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Learn to get through to anybody
USA
Psychiatrist, communicator, author, and former FBI Hostage negotiation trainer advising in effective communication
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Biography
Keynote
References
Articles
Our keynote speaker Mark Goulston is a psychiatrist by training and has worked for more than twenty years at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. Renowned for his expertise, he is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has been named one of America’s Top Psychiatrists four times by the Consumers Research Council of America. He has since used his unique skills and experience as an FBI/police hostage negotiation trainer.
Today, Dr. Mark Goulston uses his expertise as a speaker and coach, and as a business consultant for several major organizations such as Goldman Sachs, Zappos and the Conference Board. He is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, the Huffington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and Business Insider and regularly appears in the media as an expert including: CNN, BBC, Forbes, Forbes of India, Fortune, Wall St. Journal and New York Times.
The sought-after speaker Mark Goulston is the author of several best-selling books: His book “Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone” (2009) has been translated into 18 languages and remains one of the top books on the topic. His 1996 book “Get Out of Your Own Way” has remained one of Amazon’s top five self help books for five years, revealing his remarkable understanding of the human mind and human behavior.
Due to his unique skills and experience, Dr. Mark Goulston’s presentations leave attendees more than satisfied. His presentations are highly interactive, and it is his goal that everyone in the audience is able to take away an actionable tactic they can immediately use to become more effective and successful. Dr. Mark Goulston is an exceptional speaker who draws in the audience with advice and tools that are both actionable and doable for the individual attendee, showing them how to get through to anyone, even those unwilling to listen.
See Dr. Mark Goulston Introduce His Interactive Keynote
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Not only was this the highest attendance program (during a full day of hostage negotiation training), it also had the highest sustained attendance of any program. This speaks volumes about the high regard in which you are held and the quality of your presentation - I believe it is accurate to say that the information you imparted will save lives in the future
Timothy McNally
By the time Mark finished his opening session talk to a large group of executives and leaders, he not only fulfilled his promise that they would forever change the way they thought, he just plain and simple won everyone in the audience over. How did he do that? Through compelling and inspiring stories, Mark talks with an audience instead of at them. And if you haven’t noticed, being talked with is something the world is starving for right now while it is still reeling from having been talked at and then run over.
Peter Guber
What would you rather reach, a “stretch” goal or an “impossible” goal? That is what Mark challenged himself to do with the 200+ executives and leaders from around the world in his opening session presentation at our Big Task Weekend. His challenge? “In 8 minutes you will permanently change the way you think about something very important to you.” And as I watched, that is exactly what he did. Mark is remarkable. If he could do that in 8 minutes, think of what he could for you in a full keynote, workshop or through his executive coaching.
Keith Ferrazzi
What is the main message that you hope your audiences take away from your presentations?
The more centered, clear and poised you are in dealing with every situation, especially the most challenging ones, the more influence you will have in your company, your community, your family and beyond.
Do you have a favorite experience from your speaking career?
The audience’s universally delighted reaction every time I share my story of standing up to and then backing down F. Lee Bailey when I was an adviser to the Prosecution in the O.J. Simpson murder trial and when I was sequestered on the day that Detective Mark Fuhrman took the 5th Amendment (See Video). Why? Because on that day I learned 80% of what I know about standing up to difficult people and bullies and I love sharing it as an example of turning a day where I felt nauseated into a triumph.
How does humor play a part in the way you communicate with your audiences?
A big part especially when it is not canned and flows spontaneously from what I am saying. I don’t like using canned humor, although I am thinking of making an exception with my opening that nearly always receives an appreciative and acknowledging laugh at the beginning when I say, “Well, just like you, I can hardly wait to find out what I am going to say.” See… it even made you laugh, didn’t it?
How can organizations gain from better communication?
Often, highly transactional people push back and tell me, “Why should I listen to others? (when clearly they want people to listen to them)” My response is, “The more others talk, the more they pay.” And my evidence for that? How many people do you know that talk too much and drive people away not to mention, lose sales and lose having influence. Proof of this fact is the my Harvard Business Review blog, How to Know if You Talk Too Much, was the most popular blog and editor’s choice the week it came out.
What are your best tips for “getting through to anybody”?
When people are talking to you, especially when they have talked too much, unconsciously they are expecting you to push back or get into a debate with you. The last thing they will be expecting is for you to focus on something they said that had emotion attached to it, calmly pause after they finally stop talking and then have you ask them to “Say more about (that emotional item).” When you do that, you will notice their becoming disarmed and then after you keep them talking without your pushing back, they will be appreciative and more open to hearing what you have to say.
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