Marcus Buckingham is a global researcher and thought leader focused on unlocking strengths, increasing performance, and pioneering the future of how people work. He is the author of two of the best-selling business books of all time, has two of Harvard Business Review's most circulated, industry-changing cover articles, and his strengths assessments have been taken by over 10 million people worldwide.
Current Work
Building on nearly two decades of experience as a Senior Researcher at Gallup Organization, he currently guides the vision of the ADP Research Institute as Head of People + Performance research. He founded The Marcus Buckingham Company in 2006 with a clear mission: to instigate a strengths revolution.' It started, as all revolutions do, with the simplest of ideas: that when people spend the majority of each day on the job using their greatest talents and engaged in their favourite tasks, doing exactly what they want to do, both they and their organizations will win.
In other words, companies that focus on cultivating employees' strengths rather than simply improving on people's weaknesses stand to dramatically increase efficiency and productivity while allowing for maximum personal growth. He is routinely lauded by such corporations as Toyota, Facebook, lululemon, Coca-Cola, Box, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and Disney as an invaluable resource in informing, challenging, mentoring and inspiring people to find their strengths and sustain long-lasting personal success. He now leads People + Performance research at the ADP Research Institute and remains CEO of The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC).
In all of his speeches, Marcus demonstrates the correlation between strengths-driven, engaged employees and business fundamentals such as turnover rates, customer satisfaction, profits, and productivity. Challenging entrenched preconceptions about achievement to get to the core of what drives success, Marcus's strengths-based approach is a win/win scenario that, without exaggeration, will define the future of work.
His latest book, Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader's Guide to the Real World takes an in-depth look at the lies that pervade our workplaces and the core truths that will help us change it for the better. It has been recognized as one of the best managements and leadership books of 2019 by Inc., Amazon, Strategy + Business, Porchlight, Audible, and Book Pal's Outstanding Works of Literature Award.
Previous Experience
Author:Marcus first conquered the bestseller lists in 1999 with First, Break All the Rules. While the title may imply an iconoclastic streak, his continuing plea for managers to break with tradition has nothing to do with rebellion; instead, he argues, rules must be broken and discarded because they stifle the originality and uniqueness — the strengths — that can enable all of us to achieve our highest performance. The definitive treatment of strengths in the workplace can be found in his best-selling books: Now, Discover Your Strengths; The One Thing: You Need to Know; Go Put Your Strengths To Work; The Truth About You; Find Your Strongest Life; and StandOut 2.0.
Media: As an internationally renowned thought leader and business expert, Marcus has been the subject of in-depth profiles in The New York Times, Fortune, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on numerous television programs, including Larry King Live,' The Today Show' and The Oprah Winfrey Show.'
Talking Points
The Strengths Revolution
The strengths revolution is built one audience at a time. Marcus approaches the task of teaching the world the strengths-based approach to work from a number of different angles, providing insights tailored to each group's key concerns and opportunities. We will work with you to curate the perfect keynote for your specific event and audience, with takeaways backed by over twenty years of validated research.The Strengths Revolution
Talking points include:
Nine Lies about Work
- From Marcus's newest book, examine the 9 lies that are pervasive in our organizations
- Learn the truths behind them, backed by data and research
- Discover how you can become a Freethinking Leader
Leadership
- Learn what the best team leaders do differently
- Discover the one ritual that all great leaders have in common
- Learn how to build a culture of performance
Strengths
- Uncover the secret to driving personal performance
- Discover the approach that characterizes the most successful people in the world
- Pinpoint your competitive advantage, and learn how to apply it at work
- Identify your particular strengths as an individual, manager, or organization leader
Strong LEADER - for all leaders of teams, and teams of teams
What the most effective senior leaders do to build clarity and confidence during these dynamic and confusing times.Strong LEADER - for all leaders of teams, and teams of teams
Marcus shares:
- The most effective way leaders turn anxiety into confidence
- How to use StandOut to pinpoint precisely what about you others follow
- The three rituals to build resilience across your organization
Before: Each attendee takes the StandOut strengths assessment (15 mins)
During: 45-minute virtual keynote
After: **Optional Add-ons
- Strong Leader Series
One 45-minute session per week for 3 weeks (this series can be customized per client's request)
- Strong Leader Q+A with Marcus Buckingham
Marcus will conduct a virtual Q&A with all attendees once a month for four months following the Strong Leader virtual keynote
- 1:1 strengths coaching with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to deepen a leader's understanding of their unique and distinct power
- Virtual deep dive extension sessions with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to expand and reinforce the learning
Strong TEAMS - for all team leaders and team members
How to build resilient, high-performing teams using the StandOut strengths assessment.Strong TEAMS - for all team leaders and team members
Marcus shares:
- The three rituals of the best team leaders
- What StandOut can reveal about you and each team member
- How to build resilience, engagement and collaboration across the team
Before: Each attendee takes the StandOut assessment (15 mins)
During: 45-minute virtual keynote
After: **Optional Add-ons
- Strong Teams Series
One 45-minute session per week for 3 weeks (this series can be customized per client's request)
- Strong Teams Q+A with Marcus Buckingham
Marcus will conduct a virtual Q&A with all attendees once a month for four months following the Strong
Teams virtual keynote
- 1:1 strengths coaching with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to deepen a team member's understanding of
their unique contribution to the team
- Strong Teams Activity facilitated by an MB-certified coach/facilitator
- Virtual deep dive extension sessions with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to expand and reinforce the
learning
Strong YOU - for all employees
How to build your personal resilience and connection with others using the StandOut strengths assessment.Strong YOU - for all employees
Marcus shares:
- The three sources of personal resilience
- How to use StandOut to rediscover and reorient you around your strengths
- How to use StandOut to strengthen your connection with those you care about
Before: Each attendee takes the StandOut assessment (15 mins)
During: 45-minute virtual keynote
After: **Optional Add-ons
- Strong You Series
One 45-minute session per week for 3 weeks (this series can be customized per client's request)
- Strong You Q+A with Marcus Buckingham
Marcus will conduct a virtual Q&A with all attendees once a month for four months following the Strong
You virtual keynote
- 1:1 strengths coaching with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to deepen an individual's understanding of their unique contribution to the team
- Strong You Resilience Activity facilitated by an-MB certified coach/facilitator
- Virtual deep dive extension sessions with an MB-certified coach/facilitator to expand and reinforce the learning
Video
10 Years of Strengths - Marcus Buckingham
When you study the most successful people, you quickly learn that they don't all achieve success in the same way. Their success is weirdly idiosyncratic. But these unique paths to success have one thing in common: they involve an almost fanatical focus on strengths. Are you one of the 2 out of 10 people who get to play to their strengths most of the time? If not, how do you get to be? Don't wait for that perfect company, that perfect job, that perfect boss. These things may never come. But the experience of working can still show you how great you can be, if you start with your strengths and build from there.
