Colette Carlson

Colette Carlson holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation, which fewer than twelve percent of professional speakers worldwide have earned. She has also done something harder than passing that test: she has spent years researching why smart people consistently fail to say what they actually mean, and she has turned that research into a keynote that organizations cannot stop booking.

The Human Connection Advantage

Carlson’s work sits at the intersection of communication, psychology, and workplace culture. She helps leaders and teams close the gap between what they intend to convey and what people actually hear, building the kind of authentic connection that drives trust, productivity, and results. Her presentations combine behavioral science with humor and real-world application, which means audiences get actionable tools delivered in a format that keeps them fully engaged.

Clients Across Industries

Microsoft, Chevron, AT&T, the U.S. Government, and dozens of other major organizations have brought Carlson in to work with their leadership teams. She has been featured on CNN and in USA Today, and she is a regular presence at major association and corporate conferences. Her ability to make the science of human behavior accessible and immediately applicable is what keeps her calendar consistently full.

Colette Carlson keynotes are booked for events centered on communication, human connection, authentic leadership, and building trust and influence in the modern workplace.

Leadership

Leadership demands competence, but human interaction is critical to the development of the people you lead. Connected leaders ask questions to gain insight and awareness. Connected leaders effectively communicate feedback and engage in challenging conversations without creating conflict or destroying trust. Connected leaders have more influence and greater credibility among peers and employees.

Connection is the glue that keeps relationships, projects, and organizations together.

In this presentation, Colette provides the perfect blend of interaction, research, stories, and humor to support leaders in building powerful connections with those they lead. These strategies result in increased trust, stronger influence, and employee motivation and loyalty.

Sales & Customer Service

In order to make a sale and earn a customer, you must first make a connection.  Wider and deeper relationships lead to increased sales, repeat customers, and powerful referrals.

As a former national sales trainer who cut her teeth in straight commission sales, Colette will show you how to up your personal connection quotient to maximize relationships, revenue, and results. In her customized presentations, she speaks to specific behaviors and phraseology that support your goal to engage, persuade, and influence others, while still promoting you and your services honestly, assertively, and authentically.

Communication

The common denominators of the most successful people are the ability to effectively communicate and connect, regardless of the situation or audience. In a competitive world filled with a global workforce, numerous communication channels, and daily digital distractions, getting your message heard has never been more challenging.

Clear, concise communication is no longer enough to get results:  connection must be part of the equation. Productivity lessens, collaboration stalls, accountability suffers, and conflict and stress escalate when even the simplest of miscommunication occurs. Without connection, these outcomes are only heightened.

In this presentation, Colette delivers how to connect and communicate on a deeper level to form crucial relationships that drive productivity, engagement, and collaboration. She speaks on strategies to influence others and overcome conflict, while maintaining a respectful, human connection.

Professional & Personal Wellness

The truth is whether you are in leadership, sales, or the front line, you are expected to produce more in less time with fewer resources, while staying positive and engaged. The reality is people are stressed out, tightly wound, and exhausted trying to meet and exceed expectations. The best intentions go right out the window before lunch, due to constantly changing schedules, demands, and priorities.

In this real-world and laugh-out-loud funny presentation, Colette teaches how to stay resilient through constant change and challenges. She shows each audience how to create the focus, energy, mindset, and connections necessary to make healthy choices in this 24/7/365 world. Participants feel valued and walk away ready to make positive, long-lasting change for both professional and personal success.

Women Leaders

The world seeks more women leaders. Now is the time to take an honest look at connections, communication style, and leadership skills in order to advance your career.

In this presentation, Colette delivers the latest research and strategies specific to women in leadership. Participants gain the self-awareness and skills necessary to become authentic, credible, and confident leaders. The audience will learn how to identify and cultivate connections that lead to strategic relationships, develop executive presence and communicate in a manner that gains supporters and censors critics.