About Michael
Who is Michael Lee Stallard?
Michael Lee Stallard is a highly respected thought leader, author, speaker, and expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI). He is globally recognized for his pioneering work on the "Connection Culture" model, which emphasizes the critical role of human connection in driving organizational health and performance.
As co-founder and president of both Connection Culture Group and E Pluribus Partners, leadership training and development firms, Stallard dedicates his career to helping leaders cultivate environments where individuals thrive. His methodology focuses on equipping organizations with the tools to inspire passion, creativity, and productivity among their employees, ultimately leading to enhanced strategic alignment and innovation.
What is Michael Lee Stallard known for?
Michael Lee Stallard is best known for developing and championing the Connection Culture model, a proprietary framework designed to transform workplace environments. This model provides organizations with a practical vocabulary for understanding culture and identifies three distinct types of workplace cultures. It highlights how human physiology, specifically the brain, nervous, and endocrine systems, functions optimally within certain cultural settings. Stallard’s work pinpoints six universal human needs crucial for thriving at work and demonstrates five specific ways connection elevates organizational performance, fostering a competitive advantage.
His expertise extends to illustrating how a Connection Culture strengthens an organization’s marketplace of ideas, fuels innovation, advances diversity and inclusion, and protects reputation and brand value. Stallard’s impactful methodology is encapsulated in his "3V Leadership Model," offering a simple, memorable, and actionable approach for leaders. His influence is further evidenced by Texas Christian University establishing the TCU Center for Connection Culture, directly inspired by his groundbreaking work.
What is Michael Lee Stallard's background and experience?
With decades of practical business and leadership experience, Michael Lee Stallard brings a wealth of real-world insight to his theoretical frameworks. Before co-founding E Pluribus Partners and Connection Culture Group, he held significant roles at major corporations, including Texas Instruments, Charles Schwab, and Morgan Stanley. This extensive corporate background provides him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within diverse organizational structures.
Stallard is the primary author of two influential books: Fired Up or Burned Out: How to Reignite Your Team's Passion, Creativity and Productivity and Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work. These publications serve as foundational texts for leaders seeking to implement connection-based strategies. Beyond his books, he contributes a weekly column to Fox Business Network, and his articles regularly appear in business periodicals worldwide, further disseminating his expertise to a broad audience.
Michael is also a highly sought-after speaker, coach, and consultant. He has collaborated with and presented to a wide array of prestigious organizations across various sectors, including General Electric, Google, Johnson & Johnson, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, Qualcomm, Scotiabank, the U.S. Treasury Department, and Yale-New Haven Hospital. His workshops, seminars, and coaching sessions equip leaders with actionable strategies to enhance human connection and drive performance.
What topics does Michael Lee Stallard speak and write about?
Michael Lee Stallard's speaking engagements, workshops, and written works consistently address critical topics at the intersection of leadership, organizational culture, and human performance. He focuses on how effective leaders can intentionally cultivate organizational cultures that boost human connection. Key themes include employee engagement, emphasizing strategies to move employees from disengagement to inspired participation, and strategic alignment, ensuring that individual efforts coalesce with broader organizational objectives.
He frequently discusses productivity and innovation, providing insights into how a culture of connection can unlock greater efficiency and foster a dynamic environment for new ideas. Other core topics include leadership development, exploring the behaviors and mindsets required to lead with connection, and organizational development and change, guiding organizations through transformative processes. Stallard also delves into assessments and evaluations related to cultural health, learning and development practices, and self-development for leaders. His work ultimately aims to provide best practices for creating and sustaining a "Connection Culture" that delivers measurable benefits.
How does Michael Lee Stallard contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
Michael Lee Stallard serves as an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), where he shares his extensive knowledge and proven methodologies with BPI's global audience. In this capacity, he leads educational initiatives, including webinars and other learning sessions, that provide BPI members with direct access to his insights on leadership and organizational effectiveness. For instance, he has presented on topics such as "Re-energizing Employees for the Season Ahead," offering practical guidance for navigating economic downturns and revitalizing workforces.
Through BPI, Stallard provides coaching and workshop delivery, leveraging his proprietary Connection Culture model to help BPI member organizations enhance employee engagement, foster strategic alignment, and drive innovation. His contributions align with BPI's mission to provide cutting-edge research and practical tools for business leaders, solidifying his role as a valuable resource within the institute's network of experts.