Self Leadership and
The New Leadership Playbook
Blog by Andrew Bryant

As a professional speaker, I've worked closely with event planners, coordinators, and managers. I've seen first-hand the lengths they go to ensure that each event, be it a small corporate meeting or a large conference, runs smoothly and provides value to all participants.

Even before the pandemic, these individuals were unsung heroes, but their resilience, adaptability, and dedication have been nothing short of awe-inspiring during these challenging times. 

Things are opening up but there are still challenges for these professionals. Today, I want to shine a spotlight on these challenges, to foster understanding and empathy for those in the trenches, navigating the 'new normal'. 

The Rise of Hybrid Events

In the wake of the pandemic, we've seen the birth of hybrid events, One of the toughest aspects of a hybrid event is catering to two fundamentally different audiences: in-person attendees and virtual participants. Each group has distinct needs and...

Organizations of all sizes can keep employees motivated and engaged by hiring an experienced virtual keynote speaker. Virtual events are no longer unique, but done well they are an engaging way to provide employees with valuable insights, tips, and tools to be more efficient and effective. Here are some of the key benefits of hiring a virtual keynote speaker.

1. Cost-effective

During the 2020-22 Global disruption, virtual keynote speakers quickly became the go-to option for organizations, however, even though travel has opened up virtual or hybrid events still have benefits. First among these benefits are the savings from travel, accommodation, and other associated costs. Many global, inspiring, and motivating speakers have adapted their presentations with digital technology, allowing organizations to access top-tier speakers that they couldn’t previously access or afford.

2. Convenience

Virtual keynote speakers with a studio are flexible and so organizations can easily...

How do you read the room on Zoom?

I was asked this question by one of my coaching clients who wanted to transform her influence, to get the promotion she sought.

I’d previously shared with her that in addition to projecting gravitas and confidence, executive presence means, reading the room.

The Greek Philosopher, Aristotle wrote, that in order to influence, we need pathos. Pathos gives us the English word, empathy, meaning the ability to understand the feelings and motivations of your audience. This is what I mean by reading the room.

Pitching your idea, or presenting information without knowing what state the audience is in or what’s important to them, is like driving on a freeway blindfolded.

So, how do you read the room, and how do you do that in a Zoom, or Teams environment when many participants have their cameras off?

Well, if you are still listening to me, then I already know something about you.

You are curious and open to learning. You are ambitious and want to...

Would you take free advice from a man worth more than $86 billion?

If that advice would increase your worth by at least 50 percent, would you act on it?

Do I have your attention?

Legendary investor and billionaire, Warren Buffet freely gives advice to improve your communication skills. He says,

“If you can’t communicate, it’s like winking at a girl in the dark — nothing happens”.

Billionaire entrepreneur, Richard Branson agrees.

“Today, if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you also have to be a storyteller”

The Benefit of Audience Engagement

Buffet and Branson clearly understand that even if you have the best ideas and, or the best product, to be successful, you must confidently communicate in ways that engage your audience.

Consider the success of Steve Jobs’s Apple product launches. Books have been written about Job’s presentation style, and many CEOs have emulated his stagecraft.

The good news is that communication,...

Before the Covid Pandemic, my schedule was packed with travel, speaking, and coaching in multiple countries (see video above). Now, there is no travel, but as a Virtual Leadership Speaker and Coach, I can still make a difference from my home office.

Virtual Leadership Speaker

I don't call myself a futurist, but I have been predicting disruption for the speaking industry for some time. With this in mind, I began to set up the means to deliver inspiration and information remotely from my computer and cloud-based software in 2017.  Now it's 2020 and I am glad I had the foresight and self-leadership to disrupt before being disrupted.

With a 2-PC setup,  I can broadcast leadership speeches, workshops, and coaching anywhere in the world. It's now not unusual for me to start my day coaching on the East Coast of the USA, facilitate a meeting in Silicon Valley, speak somewhere in Asia, and finish my day in India, Africa, or Europe.

All of this was possible before the 2020...