John Bates helps leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and influence, even in the most complex, high-stakes environments.
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Top rated!5 of 5
'John’s keynote at Accenture’s International Women’s Day event inspired us all to rethink how we lead and communicate. With over 1,000 attendees, including C-suite clients, his paradigm-shifting message was unforgettable.' —
Tracey Seward
Former Managing Director, Accenture
John Bates is a globally recognized Leadership Communication Expert, executive coach, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. His mission is simple: to make your communication as mighty as your ideas. Drawing on human neurobiology and evolutionary psychology, John gives leaders practical, science-backed tools to inspire trust and communicate with confidence. From astronauts at NASA to elite military units and top executives, John is known for transforming speaking anxiety into authentic executive presence that creates real impact.
John Bates is one of the most respected voices in leadership communication today. As an executive coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author, he works with leaders who carry responsibility, expertise, and complex ideas — and who need their communication to match the weight of their decisions. John’s work focuses on helping leaders speak with clarity, authority, and human connection, even when the stakes are high and the audience is demanding.
He is widely recognized as one of the world’s most prolific TED-format coaches. Over the years, John has trained hundreds of TED and TEDx speakers and thousands of executives across industries where precision and trust are critical. His client experience includes organizations such as NASA, where he has coached astronauts, Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS, GE Aerospace, US Navy Special Operations, and Boston Scientific. These environments demand more than polished presentation skills — they require communication that performs under pressure.
What sets John Bates apart is his foundation in human neurobiology and evolutionary psychology. His approach is grounded in how the brain actually processes information, threat, trust, and authority. Leaders working with John learn why certain messages fail, why others create instant credibility, and how to structure communication that aligns with how humans are wired to listen and decide.
John translates complex science into practical tools leaders can apply immediately. The result is communication that feels natural, confident, and credible, rather than rehearsed or artificial. This science-based framework is especially powerful for technical experts and senior leaders who must explain complex ideas clearly while maintaining executive presence.
John is particularly known for his ability to transform speaking anxiety into calm, authentic leadership presence. Many of the leaders he works with are highly capable professionals who struggle with visibility, high-stakes presentations, or moments when all eyes are on them. John helps them replace tension with grounded confidence and replace over-explaining with clarity.
His coaching consistently earns exceptional feedback, with Net Promoter Scores above 92. Clients regularly describe him as the best leadership communication coach they have worked with, praising both the depth of his insight and the immediate impact of his methods.
John’s credibility is rooted in personal experience. Early in his career, he famously “blew it” during his first TED talk — a moment that became a turning point rather than a setback. Instead of retreating, John studied why the talk failed, how audiences respond under pressure, and what truly makes communication land. He returned to become a world-renowned speaker and coach, helping others avoid the same mistakes and accelerate their impact.
This journey gives John a rare ability to connect with leaders at every stage. He understands the fear of being judged, the pressure to perform, and the desire to be taken seriously. His work is practical, honest, and deeply human.
When you book John Bates for your event, you bring in a speaker who combines science, real-world leadership experience, and compelling storytelling. His keynotes are engaging, insightful, and immediately useful, giving audiences tools they can apply the very next day.
John’s presentations resonate with executives, technical experts, and leadership teams who want communication that drives action rather than applause alone. He helps organizations raise the standard of how ideas are shared, decisions are explained, and leaders show up when it matters most.
Book John Bates for your event and give your audience a powerful shift in how they communicate, influence, and lead.
5 of 5
'John’s keynote at Accenture’s International Women’s Day event inspired us all to rethink how we lead and communicate. With over 1,000 attendees, including C-suite clients, his paradigm-shifting message was unforgettable.' —
Tracey Seward Former Managing Director, Accenture
5 of 5
“I’ve attended many training sessions, but John’s was the most engaging and impactful. He’s the real deal!”
Carolyn Jenkins
5 of 5
“The Executive Speaking Success workshop was life-changing. I still use what I learned years later, and it continues to yield results.”
Audrey Blackburn
5 of 5
“John’s workshop for JLABS in Brussels completely transformed how I approach public speaking. The feedback we got afterward was phenomenal!”
Angélique van 't Wout Program Leader, JLABS
Keynote by John Bates:
Technical excellence alone is not enough for real success because communicating with human beings is not logical. It’s BIO-logical. Leaders and professionals who can form deep connections, inspire action, and influence different stakeholders hold the true competitive edge. “Mastering the Neurobiology of Influence and Communication” is designed precisely for high-performing individuals and teams who want to strengthen this essential skill set through science-backed strategies.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and decades of leadership communication coaching for organizations like NASA - including the astronauts, Johnson & Johnson, Google, Intuit, and more, John K. Bates will guide you beyond mere presentation skills into the very neurobiological roots of influence. You’ll discover why certain messages resonate, how to shape your presence to foster trust, and how to deliver ideas that move people — not just inform them.
Through this session, you’ll learn practical tools to:
Understand the neural mechanisms that govern attention, trust, and decision-making.
Design communication that engages both the rational and emotional centers of your audience’s brains.
Transform complex, technical information into stories that stick and inspire.
Build authentic executive presence that enhances credibility and drives alignment.
Participants consistently report dramatic improvements in their leadership communication, with the program achieving Net Promoter Scores of 92 and higher — a testament to its immediate and lasting impact. That’s why John’s clients consistently recommend him as one of the best in the world and bring him back again and again.
This is not a theoretical lecture. Expect an engaging, hands-on keynote experience where you’ll actively apply what you learn in real time. Whether you’re leading a global engineering team, pitching an innovative product, or influencing cross-functional partners, these techniques will help you deliver your message with power and authenticity.
By mastering the neurobiology of influence and communication, you’ll not only stand out as a more impactful communicator but also elevate your team’s performance and shape your organization’s culture.
Join us and learn to move beyond transmitting information — to truly influencing and transforming the way people think, feel, and act.
1. What problem does your talk address?
Have you ever seen leaders who were technically brilliant and had game-changing ideas, but just couldn’t get people on board? They struggle to inspire action, align their teams, and get buy-in for their initiatives. The problem is that technical expertise alone doesn’t guarantee influence. Most people don’t realize that effective communication isn’t just an art — it’s a science deeply rooted in how our brains are wired to receive and respond to information.
2. How do you address the problem?
In this session, John shares a practical, neuroscience-based framework that demystifies the core of influence and trust. He draws from my experience coaching leaders at NASA - including the Astronauts and 1000’s more, Johnson & Johnson, and TEDx to help participants understand exactly what’s happening in the brain when we communicate. They’ll learn how to engage both the rational and emotional centers of the brains of their audiences and teams, transform complex data into stories that resonate, and show up with authentic executive presence that moves people — not just informs them.
3. What will the audience walk away with?
The audience will walk away with actionable tools they can use right away to communicate more effectively, confidently, and powerfully, even in highly technical or high-stakes environments. The principles John shares are “obvious in hindsight” and therefore extremely memorable. They will know how to capture attention, quickly earn trust, and inspire people to take action on their ideas. Ultimately, the leaders in attendance will leave ready to turn their expertise into real influence — standing out as a leader who doesn’t just share information but who authentically creates trust, loyalty and is the kind of leader others want to follow.
Watch John Bates in action!
Watch John Bates in action!
