John Robertson
What We Do
Most mid-senior leaders are so often busy dealing with brush fires, they cannot resolve the root issues and challenges. What about encouragement for leaders? Who is helping and encouraging them to be the leader people need them to be!
Programs on leadership and well-being have created an undercurrent of skepticism and cynicism to even the term ‘resilience.’ Yet everyone knows that psychological health and safety in the workplace - for both leaders and teams - matters.
The response to a pivotal moment - be it crisis, change, growth - will never leave a leader or an organization the same way that it was found. The desired response requires a values-anchored process of transformation and growth focus. It either grows things like engagement, productivity, retention or it grows disengagement, turnover, or stress/sick leaves.
Why not
-Build the culture where people want to work
-Develop the leadership people trust, respect, and want to follow
-Prepare Personnel to know how to thrive, not just resilient
Business Works when mid-senior leaders and their teams thrive.
You can be the leader that people trust though critical moments, leading is a solo sport, but it takes a team to finish well. I’d be honored to be on your team.
Meet John
Imagine walking into a room where people are overworked, overwhelmed, and exhausted—where leadership feels like a burden, not an opportunity. Now imagine that same room transforming into a space where people are energized, connected, and purposefully-driven. That’s what John R. Robertson does best.
With over 30 years of experience in crisis intervention and leadership development, John is a Workforce Wellness & Culture Alignment Specialist who helps organizations move beyond reactive survival mode to proactive resilience. He works alongside progressive leaders—especially those in high-pressure sector services —to turn high-stakes moments into opportunities for growth,engagement, and retention.
John's Talks
Leadership Through the Fire: Advancing from CharactOR to CharactER. Being the Leader People Trust Through Critical Moments
Leadership can feel overwhelming - shifting expectations, constant pressure, and high stakes. In these defining moments, leaders risk losing sight of who they are and what truly matters. This keynote unpacks how leaders navigate crises, build trust, and resilience. Leaders are equipped with practical strategies to inspire teams and lead with integrity.
Six qualities of trusted leadership in critical moments
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Two leadership styles that impact engagement and retention
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Four leadership expressions that drive growth
- Four leadership qualifiers people trust before critical moments
Creating Real Culture: The New TLC –Trust, Leadership, and Communication
Culture isn’t just a buzzword - it’s the invisible force shaping recruitment, retention, and success. Crisis, growth, and change reveal what truly lies beneath the surface. yet organizations often rely on programs that fail to address root issues. This keynote challenges leaders to use critical moments to strengthen the key elements of a thriving workplace culture, reducing turnover and increasing engagement.
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Three non-negotiable principles of relational currency
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Five trust factors that sustain workplace culture
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Two investment strategies for strong relationships
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Four leadership styles emerging in leaders through critical moments
Focus on Finishing Well: Stop Settling for Resilience, Run Toward the Roar—Transform Crisis into Opportunity for Growth
Constant challenges mean resilience alone isn’t enough. Stop settling for survival—thrive instead. Based on his book Run Toward the Roar, John introduces a four-stage approach to confronting life’s defining moments. Shifting the focus from reacting to passionate purpose, using critical moments as catalysts for growth.
- Resolve the four possible outcomes of critical moments
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Build four core fundamentals for a positive new norm
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Apply the four-step Run Toward the Roar approach
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Implement three strategies for thriving and finishing well
From Crisis to Catalyst: Leveraging Critical Moments for a Thriving Workplace
Responding to crisis, change, or growth with reactive programs and quick fixes fail to create lasting effect organizations require. With 25+ years of experience, John challenges traditional crisis response, advocating for a shift from ROI (Return on Investment) to VOI (Value of Investment). Mismanaged critical moments erode trust and engagement, but handled wisely, they redefine workplace culture for the better.
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Two workplace cultures shaped by crisis response
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Four phases of workplace culture transformation
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Two patterns that drive engagement or disengagement
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Four assets for successfully navigating critical moments
"John Robertson has an invaluable gift. John’s ability to ask seemingly simple questions to get you or an organization not just to make a decision, but challenge and question where you or your organization needs to be."
Brent Thomas
Assistant Fire Chief | Orillia Fire Department
John's Books
About the Author
John R. Robertson is the author of two best-selling books, Run Toward the Roar and Living the I AM in an I HAVE Culture. He is also the co-author of the best-selling book Elevate & Empower: Insights on Personal Growth, Resilience and Transformation. John is a workforce wellness expert and culture alignment specialist with over 30 years of experience helping leaders, and organizations navigate critical moments like crisis, change and growth.
Living the I AM in an I HAVE Culture: Being the Leader People trust through critical Moments
In a world preoccupied with titles, education, status, achievements, and possessions, true leadership isn't about what you HAVE—it's about Living the I AM in an I HAVE Culture. In John’s second powerful book, he reveals why some leaders thrive through critical moments while others falter. He introduces a revolutionary approach to leadership that transforms how we show up when it matters most—not by accumulating more credentials or skills, but by developing the core character that people trust, respect, and follow.
"This book described the best and worst characteristics of every leader I have worked with. I think anyone who is in, or who intends to be in a position of leadership needs to read this."
Robbie Hyde
Retired LEO | Los Angeles, CA
Run Toward the Roar: Transform Crisis and Change into the Opportunity to Thrive
Did you ever wonder if there was a different way to view really thriving? Author John R. Robertson did as he kept seeing people reacting to issues after the fact, or worse settling for resilience. When a “roar” happens in life, there are normal fight, flight, freeze, and appease reactions but what would happen if we ran toward the roar instead of merely reacting? Instead of treating roars, storms, or crises as something to react to or try to avoid, we can plan for them so that we respond instead of reacting. Run Toward the Roar re-frames thriving and resilience to find and focus on what you love so that you will be faithful and loyal, regardless of the roars that cross your path.
"Three words to sum up this book: Valuable, Achievable and Charisma! This is an indispensable handbook for those looking to transform their way of seeing a crisis, driving towards their goals and learning from the experience of that journey!"
Paul Hamon
CFP Sapience Financial Services | Ottawa ON
