Keynotes & Programs |
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| Musical Keynotes
From Barbara: Every group gathering represents a significant investment on the part of both organizations and individuals. Taking time to learn, reflect, and connect is a rare gift, yet every day there are thousands of dry, lifeless presentations. People have come to expect boredom as a part of their conference or retreat experience. This drives me crazy.
Please consider the descriptions below as the starting point for a conversation about your group. I tailor every one of my presentations to address the specific needs, language, and culture of the audience, drawing on my twelve years of organizational consulting experience. These presentations can be structured as 60 or 90 minute keynote presentations or breakout sessions. Certain topics are also available for extended workshops (2 to 8 hours), either as a stand-alone event or integrated into a longer retreat or conference experience. Invite me to your next conference or event. I welcome your questions and ideas.
Keynote Titles: Who You Gonna Be While You Do What You Do? We are called to the place in the world where our deep joy meets the world's deepest hunger. Frederick Buechner A recent Gallup Management Journal study indicates that 71 percent of American workers are not fully engaged at work. The effects of this epidemic reach far beyond the bottom line. Living in such a state takes an enormous emotional and spiritual toll on individuals and organizations alike. Through songs, stories, and a knack for being sassy, Barbara will send you home with five bold ideas for bringing more "life" to work. Expect belly laughs, poignant moments, wise insights, and the nutritious songs of this professional singer/songwriter who has a gift for making a message go down easy.
Leading in Challenging Times: Five Leadership Lessons from the Blues The blues was founded on the idea of making something good out of something terrible. In these difficult times, leaders are being asked to do the same thing. Using the tradition and wisdom of the blues, Barbara offers five pragmatic lessons for transforming how you look at leading during difficult times. The blues teach us the importance of keeping the beat steady, listening deeply, telling the truth, improvising bravely, and calling on humor. Weaving an irresistible mix of music and message, this keynote will challenge, inspire, and entertain. Available as a solo presentation or with a full blues band.
Dancing with Uncertainty in Changing Times - A Musical Invitation to Fearless Living One less hope becomes one more song. The changes we face in these times are increasingly rapid and dramatic. Fear is a natural human response to the unknown. Many of us find ourselves stretched beyond our physical and emotional limits as we try to keep pace. How do we sustain our creativity and resilience in the face of fear? How can we stay well and support each other during difficult times? Using music, humor, and powerful questions, Barbara offers fresh, pragmatic ways of thinking and acting in the face of uncertainty. We’ll identify five common responses to fear, then explore alternatives that will bring fresh energy to our work lives.
Together: Reviving a Spirit of Community in Everyday Life Noted leadership author Meg Wheatley frequently says, “Whatever the problem, community is the answer.” This provocative statement can shift how we view the challenges we face in the increasing stress and pace of organizational life. In this musical keynote, Barbara will explore ways to revive a spirit of community at work and ask powerful questions to keep your inquiry alive. You’ll go home with fresh perspective on sustaining what really matters at work, at home, and in our communities.
Finding Your Leadership Voice: The Role of Voice and Vocation in Powerful Leadership How can your voice and presence support you in being the leader you aspire to be? Is there any leadership task more profound than discovering what you have to say in the world and saying it in a way that inspires people to act? When you consider how many hours a day most leaders spend in conversation, it makes sense to tap the full capacity of the voice’s power. The words “voice” and “vocation” share a common Latin root, so “finding your voice” can also have direct bearing on accessing and expressing your purpose in the world. Voice yoga™ is Barbara’s unique approach to opening up the full range of the voice. Drawing on her twelve years as an organizational development practitioner, she connects specific vocal sounds with essential leadership qualities. This memorable language will help you see yourself your clients, and your colleagues through the new and revealing lens of voice. This experiential keynote will leave you feeling deeply alive, wildly intrigued, and ready to apply powerful new tools to your work. This presentation can also be structured as a conference breakout (90 minutes), workshop (2-3 hours), or intensive (full day).
No One Else Can Sing Your Song: A Musical Invitation to Living on Purpose When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. As the director of a hospice choir, Barbara is privileged to bring song and comfort to people in their final days and weeks of life. Being with people in this sacred time provides a constant reminder of what really matters. In the face of the endless, urgent details of daily life, it is difficult to remember the values, lessons, and deep passions that direct our lives. Using powerful songs, intriguing stories, zany humor, and powerful questions, Barbara offer tools and practices for reigniting purpose and meaning in your work and life.
Spa for Caregivers: A Musical Keynote for Refuelling Professional Givers People whose work demands deep and continued giving are constantly challenged to stay well and balanced. Your own needs get trumped by those of patients, students, or family members. Burn-out lurks around every corner. Barbara honors these everyday heroes with a “spa” of music, stories, humor, and reflection. In the midst of this peaceful oasis, she will also offer five practical tools for staying well back home. Perfect for health care workers, therapists, educators, social workers, ministers, and counselors.
Keynotes for Women: Reclaiming Your Leadership Voice: A Primer in Practical Power for Women Women leaders face unique challenges in expressing their power and presence in the work world. Many women must go through a process of “un-silencing” themselves in order to fully take their place at the table. As a voice coach for over fifteen years, Barbara has supported many powerful women in breaking through unconscious vocal habits and cultivating an authentic, clear voice and presence. Voice yoga™ is Barbara’s unique approach to opening up the full range of the voice. Drawing on her twelve years as an organizational development practitioner, she connects specific vocal sounds with essential leadership qualities. This memorable language will help you see yourself, your clients, and your colleagues through the new and revealing lens of voice. This experiential keynote will leave you feeling deeply alive, wildly intrigued, and ready to apply powerful new tools to your work. This presentation can also be structured as a conference breakout (90 minutes), workshop (2-3 hours), or intensive (full day).
I Always Have Fun with My Girlfriends: A Celebration of Women’s Friendships (a musical keynote for women) Research is beginning to confirm what we have known for ages: women who have strong friendships are healthier, happier, and more resilient when facing challenges. More and more women are valuing how their women friends enrich their lives. In this rollicking, joyous keynote concert, Barbara will celebrate these relationships with song, story, humor, and powerful questions. You’ll walk away with new information, a sense of fun, and a deeper appreciation of the women in your life.
Women Rise! “When women wake, the mountains move.” Chinese
proverb In this musical keynote Barbara will draw on lessons learned from thousands of women she encountered on The Women’s Leadership Revival Tour with internationally renowned auther and speaker Meg Wheatley. The tour has visited fifteen North American cities to date. She will also tell stories about the remarkable women leaders she met on a 2007 learning journey in South Africa. |
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