Keynotes and Interviews
A Great Speaker Who Truly Engages the Audience
Craig Freshley doesn't just bring useful information to the audience, he asks the audience what they think. And then he facilitates a conversation that results in a shared conclusion.
As Craig manages the conversation he also "maps" it on the wall for all to see, keeps track of the major points, and actually demonstrates collaborative decision making on the spot. Audience members not only experience "aha's" of new learning, they experience a well-run participatory process. Craig shows how it's done.
Shortly after every keynote, Craig provides a write-up of conclusions, unique to each session, suitable for distribution to each participant.
The backbone of content for a Craig Freshley Keynote is The Wisdom of Group Decisions - 100 Principles and Practical Tips for Collaboration, Craig's new book. Each Keynote contains some theory about collaborative decision making -- when, why, and how to use it -- and then brings Craig's principles and tips to bear on audience questions and experiences.
A+++ Great session! I learned a lot and will take what I learned back with me in my workplace and personal life.
Yesterday’s session was immensely productive – I think you need to spend some time with our leaders in Washington D.C.
He was fabulous! He kept the topic flowing - it was lively and interesting!
Very engaging with the entire group.
Terrific way of letting participants learn - very natur
al flow!
Craig did a great job of incorporating lots of information into a limited amount of time. He has great energy, great command of the information, inclusive teaching style.
Was great because he was personable and had good suggestions.
A Fun Interview Guest with Practical Tips
Every listener has experience with meetings and in frustrating situations where a group has to make a decision: in government, corporations, community groups, sports teams, even in our families. Hosts and callers share group-decision situations with Craig and he has a practical tip for every group challenge.
Topics range from communications to conflict management to meeting rules to leadership styles. Craig also applies his fundamental principles and practical tips to current public policy challenges and current events.
I like this guy.....brilliant work......I'm gonna have him back many times.....
- "Coach" Ron Tunick, Radio Talk Show Host, KKZZ, California
Radio Interview with Ron Beard, Talk of the Towns on WERU, FM89.9, Blue Hill, Maine, 57 minutes.
Topics for Keynotes
The Wisdom of Group Decisions
35-60 minute keynote presentation with audience participation and high-tech visuals
Relevance: We all operate in groups: families, companies, governments, clubs and civic organizations. We have all been frustrated with group decision making. We each have things to learn about group decision making. Principles and practical Tips about group decision making are relevant for all adults.
Overview: Begins with basic theory about group decision making from single-decider to majority-rule to consensus and some theory about the nature of collaboration: why, when, and how. Then audience members participate in small group discussions and report results to Craig in a fun, dynamic, visual exercise. As a group the audience collaborates to develop some conclusions which, by the way, are written up and provided to participants after.
Ideal Audience: People who share a common bond of working together or being students together, perhaps at the start of a journey, the start of a conference. It's a great ice-breaker - helps people get to know each other and share something in common - and provides lots to talk about after.
Meetings: We Can Do Better
35-60 minute keynote presentation with audience participation and high-tech visuals
Relevance: We all participate in meetings sometimes: work meetings, clubs and civic organizations, government sessions. We have all been frustrated with really bad, waste-of-time meetings. Having each sat through bad meetings, we all have something to say about the topic. And we all have a keen interest in better meetings! None of us like our time to be wasted in meetings.
Overview: Begins with some quick audience contributions. Craig asks, "You know it's a bad meeting when.........." Craig has some fun with the answers and tells a few stories to illustrate characteristics of "ad meetings." Craig then offers some theory about meetings: why they are often bad, what makes a meeting good, and why good meetings are so important because of the time value of participants. Then Craig facilitates a discussion among the audience, no matter how big, in which the audience discuses and decides for itself what makes meetings really good. The whole session is structured like a meeting, with an agenda and ground rules presented at the beginning. In this way, Craig does not just talk about how to make meetings better, he models a good meeting.
Ideal Audience: People who participate in meetings that could be better. People who are willing to laugh a bit at their own behaviors and poke fun at "bad" meetings. People who genuinely want to improve the meetings that they run and participate in.
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