Successfully disrupt the normalized status quo for good

I, Jess Pettitt, am always listening and learning.  After doing some research on uncertainty with my followers and audience participants, it turns out that one of the biggest fears that is showing up in workplaces is exactly what I want to hear.  Let’s take each word one at a time.

Success – Most Keynote speakers motivate audiences to be more successful.  I would like to remind you that to truly be successful you have to fail.  That’s right.  Check your definition of success and to alleviate fear, embrace the effort it takes to try and try again.  As a stand up comic, we chase the next bomb.  That is the only way you get better.

Disruption – Part of being a dynamic keynoter, whether I am filling a leadership or diversity keynote slot, I am a consistent different choice.  I have been called a disruptor my whole life and I take this as a compliment.  Disarming defensiveness, listening with curiosity, seeking different perspectives isn’t threatening.  Disrupting the norm or status quo means being open to growth, change, and ultimately success.

Normalizing Complexity is a key piece or both nimble leadership and developing or maintaining a workplace culture that aligns with actual organizational leadership.  The status quo is really just what is familiar.  Trust me – you can become familiar with disruption!  Take a second and reflect back on every unexpected twist and turn that got you to where you are right now – this could be and should be normalized as a strength of your experience.

For good – Whether you are shareholder or stakeholder focused – even if you are both – you are likely doing the work you are doing for good.  You benefit and the greater community improves because of your vision and mission.  Whether I am working one on one with organizational leadership to get through a crisis, improve their workplace culture, or just entertaining an audience to heal burn out through laughter, it is the “for good” that unifies us all.

To keep this conversation going – or really get it started – I published a new book, Almost Doing Good, and will be showcasing my new keynote What if it happens? as a free virtual event and you and your team are invited!  Specifics will be announced when the research survey closes.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/Tvd2gKGfTSiGZgu9BrYrXw

June 11 10am pacific

June 19 12pm pacific

June 24 2pm pacific

If you are interested in being part of the research project on uncertainty, this is last call to complete the survey.

What if it happens? Keynote

Jess’s #1 Amazon Best Seller, Almost Doing Good, uses her client’s good intentions to show you how to plan, prepare, and respond to the unexpected in advance. Pulling from collective DEI failures, every professional can learn how to recognize potential problems BEFORE they occur to mitigate risk, lean on already existing experience and skills, and utilize team nimbleness to prepare for anything from political demonstrations, natural disasters, health concerns, security issues, by normalizing complexity. Let’s use our events to disrupt the expected and honor the community of our audience by doing better! Jess combines her event planning experience with 20+ years of DEI consulting, and a large dose of humor to address the uncomfortable and move us all into action going forward. When addressing the uncomfortable, especially currently and regarding politics, we want to ensure that this is an open conversation about the uncomfortable and it is not our aim to solve any political problems or foster controversial discourse. Our conversations will be respectful to invite all to the table because whether we like it or not, our audiences, members, staff, volunteers, and communities will look to us to lead the way forward no matter what happens.

BONUS SESSION:

Workshop: Coping with Uncertainty and Unknowns

Before you can effectively normalize complexity, you need to understand your own relationship with uncertainty. Jess will facilitate a self-reflection journey to help you trace where you have come from and what you have learned. You can participate in a primarily silent reflective process and an authentic conversation regarding current emotions, anxieties, and realities.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify messages you learned about yourself
• Identify messages you learned about others
• Identify moments of your own behaviors that impact others
• Connect behaviors to your own self learning
• Participate in an authentic conversation regarding emotions, anxieties, and the realities of living

Bring pen and paper to (re)connect with your own foundation during this complicated time full of unknowns.