INSPIRE: Become the Leader You Want to Follow
February 10, 2025 @ 3:10 pm - 5:30 pm EST
Location: Pheoris West B – 3rd Floor
Speaker: Eric Steele – Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute
Presentation Description:
What do inspirational leaders do? When we asked leaders around the world, regardless of generation, background, or culture, they invariably respond with the same list of actions. Inspirational leaders listen, build trust, grow people, and form lasting connections with the people in their span of care. The result of great leadership? Inspired team members who lean in, are authentically dedicated to helping others, and deeply
accountable to their commitments. This is why inspiration is 27% more predictive of performance than engagement. Inspirational leadership training doesn’t begin by learning a new set of skills or behaviors but rather by learning what inspires and motivates you. While each of us has different and distinct values, identifying them leads to being more intentional in how we think, act, communicate, and make decisions. Leaders who act from a place of self-awareness inspire and motivate others.
Outcomes:
• Define individual value sets to increase self-awareness and authenticity
• Learn leadership skills to build trust and develop high-performing, resilient teams
• Develop empathetic listening behaviors that value people and enhance relationships
• Increase problem-solving capacity with coaching skills
• Develop recognition and celebration practices to encourage desired behaviors
Speaker Bio:
Eric is an experienced coach with over a decade of experience in leadership, development, resiliency, and consulting. He has a bachelor’s degree from Franklin College and Master of Divinity from Indiana Wesleyan University. Eric comes from a military background with the US Air Force and Army. Starting with the Air Force, Eric served as a Crew Chief on the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. He then transitioned to the Army to serve as an Army Chaplain and is currently still serving at the rank of Major. Eric also brings a wealth of experience from the aviation sector, having served as UH-60 Blackhawk pilot in the Army, a Medevac Company Platoon Leader, and holding multiple ratings in fixed and rotor wing aircraft. Although the Blackhawk was the most complex, his favorite aircraft to pilot and learn in was the OH-58 Kiowa.
Of his military career Eric shares that “the experience of being a military aviator and chaplain allows me to combine technical analysis and share the human experience with any group I serve. I want everyone that I interact with to know that they are heard.” Eric believes that there is always an opportunity to learn from someone else. He brings a passion and experience to empathetic listening and leadership development. As a result, he believes that leadership development is something that can be learned and honed. Eric enjoys spending time with his daughters and playing or listening to anything related to blues music.
