental to behaving with honor, living not just for oneself but for the good of others.
• Nurture is the caring side of leadership. It means investing yourself in the development of others. Another form of nurturing is coaching, finding ways to guide, and at the same time challenging them to do their best.
• Energy is what is necessary to catalyze the organization. Leaders need to invest themselves in creating opportunities for others. That requires exertion.

Influencing from the Middle: Leading Your Boss & Your Peers
“Leading up” is the process of leading your organization from the middle. It requires the mindset of a CEO with the authority of a middle manager. Leading up and from the middle requires two things: influence and action. Influence is necessary to open doors so you can be heard. Action is necessary to implement your plan. Those who succeed at leading from the middle are artful and adept managers. They utilize their management skills to establish goals, plan projects, organize people, and execute projects on time and on budget.

"Influencing from the Middle" presents ways that managers can create and leverage their influence to build coalitions in order to effect positive change and achieve organizational goals.

In his presentation, John will teach how to:
• Influence up, down and across the organization
• Lead bosses and peers to achieve greater results
• Build a coalition of peers
• Create the impetus for organizational effectiveness, e.g. making good things happen
• Become an agent of positive change
• Ask the right questions at the right time
• Demonstrate authority, conviction and compassion
• Deliver practical tips for leaders who must communicate, delegate, manage and inspire