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Plenary Keynote Speaker: Rob Weinhold

A you because you see a path forward,” he said. “You see a
worldwide pandemic. Natural disasters.
way out. You see resolution that maybe others can’t see.”
An economic downturn.
These are just a few of the events that made
According to Weinhold, great leaders teach, commu-
the last 16 months some of the most challenging in the nicate, motivate, empower, and hold people account-
history of the United States. These difficult times forced able. “But they are also optimistic, so that the light at
people to change how they lived their lives, how they the end of the tunnel is a path forward and not a train,”
prepared for the future, and how they viewed leaders he said.
in their communities. Weinhold challenged those watching his address to
“We know it’s not a matter of if, but a matter take a hard look at those with whom they have chosen
of when crisis occurs,” said Rob Weinhold, Chief to surround themselves: “Are these people that make
Executive of the Fallston Group, in his keynote address you better? Who are you hitching your wagon to, to be
on Tuesday morning. “You don’t need to go looking for successful—professionally and personally?” Surround
crisis, because it will absolutely find you.” yourself with the right people, he said, but take it one
Weinhold, who is considered an expert leadership step further. “Take a look in the mirror. Do you make
and communications strategist, talked about crises in life difficult for those people around you, or do you
the workplace that demand strong action—investiga- motivate them relentlessly every single day?”
tions, litigation, data breaches, bad press, and social In closing, Weinhold described the two attributes
media attacks. He said short-term adversity can be displayed by people who can cycle through crisis the
turned into long-term advantage with proper prepa- quickest:
ration. “There’s no question in my mind that crisis is • They admit they are in crisis; they realize something
opportunity,” he said. “Crisis can actually be a growth is wrong, and they are beginning to lose control.
strategy as you can be bigger, faster, and stronger after • They reach out to their trusted network for help,
than before.”
perspective, and advice.
Crises are caused by two types of issues—smoldering
“I don’t care how good you are, when you are in the
and sudden. Smoldering issues are the cause of nearly bull’s-eye, you don’t make the best decisions,” he said,
75% of crises, Weinhold said. And nearly 20% of crises noting that vulnerability is not a weakness but rather a
result from mismanagement. “As leaders, we know sign of strength. “Tap others on the shoulder you trust.
about issues, but we fail to confront them,” he said.
Get their perspective, because they will help you navi-
There are many reasons that leaders don’t confront gate your way through the storm.”
issues, everything from ego to embarrassment to a lack
of skills to handle the issues. Some leaders simply don’t
act, thinking tomorrow will be better than today; others
don’t like difficult situations so they delegate. “You can
delegate authority,” Weinhold said, “but you
can never delegate accountability.”
Weinhold listed the following seven
characteristics of resilient leaders:
• Integrity
• Communication
• Decisiveness
• Optimism Keynote Speaker
sponsored by
• Responsibility
• Resilient Culture
• Behavioral Body Armor
Among those characteristics, the
No. 1 predictor of success in Navy
SEALs is optimism. “Being optimistic
means that people have confidence in

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