Vanessa Van Edwards

Better communication skills pay dividends in every conversation for the rest of your life. There are no downsides to becoming a better communicator, but the upsides may be more powerful than we know. Studies show that people with high interpersonal intelligence (PQ) perform at higher levels, have higher salaries, have better immune systems, and help generate more revenue for companies they work for. In this research-based and reflective keynote, Vanessa Van Edwards teaches attendees powerful communication strategies based on new science that they can apply at work and in their personal lives. Pulling from her bestselling books Captivate and Cues, she shares the latest research on behavioral psychology and how it can be used to improve professional relationships, make positive and lasting impressions, and better connect with co-workers and customers. Audiences are left with a better understanding of their own communication pitfalls and the knowledge and confidence to apply new tools to become more authentically charismatic in their interactions. 

Key learning objectives include: 

• Improving communication across teams and organizations by understanding the hidden signs and signals embedded in day to day interactions, whether internal or external.
• Why warmth and competence cues are the keys to balanced and successful communication.
• The pitfalls of using the wrong cues and why they slow down productivity and strain relationships.
• How to strike the right balance between trust and power, likeability and productivity, collaboration and capability.
• The (surprising) science of charisma and how to use it to make memorable first impressions, craft a confident presence, and improve communication with colleagues, clients, and customers.
• Mastering the art and science of engagement across all communication modes.
• The new science of conversation and how to talk to anyone without falling into the pattern of using tired social scripts, making for more captivating conversations.

Great leadership boils down to influence earned through moments of connection. Communication is the vehicle of influence. Being an effective communicator is more than speaking eloquently. It’s the ability to engage the uninspired, win trust, gain credibility, assuage worries in every interaction, and develop relationships through intentional communication. In this keynote, Vanessa Van Edwards explores the behavioral economics of leadership. She reveals how powerful communication tactics and specific learned personality strengths can supercharge our influence, equipping us to be more successful leaders. Attendees learn about the charisma scale, an effective tool for mastering balanced communication, and other applicable leadership tools that accelerate the connectedness of teams, improve individual productivity and outcomes, strengthen company culture, and ultimately advance business performance. 

Key learning objectives include:

• The fascinating neuroscience that sets great leaders apart. 
• Developing and maintaining a captivating presence, both virtually and in-person. 
• The leadership principles that extend to all areas of life and how to effectively apply them in a personal and professional capacity.
• The verbal cues of powerful communicators and how to practice inspired communication.
• Successful verbal and non-verbal techniques to project warmth and competence. 

Did you know that people have unique work personalities? Understanding our individual and collective work personalities can help develop quick connections with colleagues and business partners alike. As workplaces become more collaborative, effective and symbiotic work relationships are needed now more than ever, yet connectedness has become more elusive with the rise of hybrid and virtual teams. High-functioning teamwork does not happen accidentally; it is cultivated and improved by unlocking and understanding the Five Work Traits. In this presentation, Vanessa Van Edwards shows attendees how they can supercharge their people skills with their teams and in business by understanding the five science-based aspects of personality. Participants will be able to apply these concepts to nurture their collaboration, build a culture of trust, and unlock innovation that only happens with greater openness and understanding. This keynote provides an avenue for teams to reset, build rapport, and cultivate shared language and ideas.

Key learning objectives include:

• The five important traits inherent to every personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
• Understanding how openness affects a team’s willingness to consider new ideas.
• Learning about how team members’ conscientiousness affects individual efficiency and group productivity.
• Fostering better ways to connect by understanding extraversion levels.
• Understanding how increasing team agreeableness supercharges collaboration and creativity.
• Better ways to prevent and work through difficult tasks and conversations by understanding team neuroticism.

Warmth and competence are two of the most important qualities of effective sales communication. Some people naturally appear warm and competent. For those who do not, the good news is these qualities can be nurtured. In this keynote, Vanessa Van Edwards shares the new research behind the science of people that helps salespeople, agents, advisors, sales support, and project managers approach any sales situation strategically and with confidence. Attendees learn how to read people, anticipate and overcome objections, make people feel comfortable voicing concern, tactically use verbal and nonverbal cues to their advantage, and ultimately create buy-in from customers. Participants will walk away with a deep understanding of how people open up and commit to relationships, ideas, products, and services, and the practical techniques they can implement immediately that will set them apart on their sales journey.

Key learning objectives include:

• Which body language cues instantly increase trust and charisma.
• Which vocal cues make us sound more confident and influential.
• Which verbal cues to use in our communications and emails to increase trust (and generate excitement about the interaction).
• How to detect emotions to gauge a person’s interest, anticipate objections, and create a sales environment that’s comfortable for the customer.