Bill Carr

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• What’s On Your Mind?

  Self-talk, we all do it. It’s that inner dialogue we’re all having with ourselves at any given moment. This keynote is dives deep into self talk — that constant chatter in our head — and how to determine its validity; what kind of self talk is useful and what’s harmful. Bill Carr will unpack the neuroscience behind our everyday experience that constitutes our “reality”, outlining a set of accessible ideas that helps all to better understand “what’s on your mind?”. He draws from ancient philosophies and theologies, modern psychology, and interpersonal neuroscience.

  Topics covered include:

  • Skills needed focus your attention on your intention and address the mental dissipation we so often fall prey to.
  • Mirror neurons and neural pathways.
  • The value of creativity and its dark side
  • The ancient practice of epoche and it’s modern applications.
  • And more!

  It isn’t about controlling the mind, as much as it is about learning how to work with the mind in a healthy and productive way.

• Talking in Circles

  What would happen to your organization if you could build stronger, deeper relationships with each other and your customer?

  While most hear “talking in circles” and think about people talking round and round and going nowhere, Bill Carr’s keynote is about people talking round and round with care and empathy to get to the heart of things.

  Humans are a “story species”. Ancient cultures from around the world have gathered people in circle to share stories and dialogue on issues of mutual importance. By “talking in circles” they have been able to create, celebrate, restore, and solidify community. It grows healthy and productive group connection, while developing an interconnected understanding of our reality to better see and relate to the world around us.

  The need for circle dialogue has never been greater than today. The implications of this practice at work and in our society are vast and transformative. In this keynote, Carr will discuss:

  • The significant neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology behind how “talking in circles” works.
  • The active entrainment that occurs when effective listening happens and how mirror neurons serve to create real empathy and compassion.
  • How “talking in circles” cultivates a culture of belonging, celebrating diversity and nurturing compassion and connection.

• Acting Up! Lessons from the Theatre of Life

  What would happen if you were inspired to be your best self every day?

  On his first day playing the character of Stephano, in The Tempest, Bill Carr leapt from a basket to utter his first line but was stopped by the director. “Why is Stephano coming out of the basket at that moment?” the director asked. “Go back in the basket until you know Stephano’s ‘why!’” After a bit of consideration, Carr emerged again and said, “He has something important to say to Prospero.” “Good,” said the director, then added, “Motivation is everything. Every entrance. Every exit. Every word. You need to know why?”

  If actors can do that for a character in a play, shouldn’t we be able to do that for the character we play in life? This is the foundation of Carr’s book, Acting Up: Lessons from the Theatre of Life, where he answers the questions, how could we do better and be better? Live a truly authentic life?

  Drawing from his book, Carr will share research into how the brain works to create our experience of the world around and inside us. He shows ways we can use this knowledge to create an environment filled with creativity, enthusiasm, and inspiration. Carr focuses on empathy and what he calls “contagious inspiration” and discusses how nurturing our relationship with our better selves, and with others we admire and wish to emulate, can re-wire our neural pathways.

  Audiences will leave with a reignited passion and desire to find and develop inspiration and authenticity in their own lives, and in the lives of those you work with and for.

• Seeing Through Safety Glasses

  Safety isn’t a slogan; it has to be a mindset, a way of seeing. This keynote explores how to see safety as a mindset and then act from that mindset. It’s about anticipation and the individual and collective responsibility for changing our workplace to make it safer for everyone.

  At its core, building a culture of safety is about building an empathic and caring community.

  Safety also means being safe emotionally, socially, with mental health and cultural considerations at the forefront of a truly safe workspace. Too often this area of workplace safety is overlooked. By helping people understand the neuroscience of interpersonal exchange, Bill Carr shows how our brains can work for or against us where safety is concerned, exploring the cognitive biases that inform our thoughts and actions everyday.

• Deep Service: Who Do You Serve?

  Every industry is a service industry. Every life is a life of service on some level. The depth and quality of this service is directly affected by how we see ourselves as being “in service”. Perception drives performance.

  In this keynote, Bill Carr explores the meaning of the word “service” and how it has been diluted in the common marketplace. Using stories from a lifetime working with companies, organizations, associations, and governments, Carr illustrates key issues involved in service, exploring the key role empathy and servant leadership plays in delivering “deep service”.

  In a world where it seems like conflict and feelings of alienation dominate our culture, deep service bridges the gap and allows for a richer experience of our own humanity and the humanity of others. Whether it is an internal customer, an external customer, or our colleagues, connecting with deep service makes for a richer, more productive, and happier personal and work life.

• Just for YOU

  How great would it be to have a keynote and or workshop designed and created specifically for you event? Bill Carr offers just such a thing!

  For years, Carr has perfected the craft of creating customized keynotes and workshops to provide additional value-add for clients. He thoroughly researches the needs and desired outcomes for the conference or event that you are planning, asking questions to better understand your organization and audience, to create materials that directly relate to the people gathered.

  Working closely with you and people in your organization, Carr makes sure he touches on the themes and specific outcomes that you are after, and he does so with wit and insight born from years of working with a vast variety of industries and organizations.

  “How do you know us so well. It’s like you work here!” This is Carr’s favourite review. “Just for YOU!” is just for you and your people and will add a richness of insight and humour to the experience of your event, creating a unique, fun, and moving experience that will be talked about and celebrated long after the event is over.

• Work Inspired

  To work inspired is to work with joy and enthusiasm. It feels timeless and your energy and vision limitless.

  Children at play show all the signs of inspired living. Their focus and sense of timelessness, their unlimited imaginations, and the joy of play are all present. The same realities need to be operating when we seek to work inspired.

  In this keynote, Bill Carr shares research into how the brain works to create our experience of the world around and inside us. He shows ways we can use this knowledge to create an environment filled with joy, creativity, enthusiasm, and wild inspiration.

  Key topics include:

  • Contagious inspiration
  • The “inspiration Loop”
  • How to develop rituals that remind you what you are doing at its deepest levels.
  • How to reconnect with the real purpose and value you bring to every encounter at work, at home and in your community.

  To work inspired needn’t be an occasional stroke of good luck. We can be agents of our own inspiration and inspire those around us. Carr’s “Work Inspired” keynote will reignite a passion and desire to find and develop inspiration in your own life and in the lives of those around you.