John Baldoni Speaker Biography
Internationally Recognized Leadership Educator and Coach
John Baldoni is an internationally recognized keynote speaker and author of 16 books that have been translated into ten languages. John Baldoni is a certified master corporate executive coach who works with senior leaders in corporate, nonprofit, and university environments. John provides performance-based coaching that leverages positive behavior change, enabling individuals to lead more purposefully and with greater grace under pressure. John focuses on what it takes to lead with compassion, commitment and courage. John also provides executive advisory services related to vision, strategy, change, communications and people development.
Keynote Speaker
John’s thought leadership is reflected in his writing as well as his choice of media: columns, videos and books. John also integrates piano improvisations into his keynotes which he illustrates with his still life photos. John is also the host of LinkedIn Live’s GRACE under pressure interview series, a platform that has enabled him to interview more than 200 global business, academic and thought leaders and doers.
Books
John’s books include Grace Under Pressure: Leading Through Change and Crisis; Grace Notes: Leading in an Upside-Down World, GRACE: A Leader’s Guide to a Better Us, MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership, Lead with Purpose, Lead Your Boss and The Leader’s Pocket Guide.
Honors and Accolades
Thinkers 360 named John its No. 2 Thought Leader in Coaching in 2023 and a Top 10 Thought Leader for both Leadership and Management in 2022. In 2024, Global Gurus ranked John a Top 10 global leadership expert, a list he has been on since 2007. In 2018 Inc.com named John a Top 100 speaker and Trust Across America honored John with its Lifetime Achievement Award for Trust. In 2014 Inc.com listed John as a Top 50 leadership expert. John is also a member of 100 Coaches, a select group of business, science, medicine and coaching thought leaders founded by Marshall Goldsmith.
Baldoni ChatBot
John’s newest venture is the Baldoni ChatBot, an AI-tool that uses John’s database of books, articles and videos to provide virtual answers to management and leadership questions. John recommends using Baldoni ChatBot for coaching clients who want to develop the skills of their direct reports.
Publications
John has authored more than 1000 leadership columns for a variety of online publications including Forbes, Harvard Business Review and Bloomberg Businessweek. John also produced and appeared in a long-running video coaching series for Smart Brief, a news channel with over 4 million readers. John has also interviewed more than 230 global business, academic and thought leaders as the host of LinkedIn Live’s Grace under pressure interview series.
John Baldoni Speaking Topics
Grace under Pressure: Leading Through Change & Crisis
Crisis can bring out the best in leaders; they must rise to the challenge of a world turned upside down. The very best leaders do this by leveraging their purpose with their sense of grace. Leaders need to demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, provide clarity in times of uncertainty, and deliver hope when fear abounds. And do it all with a sense of grace that reflects humility, empathy and respect for others. In his keynote, John Baldoni reveals how leaders use the concept of grace to help us learn, grow and fulfill the “greater good.” The presentation explores three concepts: • Take Care of Your Team (Adversity, Stress, Resilience, Affirmation) • Take Care of Yourself (Make This Your Finest Hour!) • Prepare for What’s Next (Capitalize on the Crisis)
Lead with Purpose: Giving Your Organization a Reason to Believe in Itself
When an organization succeeds it is because they know what they do and why they do it. We say they have purpose. It is up to leaders to make certain that organizational purpose is understood and acted upon. Based upon research and interviews with business executives in multiple sectors I have concluded that there are five key people-smart things that businesses must do to succeed in the new future. In this presentation, John will explore: • How defined purpose can help your team thrive and achieve • Ways to make people your first priority • How to turn good intentions into great results • How to make employees “comfortable with the uncomfortable” (i.e. ambiguity) • How make it safe to fail (and prevail) • How to create your legacy with emerging leaders
Lead with Spine
Leading with spine is rooted in the moral authority we exert to act upon the “better angels of our nature.” SPINE as an acronym forms the “backbone” of my presentation. Strength is standing up for what you believe and acting on those beliefs. “Moral authority,” wrote Stephen Covey, “comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect.” • Principle is rooted in purpose. Principle becomes the very marrow of the spine. It gives it the ability to remain upright in the face of adversity. • Integrity is the expression of ethical behavior. Telling the truth and holding oneself accountable is fundamental to behaving with honor, living not just for oneself but for the good of others. • Nurture is the caring side of leadership. It means investing yourself in the development of others. Another form of nurturing is coaching, finding ways to guide, and at the same time challenging them to do their best. • Energy is what is necessary to catalyze the organization. Leaders need to invest themselves in creating opportunities for others. That requires exertion.
Influencing from the Middle: Leading Your Boss & Your Peers
“Leading up” is the process of leading your organization from the middle. It requires the mindset of a CEO with the authority of a middle manager. Leading up and from the middle requires two things: influence and action. Influence is necessary to open doors so you can be heard. Action is necessary to implement your plan. Those who succeed at leading from the middle are artful and adept managers. They utilize their management skills to establish goals, plan projects, organize people, and execute projects on time and on budget. "Influencing from the Middle" presents ways that managers can create and leverage their influence to build coalitions in order to effect positive change and achieve organizational goals. In his presentation, John will teach how to: • Influence up, down and across the organization • Lead bosses and peers to achieve greater results • Build a coalition of peers • Create the impetus for organizational effectiveness, e.g. making good things happen • Become an agent of positive change • Ask the right questions at the right time • Demonstrate authority, conviction and compassion • Deliver practical tips for leaders who must communicate, delegate, manage and inspire
John Baldoni Books
Lead with Purpose: Giving Your Organization a Reason to Believe in Itself
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Grace Notes: Leading in an Upside-Down World
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Grace Under Pressure: Leading Through Change and Crisis
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John Baldoni Articles
John Baldoni Speaker Testimonials
John blew everyone away today with the presentation on the Power of Leadership Presence. I personally had 3 pages of scribbled notes and several "aha" moments where I could relate what you taught to my own experiences. Thrilled we booked you and look forward to hiring you again in the future.
- The Kruse Group |
John Baldoni is a focused, well-informed, and yet humorous observer, storyteller, and true thought leader in the leadership development arena. He's never shied away from a pertinent question or failed to leave an audience smarter than he found them. Our on-going relationship with John is an important competitive advantage that we don't fail to leverage.
- AMA |
