David Burkus
- 5x Best-Selling Author including "Best Team Ever"
- 4M TED Talk Views
- Named 2x One of the world's leading business thinkers
- Organizational Psychologist
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, Dr. David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever. He is the bestselling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership...
read the restOne of the world’s leading business thinkers, Dr. David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the bestselling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s top business thought leaders. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including PepsiCo, Fidelity, Adobe, and even NASA.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
read less"A sense of belonging on a team is crucial for its success and productivity."
David Burkus in Media
Speaker Programs
Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, and nearly everyone wants to be on one. But too often, we think performance depends on star talent, perfect incentives, or another round of engagement surveys. The ...more
Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, and nearly everyone wants to be on one. But too often, we think performance depends on star talent, perfect incentives, or another round of engagement surveys. The truth is: performance—and belonging—are built through culture. And culture is built through consistent, everyday actions.
Great teams aren’t just made up of great people. They’re made up of people who work great together. They check in on one another. They speak up. They invite others in. They give recognition. And they treat surveys and feedback forums not as chores, but as opportunities to shape the culture they want to be part of.
That’s what building the best team ever is all about. In this entertaining and enlightening keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the surprisingly small habits that lead to big gains in trust, engagement, inclusion, and performance. Backed by decades of research and real-world case studies, this session leaves audiences with a simple, actionable blueprint to help every team member play an active role in creating a culture where everyone feels they belong—and everyone performs at their best. ...less
Every leader dreams of a team that just "clicks," one that collaborates effortlessly, tackles challenges head-on, and delivers results time and time again. But not every team reaches this pinnacle of performance. Some teams struggle ...more
Every leader dreams of a team that just "clicks," one that collaborates effortlessly, tackles challenges head-on, and delivers results time and time again. But not every team reaches this pinnacle of performance. Some teams struggle from the beginning, others start strong and fall apart. And many just coast along. In each case, engagement breaks down and performance suffers. Why is it that some teams break records while others just break down?
Most leaders think the solution is more talent, more resources, or even more meetings. But the real key is mastering the two elements of great collaboration: clarity and empathy. When teams understand not just their roles and responsibilities (clarity), but also the personalities and work preferences of their teammates (empathy), they operate at a higher level. When they don't, they're just one misunderstanding away from collapse.
In this evidence-based, high-energy keynote, Dr. David Burkus will reveal the surprising science behind why some teams succeed while others spiral into dysfunction. You'll learn how to establish instant clarity, alignment, and accountability, even in the newest or most complex teams. And you’ll leave with research-backed insights, practical tools, and actionable strategies to elevate your team’s performance immediately.
Ready to unlock effortless collaboration and unstoppable performance?
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Every leader wants a team they can trust. Every teammate wants to know their trust is earned. But here’s the reality: Trust isn’t built in a moment; it's grown over time with each and every ...more
Every leader wants a team they can trust. Every teammate wants to know their trust is earned. But here’s the reality: Trust isn’t built in a moment; it's grown over time with each and every interaction.
Trust isn't given. Trust isn't earned. Trust is reciprocated.
The highest-performing teams don’t just hope for trust—they build it, reinforce it, and protect it through a powerful feedback cycle–The Trust Loop. Every time trust is extended, it needs to be met with respect to keep the cycle going.
In this dynamic and research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals a proven framework for reinforcing trust in every interaction. You'll learn why trust erodes faster than you think—and how to prevent it from slipping away, but also how great teams recover from failures and setbacks without losing trust. And you'll leave with a practical blueprint to strengthen trust and drive results.
Let’s get The Trust Loop going. ...less
As the challenges organizations face seem to compound, we need innovative ideas more than ever. But many teams struggle to find and implement their brightest ideas. Much of this struggle comes from a common misconception: ...more
As the challenges organizations face seem to compound, we need innovative ideas more than ever. But many teams struggle to find and implement their brightest ideas. Much of this struggle comes from a common misconception: you can’t create an innovative company teaching individuals to be more creative. Instead, research reveals that “lone creators” are historically rare and for most innovations, creativity is a team sport.
Teams bring a broader perspective and a more diverse set of solutions, but only if they know how to leverage the wisdom of everyone involved.
By combining insights from social science research and practical takeaways from the most innovative companies and teams, Dr. David Burkus outlines a prescription for any team or organization to work more creatively together, without silos, politics, or frustration. You'll learn how to leverage the expertise of the whole team, how to harness conflict to strengthen ideas, and how to find and implement the best solutions to the challenges your teams face. ...less
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