The science is settled – we, as humans, are descended from thousands of generations of cagey ancestors who tamed fire, invented agriculture and built the world we know today.

But there’s a problem. Our ancestors lived and died in a world that rarely changed, and where any change that did occur was assumed to be dangerous, and perhaps lethal. But in the modern, post-industrial world, change is everywhere – it’s accelerating – and it’s (generally) improving our lives.

The results? Our tech-savvy selves are in constant conflict with deeply embedded habits of thought that lead us to subconsciously resist change. Add in the occasional over-the-top, adrenaline-fueled reaction that we experience as ”Fight or Flight”, and you’ve got the full “Caveman vs. Growth Mindset” battle that we face in our work, schools, communities, and families. How bad is it? A recent poll by the Mental Health Foundation determined that, within the past year, nearly three-quarters of people have felt so stressed they’ve been overwhelmed or unable to cope.

There’s got to be a better way. In this thought-provoking keynote, Dennis Brouwer, an award-winning Navy tactician, turnaround leader, and professional innovator, uses a compelling blend of stories, research and personal experience to move beyond the fears and biases that kept our ancestors alive.

The Takeaways:

• Understand the neuroscience that limits our creativity and energizes our immunity to change.
• Learn to detect and counter our automatic, change-resistant habits of thought.
• Practice seven specific techniques used by highly effective leaders to build growth mindsets and powerhouse teams, even in entrenched organizations.
• Return to the workplace with a roadmap of clear, proven action items and a strategy to put them to work.

It’s official – burnout is now a thing…a syndrome, actually. As of May 2019, the World Health Congress has updated its official manual, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), to include burnout as an occupational syndrome.

Burnout is “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”, the kind of stress that directly impacts our co-workers, our families, and us as individuals. Burnout undermines team productivity, fosters negativity and cynicism, and per the ICD, exacerbates our well-documented problems with employee engagement and anxiety. We’ve reached the point where relentless demands on our time and attention are finally driving us to disengage for our own health and sanity. Data published by The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence point to a growing problem, with “one in five employees reporting both high engagement and high burnout”, leading these hyper-productive team-members to also report the highest turnover intentions. Our top 20% are hyper-engaged, pushed to their limits, and they are looking for a way out.

What can we do about it? In this insightful keynote, Dennis Brouwer, a professional innovator who has built and led high-performing teams in sales, marketing, product management, and naval aviation, sheds light on this critical challenge. He weaves cutting edge research with his personal experience to illuminate a path forward for hard-pressed teams and individuals.

The Takeaways:

• Understand what drives burnout, and how it affects teams, individuals and organizations.
• Learn to identify burnout in your co-workers, team members and yourself.
• Practice seven specific techniques used by highly effective leaders to counter burnout and to build resilient, dynamic teams and organizations.
• Return to the workplace with a roadmap of clear, proven action items and a strategy to put them to work.