Leadership & Professionalism Keynotes
Be A Leader You Would Follow
We must only look up to behold yet another pitch for leadership training. Yet, we rarely witness effective leaders plying their craft. Why? These trainings tend to focus on buzzwords and abstract theories but ignore the core aspect of leadership – values and character. A low character person can obtain a PhD in Management yet struggle to lead effectively. Few people want to be led by someone who talks eloquently about “strategic resource positioning” but who lacks courage, compassion, fairness, honesty, and loyalty. We need more “good” leaders!
Contrary to popular wisdom, Corey believes values and character can be taught. For instance, where did you learn to lie or cheat? On the more virtuous end, where did you learn to be kind and thoughtful? From the influential people in your life, of course.
Corey’s keynote speech on leadership begins with a critical question: Do you have the values and character to make you the type of leader that you would follow? If you would resist being led by someone like yourself, then others will surely opt out. The rest of Corey’s powerful speech is devoted to the five character traits of an effective leader.
We come to find out that no one is born a leader. This means that you and your people can learn to lead more effectively, without any buzzwords or theories! All it takes is the drive to become a more virtuous person. Ethical people become the best leaders. Book this speech and discover how . . .
Why Choose This Ethics Speech For Professionals?
Einstein remarked that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. And so it goes for the typical leadership training. Why not try something different? Corey is a leadership speaker with a completely different focus and a topic that is often neglected by the other leadership experts – values and character. People love hearing about these topics because they are so rarely discussed in a meaningful way. Corey’s talk is one solid hour of delving into what it means to be a “good” leader – both ethical and effective. The five character traits Corey discusses revolve around finding courage, listening more intently, and looking out for each of your people – at work and at home. This kind of logic resonates in the professional realm and people leave the talk ready to lead differently and more effectively.
Why Choose This Ethics Speech For Students
Students are taught from day one on campus to, “Be A Leader.” They take leadership classes and attend workshops – all designed to inculcate the latest hot-button topics. This stuff is important to be sure and leadership theory continues to evolve. However, these seminars tend to gloss over the foundational component of all leadership – values and character. With this in mind, instead of trendy topics, Corey’s keynote speech takes a different approach. He asks the critical questions: What does a values-based leader look like? How does a character-infused leader act?
This is the stuff students really want to learn about. They want to grow into leaders that others look up to and want to follow. Corey’s talk addresses this importatnt topic in a way that produces an intellectually-stimulating and motivating discussion as well as deep individual and group thought after it’s over. This speech lends itself to follow up sessions and activities all revolving around the character required of a “good” leader. Now, that’s a seminar worth attending!
Target Audiences
Everyone with one hour to spare!
More specifically, Be A Leader You Would Follow has motivated: businesses, non-profits, governments, annual meetings & conferences, corporate retreats & trainings, police forces, fire departments, orientations, Greek Weeks, fraternity & sorority events, student government meetings, graduations, etc…
Corey’s typical public speaking audiences include: lawyers, engineers, health care professionals, non-profit teams, professional associations, teachers, financial professionals, city, county, state, and federal government officials and staff, realtors, C-Suite executives, managers, line-level employees, college admissions and alumni relations staff, college students, high school students, and all types of student leaders.
Professionalism & Your Iron Ring
The legend of the Iron Ring emanates from Canada. In 1907, the Quebec Bridge collapsed from engineering failure. This placed the entire profession under the microscope of scrutiny; these were trusted professionals and nearly 100 people died from poor design and planning. Shortly thereafter, a group of engineers decided to memorialize the importance of character, diligence, and professionalism for all engineers. They took pieces of iron from the collapsed bridge, the story goes, and forged rough rings. These inexpensive circles of iron were to be worn on the pinky finger of an engineer’s working hand, far away from any gold and silver wedding bands. The rings symbolized, upon each glance down, the idea that, “I have an important job and I must do it well every time or society suffers.” In many places today, engineers continue to receive their rings at a ceremony where they take an oath written by Rudyard Kipling. The last line proclaims: “As an Engineer, I shall participate in none but honest enterprises. When needed, my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good. In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my profession, I shall give the utmost.”
Corey’s insightful and inspirational keynote begins where this oath ends. He asks and helps answer critical questions such as:
- What does it mean to be a professional?
- How does society expect its professionals to act, speak, and think in terms of their work?
- How can we use our skill and knowledge, without reservation, for the public good?
- What serves as our iron ring, reminding us of our obligations to ourselves, our loved ones, our colleagues, and our communities?
In the end, audiences are encouraged to create their own version of an iron ring in the form of a creed, a set of strongly held beliefs. This creed should contain commitments to the important stakeholders in our lives – our spouses, kids, other loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, and communities. This is our chance to make solemn promises and keep them – even when times get tough and we get tired. That’s what true professionals do and what our society desperately needs. Book this speech and see why Corey is one of the country’s leading voices on ethics and professionalism.
Why Choose This Ethics Speech For Professionals?
The middle third of the Iron Ring oath requires the following promises: “I . . . pledge to practice integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect; and to uphold devotion to the standards and the dignity of my profession, conscious always that my skill carries with it the obligation to serve humanity . . .” These are ideals that we should all seek in our careers. Corey’s inspirational speech helps re-focus his audience on the concepts of integrity, fair dealing, tolerance, and respect in the workplace. Everyone in the working world could also use some dedicated time to ponder the dignity of their chosen career and the obligations to use skills in a productive manner to nudge society to a better place. If this sounds interesting to you, Corey’s speech on professionalism is perfect for your organization.
Why Choose This Ethics Speech For Students?
The Iron Ring oath begins: “I am an Engineer. In my profession I take deep pride. To it I owe solemn obligations. . . Engineers have made usable Nature’s vast resources. . . and turned to practical use the principles of science and the means of technology. Were it not for this heritage of accumulated experience, my efforts would be feeble.” These few sentences are a perfect foundation for students to jump off into thinking about their future careers.
Corey’s motivational speech encourages just that. He is a pro at leading students to ponder the futures and how much pride they intend to take in their work life. Will they merely “go to work” or will they act like professionals? What legacy would they like to leave on their organization’s culture and customers? Corey then focuses on the solemn obligations we each owe to the people who proceeded us in our careers. He uses his own career as an example and states that he takes his job so seriously in part to honor the professors that came before him and made his wonderful job possible. This sets the stage for a final discussion on what young people can do to enhance their professionalism today and in the future.
Target Audiences
Everyone with one hour to spare!
More specifically, Professionalism & Your Iron Ring has motivated: businesses, non-profits, governments, annual meetings & conferences, corporate retreats & trainings, police forces, fire departments, orientations, Greek Weeks, fraternity & sorority events, student government meetings, graduations, etc…
Corey’s typical public speaking audiences include: lawyers, engineers, health care professionals, non-profit teams, professional associations, teachers, financial professionals, city, county, state, and federal government officials and staff, realtors, C-Suite executives, managers, line-level employees, college admissions and alumni relations staff, college students, high school students, and all types of student leaders.
