I don’t recall any one-hour talk in my life that had such a profound effect on me… — ARNAS PALAIMA, PHD, DIRCTOR OF ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS INNOVATIONS CENTER
In a time of fierce global competition, outsourcing, automation, and other dizzying changes in the workplace, Austin Hill Shaw’s powerful presentations on creativity and innovation are more important than ever.
Austin combines visionary insight with heartfelt empathy, profound ideas with unexpected humor, sobering seriousness with joyful irreverence, all with a remarkable sense of presence. He is a gifted storyteller, one with the ability to unpack the complex subtleties of the creative process and present them in a way that can be put to use immediately. Through his engaging keynote presentations and his informative, interactive workshops, Austin Hill Shaw is dedicated to helping organizations rise to their fullest potential, ensuring the personal fulfillment of each valued member, the enrichment of the organization’s culture, and the profitability and longevity of the organization as a whole.
Programs Available by Topic
Creativity in the Workplace: How to Build Cultures of Innovation
According to the World Economic Forum, by 2020 creativity will be one of the top three skills one needs to thrive in the rapidly evolving economy. But how are we preparing our workforce for such a change?
Historically, conventional definitions of creativity have left us with very little information on how to be more creative in that they tend to focus on the end products of creativity, that is the elusive ability to “transcend” traditional ideas and to “produce” new products, services, and ways of being.
When we start viewing creativity as natural expression of our basic human needs, however, we can break down creativity into its component parts, and like any skill, actively work to improve our ability to employ them. Furthermore, when we stop viewing creativity as an exotic attribute of only certain gifted individuals, we can begin to empower everyone as creators, and thereby create cultures of innovation, innoation maximize the number of creative minds actively working to tackle complex challenges.
The Shoreline of Wonder: On Being Creative
“The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder” -Ralph W. Sockman
Living in the Age of Information, it is often thought that the more information we can access at a faster rate, the better off we are. While our unprecedented access to information does has it’s benefits, it can also overwhelm us and actually thwart our ability to unleash our most powerful attribute as humans, our innate ability to create.
Based on over 8 years of researching and writing the book by the same name, The Shoreline of Wonder: On Being Creativity provides a powerful framework for living a truly fulfilling life.
Creativity and Mindfulness in the Workplace: How to Build Enlightened Cultures of Innovation
Creativity and Mindfulness in the Workplace builds upon the same framework presented in Creativity in the Workplace: How to Build Cultures of Innovation and takes it a step further. Blending cutting-edge science with age-old wisdom, this talk introduces powerful frameworks that geared to transforming disengaged or lackluster work environments into powerhouses of creativity and innovation.
No matter who you are, no matter what you do, there are three core human needs that drive you. Connection, making a difference, and meaning.
At a fundamental level, both mindfulness and creativity share this in common: They are tried and true paths for fulfilling these three core needs. Furthermore, when mindfulness and creativity are combined, they catalyze one another and begin to permeate all aspects of your personal and professional lives.
Whether you are a leader, a manager, or an employee, or even a solopreneur striving to create networks of prosperity around you, when you couple mindfulness and creativity as practices, you actively build enlivening ecosystems of innovation.
In this session, we’ll explore the links between mindfulness, creativity, and our core human needs, as well as how we can actively build culture of innovation through simple, tried and true means of bringing out the best in all those around us.
Creativity is the Opposite of Killing Yourself
Human beings are the only species that 1) truly creates and 2) chooses to end their own lives.
At first glance, with creativity and so-called creative individuals being universally celebrated and suicide being nearly universally frowned upon cross-culturally, creativity and suicide may seem to have little in common. They are, however, two sides of the same coin, the creative side representing the fulfillment of our core human needs and suicide a tragic but growing solution for individuals unable to satisfy these core needs.
In an effort to break through the confusion and suffering that has caused a 31% increase in the number suicides in the last decade alone, this talk will offer a simple but powerful framework for curbing this growing trend and re-establish the fundamental tenants of living a truly satisfying life.
Do you have an event your planning? How can I help make it unforgettable? Click here and book a FREE 30 minute consult today.
I found Austin Hill Shaw’s creativity program refreshing, compelling, and thought provoking. He seamlessly blended ancient and current insights on creativity in a fresh and fun format. — CRAIG HARRISON, FOUNDER OF EXPRESSION OF EXCELLENCE
Austin’s power as a speaker and influence as a creativity guru come from both the passion he speaks with and his openness to the possibilities of spontaneity. He lets the joy of discovery take you where new possibilities exist or are evolving. I think that joy of discovery is the key to the benefit Austin bring to others and is what he can most usefully engender in others. — TERRY LAMB, VIDEOGRAPHER, VIDEOSYNCRACY
Austin’s presentations are particularly beneficial in that they enable you to look both inwardly and outwardly; and to traverse from the complex to the simplistic. Bottom Line: Austin is truly an effective communicator. — ROBERT HEGER, CERTIFIED BUSINESS BROKER
Austin is a dynamic and passionate speaker, and an authority on creativity with an important message for people to hear about realizing their own innate creative power. — ROSALYN FAY, FOUNDER AND PRODUCER OF TRUE COLORS TV
Austin surprised me in a positive way. I really enjoyed his exercises and insights on creativity. This can help us in our work as a team. — LESLIE NAKAJIMA, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, MOZILLA
Austin’s presentation was excellent! He firmly established creativity as a fundamental human trait. — VIRAJITA SINGH, PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Austin has a powerful way of making creativity seem like not only a possibility but my responsibility. — COURTNEY HARRIS, PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT
The value and application of creativity was powerfully rendered in a short period of time. I have much to play with. — WILL CONLEY, EXECUTIVE COACH, CHANGE AGENT
Your presentation was one of if not the best at the conference. — JOHN ADAIR
Need assistance choosing the perfect program for your organization?
Please contact us and we’d be happy to help.