Not very long ago, respect was considered a nice-to-have in workplaces dominated by “mad men” and hard-charging, my-way-or-the-highway workaholics. Sadly, many leaders still operate from these paradigms and consider respect to be unrelated to organizational success. But today 58% of the global workforce is comprised of Millennials and Gen-Z’s – a diverse, highly educated, socially conscious, and culturally-savvy group that considers respect to be a top motivator (Sources: PWC 2024 and 2022 Argyle-Leger Confidence Report). Members of this employee demographic are ten times more likely to quit their jobs because of a toxic work environment than for compensation (Source: MIT/Sloan School of Management). They require a new leadership style that is grounded in respect. The key lesson: today, respect and respectful workplace cultures are no longer nice-to-haves, they’re absolute organizational business imperatives.

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In this data-filled, energizing, interactive, and compelling talk, Gregg Ward targets organizational "culture creators," and reveals the secret to fulfilling these new imperatives by learning to “lead with respect,” through Respectful Leadership™ and by creating Actively Respectful Cultures™ (ARCs) within our organizations. This powerful - and surprisingly inexpensive and easy-to-implement shift - will drive the highest levels of employee engagement, performance, partnership, and loyalty - directly and positively impacting their colleagues and customers alike.

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During this session, you'll:​​

1. Gain insights into the latest, critical data revealing the profound changes in today's workplace and workforce dynamics. Use this data to support a compelling business case for creating an Actively Respectful Culture in your organization.

2. Understand why traditional leadership styles like Command and Control, and Carrot and Stick have lost their effectiveness, and how Respectful Leadership™ can significantly boost productivity, foster partnerships, and drive exceptional business outcomes.

3. Learn how cultivating a culture of active respect enhances employee engagement, increases retention, and inspires teams to go above and beyond, especially during challenging times.

 

Speaker Bio:

Gregg Ward, MCEC BCC is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership. He is on a mission to support leadership and organizational transformation through the positive power and measurable impact of respect. The author of three books, including the bestselling, award-winning business fable The Respectful Leader (Wiley 2016,18), Gregg has served industry and government as a leadership and organizational consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, facilitator, and executive coach for over two decades. Clients include ADP, AXA, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, Nissan, Qualcomm, The US Navy, and Warner Bros. Studios.  

 

Gregg started his career as a specialist trainer for the NYPD. He’s also served as a professional in theater, film and television in New York and London, and as a European correspondent for BBC Radio, Scotland On Sunday, The List, and The Times. As a journalist, he’s most proud of covering the fall of the Berlin Wall (he displays his piece of it in all his talks!). Gregg has been a keynote speaker and featured presenter at over 250 global conferences for HR, L&D, and OD audiences. Gregg’s second book, The Respectful Leader was named a “best-book-of-the-month” by Amazon on the first day of publication, instantly became a bestseller and won a Gold Medal in the prestigious Axiom Business Books Awards competition. Gregg holds the distinguished MCEC, BCC and CMC-Emeritus credentials and has served as an Executive Coach with the Center for Creative Leadership. In 2024 he was named Top Executive Director by the International Association of Top Professionals and was a Finalist in the San Diego Business Journal’s CEO of the Year (2022, 2024) competition.

 

Based in southern California, Gregg feels very fortunate to have an amazing life partner, three courageous, non-stereotypical millennial children and the opportunity to play tennis year-round.