Robert Stevenson

Featured Keynote Programs

In the realm of business, instilling 'Stepping Up Your Game' as a fundamental element in your company's DNA is crucial for achieving success. This program is meticulously crafted to facilitate precisely that goal. By nurturing a culture that champions collective growth and thrives on continuous improvement, extraordinary achievements, innovations, satisfied customers, and increased profits become attainable.

The phrase 'Stepping Up Your Game' embodies the core principles of progress, advancement, and deliberate elevation beyond the status quo. At its essence, it represents the inherent pursuit of improvement and growth. This program is designed to cultivate a mindset that encourages individuals to transcend comfort zones, break barriers, and stretch boundaries in their quest of greater achievements and fulfillment. It aims to foster innovation, resilience, and the courage to embrace change.

Embracing 'Stepping Up Your Game' involves seeing failures as opportunities for growth, learning from experiences, and maintaining an unwavering determination to propel forward. Through this program, participants will be equipped with tools and mindset necessary to ...

navigate the many challenges they face daily

• Adapt to changes in this highly competitive world
• Consistently elevate performance and outcomes

Drawing from more than 30 years of diverse corporate and entrepreneurial involvement, Robert possesses a deep understanding of success dynamics. He has engaged with over 2,500 companies worldwide and conducted interviews with 10,000+ individuals, spanning employees, managers, and senior executives across 250+ industries.

Robert brings forth a compelling mix of practical experience, extensive research, case studies, and competitor analysis.

Through his unique insights, Robert empowers organizations, business leaders, and associates to unlock their untapped potential. His expertise helps illuminate pathways to future success, offering invaluable guidance on navigating challenges and leveraging opportunities for growth.

Throughout the world, technological change and global competition continue on their relentless and disruptive path of uncertainty and volatility. Compounded by the current economic external threats, it is no surprise that many companies today are facing critical decisions on how to survive. Mr. Stevenson has designed this program to help companies, organizations and associations not only survive … but thrive in these types of conditions.

“Corporate Culture” is the fundamental character or spirit of an organization that influences the loyalty and general behavior of its employees. When you learn how to combine The Right Corporate Culture with The Right Core Competencies, your organization will begin to thrive.

Foundation:

Having employees fixing problems after-the-fact costs more and results in upset customers. Identifying potential opportunities for the organization creates the possibility for higher profits. Mr. Stevenson’s program will help to show you how to get all your employees to think like an owner, proactively recognizing  problems and opportunities.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify core competencies for success
• Recognize the true values and beliefs of your organization
• Learn how to establish and maintain the Right Corporate Culture
• Eliminate hindering, unnecessary, and delaying policies and procedures
• Appreciate the foundation of an enterprise is based on those you serve
• Stimulate the sharing of more ideas, suggestions, and recommendations
• Understand how to create an environment that will encourage innovations
• See that the full measure of management is based on achievements not just setting goals
• Realize the importance of people being able to challenge the “Norm” without fear of reprisal
• Multiply the performance of the organization by putting to use the full talents of all employees
• Create a Culture of Responsibility where all employees take accountability for their tasks & duties

This fast-paced program is filled with advice on how to become an extraordinary person in business and in life. The purpose of this program is to educate as well as entertain; to try and help shorten your learning curve so you may obtain the level of success you so desire.

Mr. Stevenson offers a broad spectrum of ideas, including leadership, accountability, dealing with stress, handling change, how to handle criticism, the power of laughter, how to exceed expectations, achieving a well-balanced life, and much more. 

Foundation:

Using real-world examples and powerful true stories, Robert Stevenson delivers a high-energy program that can help anyone to achieve higher levels of excellence. His original insights help organizations, business leaders, and associates understand how to unleash their future potential. With over 30 years of extensive corporate and entrepreneurial experience, he teaches companies and people how to deal with risk, competition, and the ever-changing business environment. 

Participants will be able to:

• Identify core competencies for success
• Eliminate hindering, unnecessary, and delaying policies and procedures
• Appreciate the foundation of an enterprise is based on those you serve
• Stimulate the sharing of more ideas, suggestions, and recommendations
• See that the full measure of management is based on achievements not just setting goals
• Realize the importance of people being able to challenge the “Norm” without fear of reprisal
• Multiply the performance of the organization by putting to use the full talents of all employees
• Create a Culture of Responsibility where all employees take accountability for their tasks & duties
• Recognize good habits

This program is a roadmap to business success. It is the perfect combination of proven business tactics solidly grounded in years of research. Mr. Stevenson is an expert at building a high-performance business culture and this program, based on his new book, bearing the same title, contains winning strategies, techniques, methods, thoughts, principles and key habits for success that will empower anyone towards a better future. Raise Your Line offers guidelines and practical “to-dos” to help any company or person succeed in business. In this program, Mr. Stevenson walks attendees step-by-step, through how to improve their business performance, leadership skills, and reach their career goals.

Foundation:

• Program is based on twenty-five years of research

• Mr. Stevenson personally conducted over 10,000 interviews 

• Employees, managers and senior executives were involved in study

• More than 250 industries participated

• An action-oriented program with specific steps to take that are relevant to high performing winners

Participants will be able to:

• Apply the extensive leadership lessons into simple and actionable steps

• Raise their level of success

• Increase profitability, communication, cooperation and improve customer service

• Show you how to differentiate themselves and company from their competition

• Understand the importance that customer service brings to the success of any company

• Shorten their learning curve and advance both personally and professionally by applying these proven practices

This program deals with the premise that if you are going to survive in this ever-changing, highly competitive business environment, you are going to have to make your company indispensable in the eyes of your customer; being adequate is unacceptable.

By exploring not only in the initial sell, but also addressing how to improve repeat and referral business, this program will provide concrete examples of ways to improve your selling and service techniques. The program has been designed for anyone who has customer contact, from Executives, Managers, and Supervisors to Hourly Personnel. Mr. Stevenson will be addressing the KEY drivers that cause customers to not only want to come back, but to also tell others about your great company. 

Foundation:

• Anyone who has customer contact is a salesperson 

• One dissatisfied customer can destroy months worth of positive work 

• Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth 

• The customer is right only if it is right for the business 

Participants will be able to:

• Identify the definition of Excellent Customer Service for your industry 

• Understand the power of customer perception 

• Consider alternative methods for improving customer satisfaction 

• Prioritize activities to more effectively address those customer needs and wants 

• Respond appropriately to customer complaints after reviewing customer feedback 

• Allocate customer service resources more profitably 

• Establish, implement and review Service Standards for better customer service 

• Analyze strategies for Optimum Customer Service - Building the culture from within

• Recognize problem areas 

• Accept and assign responsibility 

• Empower your frontline service people 

• Address the needs and wants of your customers 

One of the greatest strategic advantages a company can have is the ability to avoid business disruptors. The sources for business disruption are everywhere. Situational imposed business disruptors would include recessions, poor hiring practices, lack of technology, strong competition, new government regulations, changing consumer trends, or data breaches, to name a few. On top of the situational imposed business disruptors, are the self-imposed disruptions caused by poor leadership, lack of knowledge or data, arrogance, laziness, poor research, assumptions, disregarding trends, foolish judgement, bad employees and poor customer service.

The average life expectancy of a multinational corporation-Fortune 500 or its equivalent is only 40 years. Over 420 U.S. companies with assets of more than $500 million have filed for bankruptcy since 1981 and over 74% of the Fortune 500 companies that existed in 1980 are no longer on the list. Business disruptions can be devastating but they don’t have to be. Mr. Stevenson’s  program is designed to help business leaders and employees understand where business disruptions come from and how to deal with, and when possible, avoid them.

The Foundations for the program:

• Human resources are a company's most valuable asset 

• Collective problem identification can be very productive 

• Empowered employees results in more energized ideas

• An established Focused Action Plan aligns the organization towards common goals

• Involving  your employees in the problem-solving process is the most efficient way to produce multiple workable solutions 

Participants will be able to see the importance of:

• Establishing open, candid communication between team members 

• Having all team members addressing critical issues 

• Getting everyone involved and creating a contagious level of high energy 

• Recognizing problems and empowering individuals to correct them

• Dealing with business disruptors as soon as they occur

Technology is a tool, not an answer.

 Getting information fast is an advantage, but only when combined with 

critical thinking, communication and collaboration. 

For companies to survive and thrive in this ever-changing business environment, 

they must know how to avoid BUSINESS DISRUPTORS.

The program focus is on practical, insightful and useful skills that help to make relationships work and companies prosper. Designed with the goal of helping companies thrive in today's marketplace by retaining and motivating their most valuable asset; EMPLOYEES. Mr. Stevenson identifies how to start, maintain, and deepen working relationships by SHOWING the WAY. This program starts with the nine elements of the Leadership Formula then delves even deeper into the philosophy of relationships. Mr. Stevenson addresses courage and challenge, confidence and commitment, compassion and communication, change, cooperation, and control.

Foundation:

• People not Procedures 

• Action not Talk 

• Want To not Made To 

• Desired not Required 

• Showing not Shouting 

• Flexible not Fixed 

• Listening not Telling 

• Caring not Bottom Line 

• It’s a Process – Not an Event

Participants will be able to:

• Open two-way channels of communication 

• Establish rapport 

• Develop respect 

• Recognize effort 

• Provide effective encouragement 

• Deal with differing viewpoints 

• Improve listening skills 

• Encourage and solicit suggestions

• Master the skills to gain willing cooperation

Why is it that some people succeed while others fail? That answer seems to elude most people. With over two decades of research having interviewed over 10,000 employees, managers and senior executives in over 250 industries, Mr. Stevenson has amassed an enormous data base on the subject of SUCCESS. He called upon his knowledge of what he has learned from some of the most innovative, resourceful, and powerful companies in the world, along with what he learned running his own companies … to compile what he feels are the Fifty-Two Essential Habits For Success.

More importantly, Mr. Stevenson has designed a study method so “simple” that he will be able to show your attendees how to master all the habits and make them a part of their daily life. A method that will only take a couple of minutes a day. The beauty of his study method is in its simplicity. If your goal is to make your company and people more successful than this program is a must for you.  The program is designed  to not only help individuals become more talented, motivated, productive, and successful but help companies do the same.

Program Foundation:

• Bad habits are the core causes of failure 

• 40% of the actions people perform each day aren’t from decisions, they are from habits

• Self-awareness, self-vigilance, and self-discipline are necessary to break bad habits

• Having good habits will reduce errors, complications, stress, and unnecessary costs

• Good habits increase effectiveness, profitability, efficiencies, and productivity 

• Focus on developing one good habit at a time

Participants will be able to:

• Identify bad habits that damage them personally - their reputation, work and career

• Understand how to replace bad habits (poor acquired behavior patterns) with good ones 

• Identify the benefits of good habits and help them commit to them  

• Appreciate they can improve their habits all by themselves

• Understand the importance of sharing good habits with associates

• Recognize good habits…

reduces uncertainty, creates a culture of excellence, helps standardize proper procedures, generate feelings of happiness and security

• Understand how to acquire 52 powerful success habits

Simple words like “Why” or “What if” can save a company if asked at the right time. Great leaders see challenges as an invitation for the group to test, justify, explain, and prove ideas. They welcome vigorous dialogue and debate. They see argument and disagreement as catalysts to better solutions. Unfortunately, some managers / bosses / CEOs / companies have instilled such an environment of fear that they seldom, if ever, have anyone question their ideas, policies, procedures, or methods. In an environment where the Top 10 In-Demand Jobs today did not exist in 2004 and the amount of technical information in the world is doubling every 2 years, innovation has become one of the critical functions of survival for companies today.

Great managers have no problem admitting a policy or procedure just doesn’t work anymore. They understand you cannot become what you need to be by remaining what you are. This program will teach your participants how to delve, inquire, forget the past, try a clean slate, rewrite the rulebook, involve other fields of expertise, look from a different angle, try to find a 2nd right answer, along with the importance of involving all departments and levels of experience. It will show them how to inspire, exchange ideas, share experiences, describe challenges, have a shared sense of purpose, and learn from each other. If you want to create an Innovative Environment where your people will understand the power and purpose of openly and candidly challenging the rules, understanding the genius of subtraction rather than addition, appreciate that the Hero is the one with ideas and how “not” to succumb to the destructive power of traditional mindsets … then this program is for you.

Foundations:

• To understand, How to INNOVATE, you first should identify, Why to Innovate

• You cannot become what you need to be by remaining what you are

• Challenging points of views keep companies healthy

• Healthy companies constantly reinforce the reasons why it is critical to keep improving

Participants will be able to:

• Learn how to get a unified commitment from their department / team 

• Identify and understand the Essential Habits for Success for their company/industry         

• See the importance of asking and answering the “What If’s”                                               

• Get all employees involved in looking for ways to grow their business

• Look at their company through the “Eyes of Their Enemies” and identify weaknesses they might exploit           

Change is a constant. You can either choose to embrace it or watch as your business disintegrates right before your eyes. Everyone is standing on shaky ground. Today's King of the Mountain could be tomorrow's case study on failure. Kodak, Sears, Borders, Blackberry, My Space, and JC Penney all went bankrupt … and ultimate reason for their demise was their inability to handle change. 

When a company increases the value offered to a customer by improving the product, enhancing service, offering better technology or increasing efficiencies, the competition must follow. The customer wants it better ... they want it easier to use ... they want it cheaper ... they want it now. Even now, in today's tenuous economy, it is the customer who is driving the ship. No matter what else is happening, it is the customer who is choosing when and where to spend their money. This program explores change ... the successes, the failures, the reasons behind both and how to capitalize on the opportunities that are created because of change.

Foundation:

• Change is an inevitable part of life 

•  Before asking others to change, change yourself first 

• By embracing the concept of change, one embraces the future 

Participants will be able to:

• See change as an inevitable opportunity 

• Examine personal beliefs about change 

• Develop a positive attitude toward living in a constantly changing environment 

• Understand that the idea receiving the most resistance is probably the best idea 

• Capitalize on thinking 'outside the box' 

• Deal with the ever-changing needs of the customer 

• Teach the process of stimulating ideas 

• Realize that change is never final nor always right 

• Recognize the value and importance of change

This double-edged sword cuts to the core of performance, both business and personal performance. Mandates from management throughout the country all seem to be singing the same song: If we are going to remain successful and be players in the marketplace both now and in the future, we must constantly strive to learn more, improve our quality of service, increase customer satisfaction, increase market share and do it in less time with fewer people.

To keep elements for success effective, to facilitate individuals performing at their Optimum Level, it sometimes takes a catalyst of rare ingredients to first ignite the fire and then keep it blazing. The Peak Performance program was designed to be the catalyst to get things moving, and also teach techniques to keep it going.

To keep elements for success effective, to facilitate individuals performing at their Optimum Level, it sometimes takes a catalyst of rare ingredients to first ignite the fire and then keep it blazing. This Peak Performance program was designed to be the catalyst to get things moving, and also teach techniques to keep it going.

Foundation:

• Peak performance is a way of work, not a mad dash to a single goal. 

• Both innovation and motivation must be present to excel. 

• Doing it the way you have always done it will not get you what you have always gotten. In today's highly competitive, ever-changing business environment, you can never become what you need to be by remaining what you are. 

Participants will be able to:

• Renew past convictions 

• Deal with handling and accepting change 

• Identify optimum effort necessary to keep growing professionally and as a company  

• Delve into revamping, removing, and limiting personal paradigms 

• Utilize multiple ways to deal with stress 

• Explain the most common trait of all successes 

Mr. Stevenson has developed this program to facilitate the Strategic Planning process. This program enables the organization to get a handle on what it is doing right, where it can improve, and what must be done to reach the goals being set. Some of the greatest experts on any business are a firm's own people. Utilizing various aspects of dynamic interaction, Mr. Stevenson will take full advantage of the brainpower sitting in the room. With Robert as the catalyst driving the audience, everyone will get involved and in no time be combining their collective brilliance to accomplish far more than previously thought possible.

At the end of the program there will be a detailed account of what is going right, and what needs improvement. Additionally, the group will produce a prioritized strategic action plan intended to improve the organization and better prepare it for today's highly competitive and ever-changing environment. This seminar will prove to be one of the best allocations of corporate resources ever authorized.

Foundations:

• Human resources are a company's most valuable asset 

• Collective problem identification can be very productive 

• Empowering employees results in more energized ideas

• An established Focused Action Plan aligns the organization towards common goals

• Involving  your people in the problem-solving process is the most efficient way to produce multiple workable solutions 

Participants will be able to:

• Establish open, candid communication between team members 

• Have all team members addressing critical issues 

• Understand that each issue will result in written responses from each team 

• Share written responses with the entire audience 

• Get everyone involved, making it fun while creating a contagious level of high energy 

• Empower individuals to take action 

• Understand that with each new issue there will be... more interaction, new responses and a new team member addressing the audience 

For your company or organization to succeed in this highly competitive, ever-changing environment you need to be certain you are running at peak performance. All resources must be utilized to full potential. When considering the resources of an organization, its most valuable asset is always its human resources. To be able to maximize results, you need to be able to maximize Operations, Preparations, Motivations, and Expectations. Mr. Stevenson has developed a program that addresses the many aspects of teamwork and how to make it function at its optimum potential.

Foundation:

• “I’ve Got Your Back” mentality creates a winning culture  

• Cooperative teams are more productive 

• Teamwork improves the organization 

• How to foster at team mentality 

Participants will be able to:

• Incorporate the attitude of watching out for each  

• Change Reactive or Inactive to Proactive 

• See that conflict can be productive 

• Handle change as a unit 

• Strengthen the weakest link 

• Inspire individuals to accelerate the group 

• Develop REAL communication... 

• Listen with an unprejudiced mind 

• Understand dialogue - what it is AND what it is not