Renowned Business Expert Speaks to Entrepreneurship Class
Published: December 23, 2024 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 3 minutes
Cedar City, UTAH–
Southern Utah University was honored to have New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur Joseph Grenny present to business students as part of the Entrepreneur Speaker Series.
Grenny is most known for his book Crucial Conversations, in which he presents the reader with vital tips and tricks for applying impactful communication in the workplace and other real-world situations. His goal with his writing has always been to help people achieve beneficial outcomes by implementing effective practices confirmed by scientific human behavior.
“It was my life’s purpose,” said Grenny. “That book in particular is the platform for all the other books. The base question I’ve always asked has been, ‘How do you understand why people do what they do and how to help them change?’ Change behavior, change the world.”
Grenny went on to talk about the origin of Crucial Conversations and its journey to the New York Times Bestseller list and was credited by celebrities and people of note, including names like Adele. With all the success brought about by the book, Grenny advised the students that it’s not about the money.
“Your goal in life is to make a difference. That’s why we’re on the planet.”
Grenny has been attributed as “the best presenter in the industry–bar none” (Best Practice Institute) and has been referred to by various colleagues as “a PR person’s dream.” When preparing his speeches and presentations, Grenny’s process–while primarily formulaic–is able to be adjusted to the topic he is speaking about at any given time.
Grenny spoke to students in the entrepreneurship program on building character as much as building business, as well as the power of influencing and how one person can impact the behavior of countless other people. Grenny provided insight about his own journey in business; from building a business from the ground up to salvaging a business after bankruptcy and beyond.
The key? Grenny summarized in a single sentence: “The health of a relationship, team, or organization is a function of the average time lag between identifying and discussing problems.”
In addition to an auspicious career as a writer and presenter, Grenny is the co-founder of Crucial Learning, a company that has been helping people and organizations boost their professional performance through research-backed training for thirty-five years. More recently, Grenny co-founded the nonprofit organization The Other Side Academy (TOSA), another training program that helps people who’ve been incarcerated and/or struggling with substance abuse or homelessness turn their lives around. Originally, the target demographic was those who had struggled with consistent criminal activity, addiction, and homelessness; now, the primary target population is more centered around those dealing with repeated homelessness and serious mental health challenges. Since 2015, Grenny–and TOSA–have gained confidence that the therapeutic community model has been successful and effective in the lives of their students. TOSA is also working on building a village for the students to live as they go through the program.
As TOSA has welcomed in more students and seen an exponential increase in positive result yields, the primary remains the same. “The goal was to change lives,” Grenny said.
In his address to SUU entrepreneurship students, Grenny shared a four-point list of principles for life success. One, it’s about becoming, not having. Two, always respond to preparatory promptings. Third, forward is sometimes backward. And four, be consecrated, not ambitious.
“The most important thing that needs to be revolutionized in the nonprofit world is our integrity,” said Grenny, “There are people that have great motives but lack integrity, measuring and holding themselves accountable to the outcomes that their mission claims to be achieving. We need to get better at doing that voluntarily even if our donors or the government don’t demand it of us.
SUU is grateful to speakers like Grenny for sharing their expertise with students so that they may enter the workforce with a higher understanding and experience. Grenny’s address can be found on the SUU Entrepreneurship YouTube channel.
The Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business provides students with various top-notch programs to help them integrate successfully into the world of business. The entrepreneurship program’s goal is to educate, provide experience, elevate students’ business goals, and give deeper purpose to their businesses.
Tags: Campus Entrepreneurship Student CurStu FacStaff School of Business Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu