I was honored to contribute to the final episode of season three of the MicDrop podcast. I took the opportunity to share how to “ACE” a presentation, whether you’re a professional speaker or not. Listen to my segment along with sharp insights from ten of my friends from the ImpactEleven community here.

Last Sunday, I was catching an early flight to Nashville for a 3-day speaker bootcamp. Alarm goes off at 4am. I’ve been tossing and turning all night. I fumble my way through getting ready and drag myself outside to catch my Uber. The driver pulls up, I roll my carry-on across the street toward the glow of headlights and I hear an unexpected greeting “Good morning, Chris.”

What do you think is the hardest shot in golf? It was 2006, I'm standing behind Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY. It's the 18th hole at the US Open. He has a one shot lead. His wayward drive bounced off a corporate tent and landed him in the left rough completely blocked out by a huge pine tree. He has no direct shot at the green. Rather than play it safe, he goes for the hero shot.

I think one of the more challenging AND rewarding aspects of being a professional speaker is the call to BE the living embodiment of what we teach. When I step on stage, I'm not just there to share theories about leadership. Anyone can do that.

When I step on stage, I'm committed to answering the call to MODEL the Ripple Effect in action.

To create an experience where my audience doesn't just LEARN why it's important for everyone to feel safe, seen and heard - they actually EXPERIENCE it.

When companies face a broken process, they often rush to fix the system. Take performance reviews, for example. This process is famously labor-intensive, frustrating and ineffective. So, what happens?

Leadership decides to implement a shiny new system: a tool that promises streamlined feedback, better tracking, and more data.

But here’s the thing...

A few months ago during a virtual keynote with a commercial real estate firm, someone unmuted during the Q&A to ask a question I hear over and over again...

"What do I do when my manager doesn't embody the qualities of a Ripple Effect Leader?" (vulnerability, kindness, curiosity, empathy, humility)

And it's the same question I'm hearing from people who don't see these qualities reflected in the leaders of our country.

Each of the lines on this map represent a handwritten postcard written by someone at a Ripple Effect 🌊 keynote or workshop in the last two months.

That's 8 events where 277 postcards were handwritten, collected, stamped and delivered to people in...

What an amazing time kicking off the 2024 SHRM NYS Conference in Albany this past weekend. With the theme of "The Art of HR" it was an honor to set the tone for the event and create a meaningful impact with The Ripple Effect. Here are a few key takeaways...

Consider the challenges we’re facing as leaders today: increased polarization, a loneliness epidemic, technological disruptions, diverse and distributed teams, and shifting societal norms. In this dynamic environment, the ability to create meaningful change through small, intentional actions is more critical than ever. Not only for you, but everyone on your team.

Enter Ripple Effect Leadership™—a dynamic approach that empowers individuals to become agents of change within your organization.

Commanding to Inspiring:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams

RIPPLE EFFECT TIP: Share a vision for your team bigger than what they can see for themselves.

Can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

After graduating college with a degree in Psychology, I was fascinated by the study and application of theories related to leadership, teams, company culture, etc. But I didn’t want to pigeon-hole my career in HR, and I wasn’t ready for grad school.

So with a fancy four year liberal arts education, I got a job in…sales.

1️⃣ Make Assumptions vs. Seek the Truth

2️⃣ Jump to Conclusions vs. Reserve Judgment

3️⃣ React Impulsively vs. Respond Thoughtfully

4️⃣ Tackle the Presenting Problem vs. Explore the Root Cause

5️⃣ Focus on Cheap Wins vs. Commit to Long-Term Success

Ripple Effect Leadership™ isn’t just about what you do, it’s about how you think. It isn’t just about what happens in the moment, it’s about the impact you have once the moment has passed…two weeks, six months, decades later.

Embrace these shifts as a LEADER and dramatically increase the likelihood that seemingly insignificant interactions become powerful Ripple Effect Moments for your people.

In the LGBTQ+ community, Chris Rollins, CEO of Ripple Effect Leadership, has had an immeasurable impact. That impact extends through QueeHR, an online community he founded four years ago, uniting over 900 LGBTQ+ and ally changemakers globally in human resources and DEI.

In this episode, Robin and Michael chat with guest Chris Rollins - keynote speaker, community builder, and creator of Ripple Effect Leadership. Join us to learn about creating inclusive and high-trust environments, and the importance of continuous practice and self-improvement.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Chris Rollins.

Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Growing up, I was an avid golfer—so committed, in fact, that I went to a boarding school for golfers for the last two years of high school to pursue my dream of playing professionally. This landed me a scholarship to play Division I at Davidson College.

1. Storytelling is an act of generosity
2. To make people do, first make them feel
3. You likely underestimate your impact in the world

This month, I’m excited to spotlight a friend, fellow speaker and coach, and someone who is also committed to supporting LGBTQ+ leaders. I met Sarah Scala via my QueeHR community several years ago, and she’s been a consistent presence bringing ideas, questions and sound advice for others in our group. I admire her journey to come out more publicly as a certified LGBT business in the last couple of years and help her clients develop more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.

What did you want to be when you were a little kid?

One of my fondest memories as a kid was watching golf with my mom. We’d be watching the Masters on TV while I chipped in this little practice area I set up in the living room. As a lefty, Phil Mickelson was my guy. He always carried a smile, gave a thumbs-up to his fans and had a bold creativity on the course that I admired. But I idolized Tiger Woods. Like many kids my age who grew up around golf, I wanted to be like Tiger when I grew up.

The world of work is constantly undergoing transformation. The challenges we face today from building diverse, inclusive, equitable work environments (while not new, ever more pressing) to navigating rapid changes in technology require innovative solutions. When you look at these challenges in the context of how polarized our workplaces and our world have become, the call for change becomes even more urgent.