Research Brief
A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.
Presenter
Mark Thompson
Description
In this CEO MasterClass Series – Growth & Resilience in a Crisis, New York Times Bestselling Author Mark Thompson, talks about growth and resilience for your business and leadership team during a crisis. The talk will focus on:
Learning Points
* Getting a Seat at the Table: What’s happening in your board room with your directors and shareholders, and how to be valued by your CEO. * How Successful, Scrappy, Leaders apply Productive Paranoia to engage and activate the best teams in times of fear and uncertainty. * From COVID Fever to Cabin Fever: Finding connection for your teams and workers around the world as their adrenalin runs dry and tempers soar from captivity fatigue.
Key Takeaways
- 1.Business and leadership teams can be guided toward growth and resilience even during a crisis.
- 2.Leaders can secure their value by understanding the perspectives of the board, directors, and shareholders.
- 3.Successful leaders can use 'productive paranoia' to engage and activate teams during times of fear and uncertainty.
- 4.Maintaining team connection is essential as the initial adrenaline of a crisis fades and fatigue sets in.
New York Times Bestselling Author Mark Thompson leads this CEO MasterClass Series discussion on achieving growth and resilience for your business and leadership team during a crisis.
Key Focus Areas
This session explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty and inspire their teams.
Getting a Seat at the Table
Learn what it takes to be valued by your CEO and secure your influence in the organization. The talk addresses the dynamics of the board room and how to effectively engage with directors and shareholders.
Applying Productive Paranoia
Discover how successful, scrappy leaders utilize "productive paranoia." This approach helps to engage and activate the best teams, especially when facing fear and uncertainty, turning potential panic into focused action.
From COVID Fever to Cabin Fever
As a crisis evolves, the initial adrenaline wears off, leading to "captivity fatigue" and rising tensions. This webinar explores strategies for finding and maintaining connection for your teams, ensuring collaboration and morale remain high.
This session explores the critical intersection of growth and resilience, particularly in the context of unprecedented global challenges. It provides actionable insights for leaders looking to navigate uncertainty, protect their organizations, and identify opportunities for advancement even amidst disruption.
What you'll learn
- Strategies for maintaining momentum and identifying growth avenues during periods of significant instability.
- Techniques for building robust organizational resilience that can withstand unexpected shocks.
- Methods for fostering an adaptive culture that embraces change and innovation.
- Approaches to support employee well-being while driving performance in challenging environments.
- The importance of strategic foresight and agile decision-making in crisis.
Who this webinar is for
- CEOs, C-suite executives, and senior leaders responsible for organizational strategy and performance.
- HR professionals focused on talent management, organizational development, and employee support.
- Managers and team leaders seeking to enhance their leadership capabilities in complex situations.
- Professionals interested in developing strategies for long-term organizational health and adaptability.
Why it matters now
The ability to not only survive but also grow during times of crisis has become a defining characteristic of successful organizations. The landscape for businesses and leaders is constantly evolving, requiring a proactive stance on resilience and a keen eye for nascent opportunities. This approach ensures businesses are future-proofed, can retain top talent, and maintain market relevance regardless of external pressures. Mark Thompson's perspectives offer a timely framework for effective leadership in today's dynamic global environment.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can apply the principles discussed by first assessing their organization's current vulnerability and adaptability. This involves transparent communication with teams to build trust and foster psychological safety. Developing flexible strategic plans that allow for rapid pivots in response to changing conditions is also crucial. Leaders should invest in upskilling their workforce for new challenges and empower decentralized decision-making where appropriate. Emphasizing a culture of continuous learning and experimentation will further strengthen the organization's capacity for both resilience and growth.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Mark Thompson's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.