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Keynote Speaker
Jim Lawless
Strategy Implementation Expert, High-Performance Specialist, Bestselling Author & Record-Breaking Freediver
Popular talks
- The DARE Loop
- The Second Strategy
- INSPIRE: Leading High Performance
- How can we manage uncertainty, transform fast and deliver high performance?
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Talks
Popular talks by Jim Lawless
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The DARE Loop
The unit of transformation in a knowledge economy is the human. Velocity is achieved when our people have the courage, clarity and skills to do new things, fast, to deliver the strategy. Yet nobody teaches your people the map to ‘outside the comfort zone’ so that they can navigate confidently…
The unit of transformation in a knowledge economy is the human. Velocity is achieved when our people have the courage, clarity and skills to do new things, fast, to deliver the strategy.
Yet nobody teaches your people the map to ‘outside the comfort zone’ so that they can navigate confidently through the self-doubt and emotional turmoil it will bring.
The DARE Loop is the mental model for adopting a growth mindset, designing from the future backwards to build tomorrow’s action list and taking accountability for your results.
Jim’s keynote – which takes people from their own ambitions and fears to 101m under the ocean, challenges their limiting beliefs, make high performance accessible and lights up your delegates with energy, laughter and confidence in their ability to deliver the ambition.
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The Second Strategy
The enterprise strategy, the ‘behaviours’ and the instruction that people are ‘empowered’ have all been rolled out. Yet there is no change. You have a ‘wicked’ problem to solve and ‘The Second Strategy’ is a proven way to approach it. Humans cannot be commanded into being empowered. People need specific…
The enterprise strategy, the ‘behaviours’ and the instruction that people are ‘empowered’ have all been rolled out. Yet there is no change. You have a ‘wicked’ problem to solve and ‘The Second Strategy’ is a proven way to approach it.
Humans cannot be commanded into being empowered. People need specific things before they will leave their comfort zone, enter uncertainty and become vulnerable to self doubt, failure and criticism: at their workplace.
A disciplined Second Strategy is how to deliver the enterprise strategy at the speed required to win today. Every leader from the CEO down needs to be able to understand it, regulate emotion, deliver consistency and nurture the courageous action you need for progress to accelerate.
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INSPIRE: Leading High Performance
Team leaders are the most consequential people in delivering high performance and the enterprise strategy. They translate executive intent into daily reality for the people doing the work. And in most organisations, they have been trained, by education, by role modelling, by every system around them, to tell people what…
Team leaders are the most consequential people in delivering high performance and the enterprise strategy. They translate executive intent into daily reality for the people doing the work. And in most organisations, they have been trained, by education, by role modelling, by every system around them, to tell people what to do.
INSPIRE rewires that relationship into one of empowerment, clarity and speed to deliver higher performance. No management theory. Real tools, real skills, and an honest confrontation with self that produces a fundamentally different kind of leader.
More talks
- How can we manage uncertainty, transform fast and deliver high performance?
- How can we lead to ensure our people manage uncertainty, transform fast and deliver high performance?
- A Mindset to Ignite Change
- The Art of Possible
- Becoming the Disruptor in the Age of Disruption
Biography
About Jim Lawless
Once the enterprise strategy is clear, Jim rolls up his sleeves with the CEO and exec to architect and deliver the Second Strategy: the route to mobilising tens of thousands of employees globally to turn that slide deck into action at scale.
His client list includes Apple, Microsoft, Diageo, Bayer, BAE Systems, Novartis and VW Group. He is the author of the global bestseller Taming Tigers (Penguin Random House).
He has delivered DARE Loop and Second Strategy keynotes to well over a million people across five continents and is ranked among the world’s leading business speakers by Global Gurus.
Jim’s credo is that performance and change are extremely emotionally testing for the individual and for those who would lead them, with discipline, through uncertainty to bold new ambitions. They are not academic pursuits or cascaded strategy decks.
He tests his frameworks at the extreme edge. He became the deepest freediver in British history in just eight months with a dive to 101 metres on a single breath; he moved from non-rider to televised jockey in twelve months.
Both were deliberate applications of the DARE Loop methodology. Both ran alongside his day job and his most important role, fatherhood. Both give him extreme credibility onstage.
As a speaker, Jim leaves behind a precise, practical and simple map that audiences use to navigate uncertainty, swapping ownership and action for hesitation and escalation, for many years after the event.
As an architect of strategy implementation, he walks beside clients to create tangible success stories, together.
Jim worked as a City of London commercial solicitor before moving into high-performance and change. He was elected a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Society for the Arts in recognition of his business writing.
Testimonials
What clients say about Jim Lawless
Jim Lawless related to our current situation – an organisation going through massive change – with wit, enthusiasm and challenge.
We at Apple pride ourselves in thinking differently, that is why we work in partnership with Jim. Our big conference pitches and our key sales presentations have both been inspired by the Lawless touch.
“Superb use of studio tech means Jim and his team are delivering his trademark energy and content even in lockdown. My extended global leadership team across four continents was engaged, inspired and took away new, tailored ideas to implement."
"Jim Lawless related to our current situation – an organisation going through massive change – with wit, enthusiasm and challenge."
"We at Apple pride ourselves in thinking differently, that is why we work in partnership with Jim. Our big conference pitches and our key sales presentations have both been inspired by the Lawless touch."
How to book Jim Lawless
Answers on fees, availability and booking process.
How do I book Jim Lawless for a keynote speech?
You can book Jim Lawless through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Jim's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
What are Jim Lawless's speaking fees?
Jim Lawless's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Jim tailored to your event.
What topics does Jim Lawless speak about?
Jim Lawless speaks on Change, Performance, Teamwork, Transformation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Jim to align the content with your delegates and goals.
Is Jim Lawless available for international events?
London Speaker Bureau can book Jim Lawless for events worldwide, subject to Jim's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Does Jim Lawless deliver virtual or online keynotes?
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Jim Lawless is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
How long is a typical keynote by Jim Lawless?
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Jim can accommodate.
Can Jim Lawless tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?
London Speaker Bureau will brief Jim Lawless on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Jim can offer.
What languages does Jim Lawless present in?
Jim Lawless delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
What makes Jim Lawless a strong fit as a keynote speaker?
Jim Lawless's areas of expertise include Change, Performance, Teamwork, Transformation. To get a clear sense of Jim's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
What kind of events can Jim Lawless speak at?
Jim Lawless can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Change, Performance, Teamwork, Transformation is relevant. Details of Jim's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Does Jim Lawless offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Jim Lawless is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
How far in advance should we book Jim Lawless?
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Jim Lawless, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Jim's current availability for your dates.
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