Speakers

Inquire About Speaker

Bill Fournet

Keynotes

Lead for Tomorrow: How to Thrive in the Age of Disruption
Bold! Delivering Innovation (with Discipline)
The Power of the Playbook: How to Achieve Stability in the Midst of Disruption
Mission-Based Teams: Reinvent the Way You Work
Why Managers Fail: How to Unleash Your Organization’s Greatest Asset
New Kids on the Block: How Generation Z Can Take Your Organization to the Next Level
I’m Toast! How to Avoid Burnout So You Don’t Flameout
Game Changer: Creating a Project Vision that Leads to Extraordinary Engagement and Impact

Workshops

Power of The Playbook: How to Lead Projects in the Midst of Disruption
Why Managers Fail – How to Become the Manager your Leaders and Teams Need
New Kids on the Workforce Block
Balancing Innovation with Execution: Delivering Change with Discipline
I’m Toast! How to Avoid Burnout So You Don’t Flameout
Delivering Change Faster: Mission-Based Teams
Mission-Based Project Teams: Finding the middle ground between predictive (waterfall) and agile
Manage for Tomorrow
Lead for Tomorrow

Lead for Tomorrow: How to Thrive in the Age of Disruption

Change is happening faster than ever before: Are you prepared? As you experience daily disruptions to the way we work – from workforce trends to technology impacts to generational shifts – does it sometimes feel like you’re just treading water? How does a leader today balance ever-changing needs and priorities with achieving true value for an organization? In this thought-provoking program, Bill will give you a hopeful, and much needed, strategic perspective of the evolving workplace, while equipping you with actions that you can apply today to lead for a better tomorrow.

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1. How to find the stability to thrive– not just survive– in this time of constant change
  2. The keys to respond well to any challenge (no matter how new, big or unexpected)
  3. Better know your talent to create a reliable team that produces consistent results
  4. Leave with proven tactics that you can apply today to kill the chaos
  5. Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Bold! Delivering Innovation (with Discipline)

How well does your team deliver and execute new and valuable ideas? Leaders want their organization to quickly make the shift from compliance to innovation, but without derailing customer and employee relationships. This requires a new way of thinking … a shift in how we execute innovation: the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the inspiration we awaken. The past 40 years have been driven by processes, consistency, and “sameness,” all to reduce the risk of failure. Yet the constant change in today’s world demands consistent innovation and a new mindset. Beware: Constant change can also lead to constant chaos, where heads spin from one change to the next. In this provocative—yet practical—session, Bill shares real-world innovation lessons from projects that are changing our world, and that can take your organization to the next level.

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1.   Learn about current game-changing projects that promise to transform how we live tomorrow
  2.   Identify key success drivers to instill the “innovation mindset” in your teams
  3.   Understand the five behaviors necessary for creating a culture of innovation
  4.   How to use “Kill Criteria” to determine when to stop and when to keep going
  5.   Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

The Power of the Playbook: How to Achieve Stability in the Midst of Disruption

When unexpected change happens, do you and your team feel frenzied or completely confident and in control? We know that constant change is the new normal. The speed and disruptive effects of this evolution creates peril for most leaders, who seek stability in an ocean of uncertainty.

In this tactical keynote, Bill shows leaders how to develop a team that can adapt to any scenario. Learn from Bill how to create a “Playbook” of micro-techniques (PowerPlays™) that can be applied to any situation for consistent performance. You’ll not only see benefits at work, but you’ll also get back quality time in your personal life by minimizing the chaos for yourself and those around you.

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1.     Recognize how the Age of Disruption requires a new Gameplan
  2.     Improve team performance through creating a Playbook and leveraging Bill’s PowerPlays™
  3.     Learn how to build a Playbook that works for you and your team
  4.     Understand how and when to apply your PowerPlays™ situationally to enable adaptation without loss of control
  5.     Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Mission-Based Teams: Reinvent the Way You Work

How do you and your team respond to unexpected challenges? We know that constant change is the new normal—and the demands on our workforce in a 24/7 world are increasing. But the old models of efficiency and “do more with less” are no longer sufficient when our teams are unable to respond to the speed of change fast enough. We need a new approach.

In this tactical keynote, Bill reveals a revolutionary management approach, showing leaders how to create empowered teams that can rapidly confront whatever comes next. Bill’s Mission-Based Teams™ will increase your organization’s agility while maintaining focus and alignment. Leveraging lessons from “apex” performing teams, Bill equips leaders and organizations to not only survive—but thrive—even in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions.

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1.   Understand how today’s speed of change demands a new model
  2.   Identify the surprising secrets to extraordinary team performance
  3.   Build your team’s momentum to achieve strategic priorities faster
  4.   Learn how to create Mission-Based Teams™ that are resilient in the face of change
  5.   Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Why Managers Fail: How to Unleash Your Organization’s Greatest Asset

Do your managers slay the day? Are they driven to take on challenges? Are they focused on building a team of fellow slayers? Or do they and their team just get by, maintaining the status quo, held back by unleashed potential? In today’s fast-changing environment, you need high-performing teams led by high-performing managers. Managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement. The traditional way of measuring a manager’s success will no longer sustain today’s workforce. Unlock a new way of thinking and better equip yourselves and your managers to confront these challenges. Bill’s session shares how executives and managers can transform their organization’s performance through three paradigm shifts that can change your results for immediate impact.

 Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1.   Understand why you must embrace a new way to measure a manager’s success
  2.   Learn 3 key factors to help multiply your organization’s productivity
  3.   Dramatically elevate the quality of your employees’ development and judgment
  4.   Experience increased trust and confidence in your team so you can regain control of your time and priorities
  5.   Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

New Kids on the Block: How Generation Z Can Take Your Organization to the Next Level

Just when you were adjusting to the Millennials, a new generation is entering the workforce. Generation Z is here, and they are changing the game now. Mostly the children of Gen X’ers, this group has its own very distinctive drivers. Born in 1995 or later, they are now entering the workplace. Are you ready? Generally fast learners and resourceful, they are individualistic, high in inductive reasoning, and more connected to technology than any generation before them.

Why equip yourself with savvy about how to relate to and lead this unique generation? Generation Z’s limitless resourcefulness and ability to collaborate through ever-changing technology can be used to your organization’s advantage. When you understand how this group thinks and how to engage with them, this results-driven generation can quickly help your organization outsmart even the greatest obstacles, while staying ahead of the curve of what’s coming next.

This optimistic program promises a lively and enlightening discussion around this newest workforce group!

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1. Understand what makes Generation Z tick, so all generations in your workforce play nice with each other
  2. Learn how to unlock Gen Z’s potential to propel your organization’s performance
  3. Quickly boost Gen Z’s engagement by knowing what they want most from managers
  4. Maximize how the Generations communicate and effectively share feedback
  5. Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

I’m Toast! How to Avoid Burnout So You Don’t Flameout

At the end of each workday, do you feel satisfied and in control, or overwhelmed and exhausted? What would it mean for you, your organization and your family if you could consistently “Win the Day”?  The reality is that information overload, the disruptive speed of change, and constant uncertainty is causing real burnout, resulting in an expensive turnover and a substantial loss of productivity and quality of work. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Leveraging the work that Bill does with leaders and teams across industries, he shines a light on how you can end the struggle and get back control for better physical and emotional health.

In this keynote, Bill will share his secrets to managing your stress and workload for yourself and your team to prevent burnout … while still having a life!

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1. Understand how burnout operates so you can dismantle it
  2. Learn what it really takes to protect your “balance” from the forces of overload
  3. Feel better consistently–at the office and outside it
  4. Immediately reduce your stress while improving your team’s performance (and stress levels)
  5. Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Game Changer: Creating a Project Vision that Leads to Extraordinary Engagement and Impact

How can project management cure what ails our world? From clean drinking water to zero-carbon impact cities, hundreds of “bold” projects are already in development or in execution. Bold projects make an impact. They “change the game” of how we live or interact with each other in the world. These projects seek to transform life on earth as we know it—and to expand into space. These are no longer “science fiction” ideas.

The greatest potential for bold projects resides in the evolving mindset of project leaders and how they create a vision where people strive to serve with them. The “Golden Triangle” of scope, schedule, and cost cannot keep up with the speed of change in user experience and value realization. We need a new triangle to steer our project mindset. Bill shares this new triangle and how you can learn from these “game-changing” projects to drive your stakeholder engagement to a whole new level!

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1.   Learn what projects are happening today to transform how we live tomorrow
  2.   Take your team beyond the “Golden Triangle” (scope, schedule, cost) to something greater
  3.   Create a project vision and culture where key stakeholders seek to become a member
  4.   Elevate your project mindset beyond the day-to-day to inspire change
  5.   Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Power of The Playbook: How to Lead Projects in the Midst of Disruption

Duration: Half-day session
Audience: Project Managers, Project Executives

When unexpected change happens, do you and your team feel frenzied or completely confident and in control? We know that constant change is the new normal. The speed and disruptive effects of this evolution creates peril for most leaders, who seek stability in an ocean of uncertainty.

In this interactive workshop, Bill shows leaders how to develop a team that can adapt to any scenario. Learn from Bill how to create a “Playbook” of micro-techniques (PowerPlays™) that can be applied to any situation for consistent performance. Participants will gain PowerPlays™ to dramatically improve their communication, execution, and innovation, as well as learn how to create their own Playbooks for their teams. You’ll not only see benefits at work, but you’ll also get back quality time in your personal life by minimizing the chaos for yourself and those around you.

Why Managers Fail – How to Become the Manager your Leaders and Teams Need

Duration: Half-day session
Audience: Managers, Supervisors and Emerging Leaders

Do your managers propel your organization forward, or are they holding it back? In today’s fast-changing environment, you need high-performing teams led by high-performing managers. Managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement and are responsible for developing your teams for tomorrow. Bill’s workshop shares the latest trends and results regarding how to maximize your time and focus as a manager. Participants will build a Playbook of techniques and actions to coach  employees to improve employees’ skills and  judgment, to delegate better without losing control, and to dramatically increase employee engagement and performance.

New Kids on the Workforce Block

Duration: Half-day session
Audience: General Business

Has generational diversity improved your organization? Or has it added another layer of conflict and noise to its performance? It is harder to lead today than ever before: with more than five distinct generations in the workforce, managers struggle to keep up with the multitude of drivers, motivators, and communication approaches. In this session, Bill guides you through the jungle of generational strengths and differences so you can navigate your teams with ease. He shares how to dramatically increase your employee engagement and performance through team exercises and discussions. Participants will leave understanding their peers’ perspectives and how to collaborate through their strengths.

Balancing Innovation with Execution: Delivering Change with Discipline

Length: Half-day
Audience: Project Managers

How well do your teams innovate? Do they consistently execute those new ideas? Innovation is one of the top priorities for leaders as they seek to adapt to ever-changing markets and customers, as well continuously improve their operational performance. Yet, innovation brings change. And change brings risk of failure (what if the new idea doesn’t work?). Leaders want change—but they want their teams to execute it with discipline and transparency. In this session, Bill takes your organization through the innovation process and how to execute it so leadership has visibility into where the innovation is, when go and no-go decisions should be made, and how to build a sustainable culture that “owns” the innovation.  Through team collaboration exercises, your team will leave with a set of innovation candidates and action plans to bring them to reality.

I’m Toast! How to Avoid Burnout So You Don’t Flameout

At the end of each workday, do you feel satisfied and in control, or overwhelmed and exhausted? What would it mean for you, your organization and your family if you could consistently “Win the Day”?  The reality is that information overload, the disruptive speed of change, and constant uncertainty is causing real burnout, resulting in an expensive turnover and a substantial loss of productivity and quality of work. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Leveraging the work that Bill does with leaders and teams across industries, he shines a light on how you can end the struggle and get back control for better physical and emotional health.

In this keynote, Bill will share his secrets to managing your stress and workload for yourself and your team to prevent burnout … while still having a life!

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

  1. Understand how burnout operates so you can dismantle it
  2. Learn what it really takes to protect your “balance” from the forces of overload
  3. Feel better consistently–at the office and outside it
  4. Immediately reduce your stress while improving your team’s performance (and stress levels)
  5. Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

Delivering Change Faster: Mission-Based Teams

Length: Half-day
Audience: General business

How do you and your team respond to unexpected challenges? Can they consistently deliver change quickly? We know that constant change is the new normal—and the demands on our workforce in a 24/7 world are increasing. But the old models of efficiency and “do more with less” are no longer sufficient when our teams are unable to respond fast enough to the speed of change. We need a new approach.

In this interactive workshop, Bill reveals a revolutionary management approach, showing leaders how to create empowered teams that can rapidly confront whatever comes next. Bill’s Mission-Based Teams™ will increase your organization’s agility while maintaining focus and alignment. Leveraging lessons from “apex” performing teams, Bill trains your leaders and team members how to become more agile and adaptive using proven techniques to not only survive—but thrive—even in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions. Participants will build Team Playbooks for their teams filled with Bill’s proven PowerPlay™ techniques to uplevel your communication and accountability.

Mission-Based Project Teams: Finding the middle ground between predictive (waterfall) and agile

Audience: Project Managers, IT Leaders

How well do you and your project teams consistently execute change? Does it feel like a smooth ride or rollercoaster where you are reacting to issues that could have been prevented? So many organizations struggle to find a project management approach that enables rapid delivery while providing transparency to leadership. If you and your project teams are seeking the middle ground between the Predictive/Waterfall and Agile approaches, then this workshop will help you find that “middle ground.”

In this interactive workshop, Bill reveals a revolutionary management approach, showing leaders how to create empowered teams that can rapidly confront whatever comes next. Bill’s Mission-Based Teams™ will increase your project teams’ agility while maintaining consistency and alignment. Leveraging lessons from “apex” performing teams, Bill trains your project leaders and team members how to apply the best parts of the Predictive and Agile approaches to support your organizational and cultural needs.  Participants will build Team Playbooks for their teams filled with Bill’s proven PowerPlay™ techniques to dramatically improve your project planning and execution.

Manage for Tomorrow

Length: Full-day
Audience: Supervisors (1st Line Managers), Managers, Directors

How well are your managers thriving in this Age of Disruption—where the speed of change is getting faster, the workforce is becoming more diverse than ever, and uncertainty lurks around every corner? In this full-day session, Bill helps your managers find stability in the face of these challenges and become your greatest asset. Through interactive mini-sessions that feel like your own conference, Bill empowers your participants with the latest, proven team and management approaches, coaching and talent development techniques that drive engagement and innovation, and personal productivity tools so they don’t experience burnout. Participants will work on their teams throughout the session, and will leave with with new insights, new techniques, and new action plans to unlock your organization’s potential.

Lead for Tomorrow

Length: Full-day
Audience: Executives (C-Suite, VP, Director)

Are your executive leaders well prepared to thrive in this time of constant change and uncertainty of what’s coming next? In this full-day session, Bill helps you find stability in this Age of Disruption through mini-sessions focused on fail-proofing your strategy, multiplying the productivity of your workforce with the latest people and team performance approaches, and maximizing your personal time and performance so you can thrive—not just survive. Participants will work on their teams throughout the session and will leave with new insights, new techniques, and new action plans to unlock your organization’s potential.