Speaking from the Heart of Leadership

SHHH! You can't say that.

Why are Christians so afraid to speak up about topics such as abortion, LGBTQ, and even the right to bear arms? What are we as Christians to do with such topics and how they influence our everyday life? The objective of this speech is to bring the issues to the forefront where Christians can feel comfortable that they are not alone in their internal struggle between right and wrong and to help one another walk this journey of darkness united as a light for the world. John 2:13-25 is used as an example to demonstrate how Jesus cleared the temple in an assertive yet compassionate and loving way. Christians can speak up and take action when faced with activities not aligned with a Biblical worldview. This speech examines how to do that in a Christlike way.

Does my work matter? Do I matter? Why do bad things happen?

This speech examines how each and every single person has a purpose based on their own unique journey of life, work, experiences, education, God-given skills, talents, and gifts. This speech dives into the core being of each person to examine who they are authentically and what they can do with their complete package of awesomeness. This speech uses Ephesians 2:10 to reaffirm God's creation of each person as a masterpiece. The objective of this speech is to help people throughout the world realize there is more to life than mundane, routine, boring work. They can have passion and purpose with meaning.

When did it become okay to be immoral?

It is time to discover what value system we have, where it came from, and why we need it. It is also time to develop our own moral compass so we can discern right from wrong, even when the government or our family and friends say it's okay. This speech covers the difference of absolutism vs. relativism and gives the audience a safe space to stop and think about why they do what they do, why they believe what they believe, and what they are going to do in the future. It provides resources for them to develop a moral compass they can use as a foundation to make decisions and discern right and wrong based on their own value system. And, it provides the necessary steps for them to become more virtuous and noble with their daily character qualities.

The world is changing. What are we doing about it?

This speech examines servant leadership characteristics of agapao love, humility, altruism, vision, service, trust, and empowerment as well as spiritual leadership concepts of altruistic love, faith/hope, vision, inner life, meaningful work, and sense of community. Additionally, this speech includes how leaders can use the fruit of the spirit in their daily walk as they infuse love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control into the culture. The objective of this topic is to encourage people of all walks of life to take notice that they personally have a soul that needs to be nourished at work, at home, at school, etc., and that they have the ability to nourish the souls of others through Christian leadership practices.

"People are hungry for ways in which to practice spirituality in the workplace without offending their coworkers or causing acrimony. They believe strongly that unless organizations learn how to harness the "whole person" and the immense spiritual energy that is at the core of everyone, they will not be able to produce world class products and services" (Mitroff and Denton, 1999). Dr. Dean helps you take stock of your culture to understand what is going on in your workplace and strategically plan to cultivate a spiritual workplace where employees feel accepted, nourished, and purposeful at work.

Have you noticed how the people around you act differently than you do?

Is it because they are from a different place? Have you noticed how people in Kentucky act differently than people in New York? Or how people in India act differently than people in America? Geert Hofstede spent years categorizing cultural differences at IBM between 1967 and 1973. He found that workers from different geographical locations behave differently in terms of individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and masculinity vs. femininity. His work continues to this day and has included 93 country groups to identify two more cultural dimensions including long-term orientation vs. short-term orientation and indulgence vs. restraint. Dr. Dean shares her experiences with Cultural Dimensions and trains the audience on how to use the country tool so they can play, work, and live together better with empathy, compassion, and mutual respect.

Are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) departments biased? Is your DEI department truly including everyone or are they excluding certain groups?

Using Respectful Pluralism, we will focus on your workplace to ensure all are welcome and receiving equal attention. If an organization is awarded as the best place to work for anything other than inclusion as a whole, it is, by nature, segregating their employees into groups and excluding certain demographics. The true purpose of DEI departments is to respect human dignity of all people, regardless of their differences. Dr. Dean encourages her audience to not just tolerate differences but embrace them and empower people to use their strengths.

This may be the last taboo topic at work. It is now America's greatest megatrend.

Terms such as Faith at Work, God at Work, His Way at Work, Marketplace Ministries, Spirit at Work, Spirituality in the Workplace, Theology of Work, and Workplace Spirituality are becoming common in academic and practitioner vocabularies. Perhaps it started with a 1952 Fortune magazine article titled Businessmen on Their Knees. The follow-up story in the 2001 Fortune magazine was titled God in Business. These two articles gave real-life examples of how companies such as US Steel and Service Master allow spiritual practices in their workplace and how such companies have reaped big rewards from not leaving God at the door. This speech gives many examples of companies and their practical integration of Faith at Work as a way to encourage others to be bold and no longer be ashamed of their identity in Christ.

Don't be a leader -- be a follower!

Nobody says that, but the reality is we all follow and some of us lead. Followership is a newer term used in academia, but it just makes sense. There are more followers than there are leaders. Unfortunately, the word follower has a negative connotation. But such a word also implies disciple, supporter, and partner. This topic will examine the work by several pioneers to articulate types of followers and discover why some are courageous, while others are bystanders. We will examine what type of followers one will want to be. How to be a good follower. And, how to align your team with the right type of followers for the most impact. The objective of this speech is to flip the lens and consider this topic of followership as more important than the topic of leadership; one that is relevant to all people.

They call her successful -- one of the most influential women.

Dr. Dean was molested from age five to nine, suffered multiple rapes throughout middle school, lost her grandfather (whom she lived with) at age 13, was married and pregnant at 19, divorced at 21, lost her brother at age 21, lost her grandmother (who helped to raise her) at age 25. She remarried at age 26, expanding her family from two to four children. She lost a baby at age 29. She was impacted by the recession at age 33, dividing her family and relocating 500 miles away. Her father died when she was 41. Dr. Dean shares how she faced trials and tribulations while maintaining a positive attitude and maturing in her relationship with Christ. She also shares her definition of success after earning her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, earning a Ph.D., and climbing the corporate ladder.

COVID-19 has revealed an urgent need for softer skills at work.

Companies are scrambling to find ways to coach their leaders to empathize and show compassion to their staff. They need to love their people in appropriate ways. Practically, successful leaders are pushing aside traditional business techniques and focusing on the needs of their flock. This speech gives you actionable items to care for your people at work, establish trust, build a sense of community, and have meaningful work. In return, these softer skills are nourishing souls and tending to basic human needs. Ultimately, loving others is the right thing to do. And, when you take care of your people, they will take care of your business.

The attack on faith and family in America is obvious, but it didn't happen overnight.

This speech examines the concept of political correctness from a historical premise in order to understand where it has gone array in our current culture. We will focus on rhetoric and persuasion tactics that are used through media campaigns, political campaigns, and even everyday verbiage that has a hidden agenda. The objective of this topic is to open the eyes of the audience to the way our world is being shaped around us through oral and written text.

No, she didn't! Join Dr. Dean on her career journey that spanned more than two decades and three states with one company.

She had every intention to stay with one company until retirement, as others in her family did. However, her last five years in corporate changed drastically. Arriving to work each day, she muddled through stacks of emails about Pride Week, Coming Out Day, Transgender Modification, Gender Dysphoria, and LGBTQ galas. Meanwhile, she was told her Moms in Prayer group meeting and study on religions in the workplace were not part of the corporate agenda. She felt like she was 'adding to the degradation of society' by going to work every day. Many in the audience will relate to these (and other) situations that directly contradict their Biblical Worldview. Dr. Dean offers advice on what to do to maintain your Christian value system in a faith adverse workplace.

Ladies -- lead the class!

Women in leadership may be viewed as bossy, mean, aggressive, and rude when doing some of the same things a male executive does. Research shows that women climbing the corporate ladder often feel inferior to men and spend much time preparing to defend their position. The overwhelming findings are that men are judged based on their potential; whereas, women are judged based on their performance. Women that have succeeded in climbing the corporate ladder say they have had a sponsor, mentor, or coach at some point in their career; usually a man. Dr. Dean encourages her audience to support one another in accelerating their career path and challenges the ladies to maintain their femininity and recognize their softer side as a strength, not a weakness.