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Mike Mears        

Former CIA HR Chief and Founder of the CIA Leadership Academy; Leadership Expert and Author of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation"

Mike Mears, former CIA HR Chief and leadership expert, has a truly unconventional approach to leading and motivating teams. Mears has an incredible ability to blend cognitive science with leadership strategies, all drawn from his time heading the CIA’s Leadership Academy.

His interactive and fun presentations are full of real-world, actionable insights that leave audiences inspired and equipped to transform their leadership style.

Mears has lectured on leadership at the Department of Defense, Georgetown University, the University of Salzburg, the University of Maryland, and the National Intelligence University. He has delivered keynote speeches at a wide variety of business, government and academic conferences.

Speech Topics

Harnessing the Brain: Energize Your Team by Aligning Leadership with Human Nature

Understanding your team's intrinsic motivations is paramount in today's fast-paced work environment. This enlightening session delves into the neuroscience behind human behavior, offering leaders actionable strategies to align their management practices with natural human inclinations. Leaders can invigorate their teams by fostering an environment that matches innate human desires for autonomy, mastery, and purpose, leading to explosive engagement and productivity.

Attendee Takeaways:

  • Insights into Neuroscience: Gain a foundational understanding of how the brain influences behavior in the workplace and how you can benefit from it.
  • Practical Alignment Techniques: Learn methods to adjust leadership actions that complement natural human drives.
  • Enhanced Team Dynamics: Discover how to create a work atmosphere that promotes long-term enthusiasm and commitment.

Why Mike?

  • Mike Mears brings an entirely new perspective to leadership, one rooted in cognitive science and his experience running the ClA's Leadership Academy.
  • Leaders today need more than theories and platitudes; they need actionable insights that align with human nature.
  • Lively interactive sessions with spell-binding stories!

Unlocking Peak Performance: Proven Strategies to Motivate and Elevate Your Team

Achieving peak performance requires more than setting high expectations; it demands a deep understanding of motivational drivers. This session explores evidence-based techniques for inspiring teams and fostering a culture where excellence becomes the norm. Attendees will learn how to identify individual motivators, set compelling goals, and provide feedback that propels continuous improvement.

Attendee Takeaways:

  • Motivation Mastery: Grasp the range of intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors and learn how to use them effectively.
  • Goal-Setting Frameworks: Implement strategies that align employees’ personal aspirations with organizational objectives.
  • Constructive Feedback Skills: Develop brain-friendly approaches to deliver feedback, encouraging growth and resilience.

Why Mike?

  • Mike Mears brings an entirely new perspective to leadership, one rooted in cognitive science and his experience running the ClA's Leadership Academy.
  • Leaders today need more than theories and platitudes; they need actionable insights that align with human nature.
  • Lively interactive sessions with spell-binding stories!

Ignite Innovation: Science-Backed Methods to Spark Unprecedented Creativity

Innovation is the lifeblood of organizational success. This session delves into scientific research on creativity and provides leaders with tools to cultivate an innovative mindset within their teams. By understanding the environmental and psychological factors that spur creativity, leaders can implement practices that lead to groundbreaking ideas and solutions.

Attendee Takeaways:

  • Creative Environment Design: Learn how to structure workplaces that naturally inspire innovative thinking.
  • Psychological Safety Promotion: Understand the importance of a safe space for idea exploration and risk-taking.
  • Changing Culture: Discover the hidden power of the brain’s insight mechanism as a way to change culture and boost innovation.

Why Mike?

  • Mike Mears brings an entirely new perspective to leadership, one rooted in cognitive science and his experience running the ClA's Leadership Academy.
  • Leaders today need more than theories and platitudes; they need actionable insights that align with human nature.
  • Lively interactive sessions with spell-binding stories!

The Hidden Traps of Change: Why Traditional Models Fail and How to Succeed

Change is inevitable, yet many organizations struggle with effective implementation. This session uncovers some common pitfalls of traditional change management models and introduces strategies for navigating and overcoming these challenges. Leaders will gain insights into the psychological barriers to change and learn how to foster team adaptability and resilience.

Attendee Takeaways:

  • Identifying Change Barriers: Recognize and address the underlying reasons behind resistance to change.
  • Adaptive Leadership Techniques: Develop skills to lead teams through transitions smoothly and effectively.
  • Sustainable Change Strategies: Identify and implement approaches that ensure long-term acceptance and integration of change initiatives.

Why Mike?

  • Mike Mears brings an entirely new perspective to leadership, one rooted in cognitive science and his experience running the ClA's Leadership Academy.
  • Leaders today need more than theories and platitudes; they need actionable insights that align with human nature.
  • Lively interactive sessions with spell-binding stories!

Culture Transformation Made Easy: Painless Strategies for a Thriving Workplace

Organizational culture profoundly impacts employee satisfaction and performance. This session offers straightforward methods to assess and transform workplace culture, aligning it with core values and business objectives. Leaders will learn to initiate cultural shifts that enhance collaboration, inclusivity, and morale.

Attendee Takeaways:

  • Culture Assessment Ideas: Gain techniques to evaluate the current cultural landscape of your organization.
  • Strategic Cultural Alignment: Learn how to realign organizational practices with desired cultural attributes.
  • Engagement Enhancement Methods: Explore effective strategies to actively engage employees in a culture transformation process. Additionally, discover some unique techniques never seen before!

Why Mike?

  • Mike Mears brings an entirely new perspective to leadership, one rooted in cognitive science and his experience running the ClA's Leadership Academy.
  • Leaders today need more than theories and platitudes; they need actionable insights that align with human nature.
  • Lively interactive sessions with spell-binding stories!

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