You're working together towards something big. And you're giving it everything you've got.
The only problem? It feels like half the world wants a piece of your energy every single day.
Be honest: How much of it goes into things you can't change anyway?
What would be possible if that energy
went back to where it really counts?
Maybe you don't need more knowledge. Just a different perspective.
Keynotes for people who want to make a difference
instead of wasting their energy on things they can't change.
“At first, I wasn’t convinced.”
Sebastian Weßoly / Führungskraft bei Paulaner
I get it.
Another keynote speaker with “new” ideas. And in the end, it’s mostly stuff you’ve heard before anyway.
Do we really need that?
No. Not if everything stays exactly the same afterwards.
You know what I hear quite often after my talks? “Norman, I’ve heard a lot of this before.” True. You probably have.
But how much of it do you actually live every day?
We all “know” that exercise is good for us. That truly listening can change a relationship for the better. That wasting our energy on things we can’t change isn’t exactly a brilliant idea.
We know a hell of a lot. And yet, we do surprisingly little of what we already know.
Because knowing something and actually living it are two very different things.
And sometimes, all it takes is one moment to turn “I know” into “I’ll do it.”
But how? What does it take to bring our focus back to what really matters?
That’s where my keynote begins.
Not with the question: What else do people need to know?
But with this one:
What needs to happen for a thought to become an action?
Four Keynotes. Four perspectives. One belief:
Sometimes, a different perspective changes everything.
#1: Future-Proof Leadership: The Human Factor Remains
AI can already do a hell of a lot. And tomorrow, probably even more.
Good. Because if technology takes more and more work off our hands, another question becomes even more interesting:
What will we humans actually do with all the time we gain?
And what does leadership need when knowledge alone no longer makes the difference?
A keynote about self-leadership, emotional intelligence, and perhaps the most important skill for the future:
Being human.
More on this keynote: Future-Proof Leadership – The Human Factor Remains
#2: Identity & Mindset as a Leadership Factor
People don’t follow positions. They follow people.
As a leader, you’re supposed to know where you’re going. At least, that would be nice. The issue is, you don’t always know what tomorrow will bring either.
So, what now?
You can’t always decide what happens. But you can decide how you respond. And your team will notice pretty quickly whether you truly believe in what you expect from them.
That’s where leadership begins.
A keynote about self-leadership and inner clarity – and about the question of who you want to be when things around you don’t exactly go according to plan.
Because before you lead anyone else, there’s always one person you need to lead first: yourself.
More on this keynote: Identity & Mindset as a Leadership Factor
#3: The Human Factor Remains: Emotional Leadership as a Future Skill
People give more of themselves when they feel that they matter as a person.
Sounds pretty obvious, doesn’t it?
And yet, we all know that feeling when someone is talking to us while already reading their next email. When a good idea gets brushed aside with a quick “That won’t work.” Or when, at some point, the only thing anyone seems to notice is what’s going wrong.
People really don’t ask for that much. They want to be seen, heard, and respected.
And that changes the way people work together.
A keynote about leadership that doesn’t happen on paper, but every single day between people.
Because your company culture isn’t hanging on the wall. It walks through the door every morning.
More on this keynote: The Human Factor Remains - Emotional Leadership as a Future Skill
#4: What Really Leads You - When Systems No Longer Work
I worked on a dream for six years. Twelve days before reaching it, it was all over.
For six years, I had worked toward this one night: my own show at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart in front of up to 6,000 people.
Twelve days before the show, the event ban came.
COVID. Game over.
Trust me, in a moment like that, motivational quotes and the perfect five-step plan are the last things you care about.
After my first thought – “What the fuck?” – I had only one question: What now?
You know that feeling, too. Hopefully on a slightly smaller scale. Something you’ve fought for suddenly falls apart, and you realize: I can forget the plan.
What you need in that moment isn’t written in any handbook.
A keynote about setbacks, inner clarity, and the question that sooner or later finds all of us:
What do I do when life doesn’t go according to my plan?
More on this keynote: What Really Leads You – When Systems Break Down
“Norman Gräter enriched our leadership conference with an extraordinary keynote.
His ideas continued to resonate long after the keynote was over. Even days later, people kept telling me how much direction, confidence, and renewed energy they had taken into their everyday work.
And one thing is certain: since then, many of us have kept the ‘Blue Glasses’ close at hand—as a reminder to change our perspective and make more conscious decisions.”
Frank Erhardt / Vice President Operations Germany Schnellecke Logistics
Client statements:
“At first, I wasn’t convinced …”
“My opinion changed pretty quickly. Norman connected with me and gave me more than one real aha moment. Rarely have I been this impressed by a speaker.
What Norman says isn’t an act – that’s simply who Norman is.”
“That was by far the most appealing and effective keynote that I was able to experience in my 15-year professional career”
“This was clearly the highlight of our workshop. The positive energy in the room afterwards was tangible – and all participants thanked Norman for his powerful input with a standing ovation.”
The Right Keynote Begins Long Before the First Word is Spoken on Stage.
Because before I can reach people, I want to understand what you want to achieve with them.
What’s happening in your company right now? What should be different after this day? And what do you want your guests to still be talking about long after the event is over?
That’s why you won’t get an off-the-shelf keynote from me.
You talk, I listen. And from there, we create the keynote that fits your audience and that particular day.
And if you’d like, I’m happy to think beyond the keynote with you. After more than 26 years in the event and entertainment business, I’ve seen quite a few things that work.
And a few we can safely skip. 😉
GET IN TOUCH
Tell us briefly what you have in mind.
We’ll get back to you personally and see if we’re a good fit.
Simple as that.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Now I want to understand your project, your goals, and what you want to achieve. Where are you now and where do you want to go?
First, I listen. Then I create your keynote.
INSPIRE PEOPLE
Now comes the part I love.
I come to your event, step onto the stage, and everything we’ve talked about comes together in a keynote that fits this exact moment.
The rest happens in the room.
“Norman Gräter inspired our employees with his positive energy during our virtual annual kick-off and captivated them with his engaging keynote.
His motivation and encouragement to simply try out new perspectives and ways of thinking can be applied both professionally and personally.
Mission accomplished. Thank you!”
Board of Directors, Berliner Sparkasse – Branch of Landesbank Berlin AG
And what happens after the keynote?
Ideally, your people leave with new thoughts on their minds, a little more fire inside – and the desire to actually do something with it.
But by now, we know: Knowing it is not the same as living it.
That’s why the journey doesn’t have to end when the keynote does.
If you want to take things further with your leaders or teams, the Be Yourself Academy is where we go deeper. Through workshops and coaching, that first spark can become something people actually bring into their everyday lives.
Because a keynote can light a spark. What you do with it starts afterwards.
By the way, you don’t have to take my word for any of this.
Just see what people who have already experienced one of my keynotes have to say.
★★★★★
Customer Focus
★★★★★
Creative Ideas
★★★★★
Lasting Impact
Big names. But in the end, it’s always about people.
Whether it’s a global corporation, a family-owned business, or a mid-sized company:
when I step onto a stage, I don’t see logos sitting in front of me.
I see people.
I’ve had the privilege of taking the stage for some of these companies:
One more thing.
The next time you’re talking to someone who matters to you:
Don’t put your phone face down on the table.
Put it away.
Completely away.
Out of sight.
And watch what happens. Not with your phone.
With the person in front of you.
LOOK AGAIN.
Sometimes, at first glance, nothing changes.
The same person is sitting in front of you.
The same workplace is waiting for you.
And whatever was on your mind yesterday is still there today.
And yet, something is different.
You are.
Or, to be more precise:
the way you look at it – and what you choose to do next.
