Gregg Ward | Source | Executive Director at The Center for Respectful Leadership
Gregg Ward
Gregg Ward is the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Respectful Leadership with over 20 years of experience serving industry and government as an expert consultant, executive coach, facilitator, author, speaker, and thought leader.
Experience/Credentials...
- Educated at Boston University, San Diego State University and credentialed in executive coaching and numerous assessment instruments (Hogan, DISC, Leadership360)
- Began professional career as a specialist program developer and trainer for the NYPD in conflict de-escalation.
- Former correspondent on assignment in Europe for BBC Radio, Scotsman Publications, The Times of London, The Independent and The List Magazine; covered the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
- Currently serves as an expert on respect, organizational culture, leadership, interpersonal communication, conflict, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety
- Author of three books including an award-winning, bestseller "The Respectful Leader" (Wiley 2016)
- Clients include ADP, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, Nissan, Qualcomm, The US Dept. of Labor, and Warner Bros. Studios among many others.
- Experienced, Credentialed Executive Coach (Master Corporate Executive Coach - MCEC, Board Certified Executive Coach - BCC)
- Frequent keynote speaker at SHRM, ATD, corporate, and global association conferences and events, expert storyteller and the use of storytelling in leadership
- Frequent guest on television news (Fox Business News, ABC's Washington DC and SoCal local news), radio, and over 50 business podcasts
- Profiled in articles in the San Diego Union Tribune, the Chicago Tribune and other other media
- Personable, knowledgeable, relatable, down-to-earth, direct, clear, wry and even respectfully funny
- Former award-winning professional theater, film and television actor, director, writer and producer in NYC and the UK
- Contributor to Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, the San Diego Union Tribune and others
- Author of weekly newsletter on current affairs in business related to HR, Leadership, and Culture
- Son of the famous sportswriter, Gene Ward who wrote for the NY Daily News for 42 years and was syndicated by the Chicago Tribune
- Originally from Long Island, I've lived in Boston, Iowa, Cincinnati, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, London, Edinburgh Scotland and for the past 20+ years, San Diego
- Tennis nut close to 4.5 level (can't play golf worth a damn)
- Umpire Little League in my spare time (it's "interesting")
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The Center for Respectful Leadership
Executive Director
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5 ways to make sure employees know you respect them—and why that’s crucial for success
The days of gruff, disrespectful bosses are over.
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Gregg Ward Author, Thought Leader, Speaker's Reel 2024
CRL Executive Director Gregg Ward, who served as a professional stage actor in New York and London, knows exactly how to capture, engage, motivate and inspire any audience. A master storyteller who also worked as a freelance correspondent on assignment throughout Europe for BBC Radio, Scotsman Publications and The List Magazine, Gregg is upbeat, energetic, powerful and often very funny and touching. Audiences consistently rate him as "one of the best" keynote speakers they've ever experienced. With over two decades of experience, Gregg's global keynote clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Kaiser Permanente, Kraft, Qualcomm, SHRM, the US Navy and Warner Bros. Studios among many others.
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Mastering Workplace Criticism: Techniques for Emotional Resilience
Gregg advises using "box breathing" to stay calm during harsh feedback. He suggests recognizing that others face similar criticism and encourages separating facts from emotional language. By assuming good intentions, employees can discern valuable insights and decide on necessary changes. -
Navigating Cannabis Odor in the Workplace: Expert Insights
Gregg advises that while cannabis use may be legal, employees should avoid smelling of it at work, except in specific roles like weed shops or outdoor landscaping. He equates this to alcohol use, emphasizing professionalism and client interaction. "Even though cannabis use is legal, the only employees who should smell like they use it are the folks who work in weed shops." -
Letting Your Boss Win: A Strategy for Workplace Harmony
Gregg advises, "Let your boss win, but don't make it obvious," to protect fragile leadership egos. He admits to letting bosses and clients win at golf to avoid risking relationships, while avoiding tennis due to his competitive nature. Gregg suggests this strategy to his coaching clients for maintaining workplace harmony.
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20 Consequences of Promoting Leaders Who Lack People Skills... Forbes (Mar 24)
10. Drives Away Your Best And Brightest
"Sooner or later, if they lack people skills, that very valuable person you promoted into the C-Suite is going to turn into a liability and annoy a whole bunch of people, potentially driving away your best and brightest. Reign those folks in fast—get them "soft skills" training, and an executive coach who specializes in working with abrasive, low-EQ leaders. If they don't change, move them out, fast."
Gregg Ward, MCEC BCC, The Center for Respectful Leadership
