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Strike the Right Chord: A Bold Roadmap for Emerging Leaders

Strike the Right Chord: A Bold Roadmap for Emerging Leaders

Recorded on April 9, 2025

Recorded, on-demand webinars are available for HRDQ-U Members. Join today!

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Overview

Discover a fresh perspective on leadership development. Based upon his book, Strike the Right Chord: The Emerging Leader’s Guide to Exceptional Performance, Michael Brenner shows how you can combine the art of music with the science of leadership for real results. Dr. Brenner introduces his groundbreaking CHORDS Model™, a framework designed to help leaders cultivate the key traits that lead to extraordinary team performance. The session is aimed at emerging leaders and anyone interested in fostering a culture of high performance within their organization.

Session Structure and Content

The webinar will be divided into four key segments, each focusing on one of the six elements of the CHORDS Model™. Throughout, Dr. Brenner will share real-world examples and insights from his work as a leadership expert and professional musician, illustrating how these “notes” resonate in the world of leadership.

1. Introduction to the CHORDS Model

Explore the CHORDS Model™ and its roots in music. Dr. Brenner will discuss the parallels between musical composition and leadership, explaining how just as a symphony needs harmony and rhythm to function effectively, so, too, does a team or organization. By viewing leadership through the lens of music, participants will gain a unique perspective on how they can develop the necessary skills to drive performance.

2. Exploring the Six Key Notes

Each “note” of the CHORDS Model™ represents an essential component of leadership. In this segment, Dr. Brenner will delve into the six key elements and explain why they are crucial for leaders looking to optimize their performance and achieve long-term success. He will discuss:

  • Communication: Effective communication is the foundation of every great leader. Develop strategies to improve communication, including active listening, clarity of message, and creating an open dialogue that encourages trust and transparency.
  • Harmony: Leaders who foster harmony create an environment where diverse ideas can thrive and team members feel valued. Learn how to balance differing viewpoints, resolve conflicts, and align team efforts towards common goals.
  • Ownership: Ownership is about taking responsibility for both successes and failures. Uncover the importance of cultivating a sense of accountability within teams, encouraging leaders to set an example by taking initiative and empowering others to do the same.
  • Respect: Respect is foundational to building trust and strong relationships. Explore strategies for demonstrating respect in both verbal and non-verbal communication, reinforcing the importance of inclusivity, empathy, and professionalism.
  • Direction: Every leader must provide clear guidance and vision to their team. Discuss the value of setting strategic goals, providing clarity, and steering the team through ambiguity with a well-defined purpose and direction.
  • Support: Lastly, support is the glue that holds everything together. Identify best practices for offering constructive feedback, mentoring, and coaching, ensuring leaders provide the resources, encouragement, and recognition necessary to help their teams succeed.

3. Practical Applications and Strategies

Dr. Brenner will highlight specific, actionable steps that you can take to integrate the six elements of the CHORDS Model™ into your own leadership practices. Whether you are developing new leaders or working with established teams, these strategies will help you immediately apply what you have learned. Dr. Brenner will also discuss how these principles can be woven into leadership development programs, coaching, and organizational culture initiatives to support emerging leaders in their growth.

4. Q&A and Reflection

The final segment of the webinar will be dedicated to answering questions from the audience. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences, ask for clarification, and discuss how they plan to implement the CHORDS Model™ in their own leadership journeys. Dr. Brenner will offer personalized insights and suggestions for further reading, empowering emerging leaders to continue their learning beyond the webinar.

Conclusion

By the end of this webinar, you will develop a deeper understanding of how to apply the CHORDS Model™ to unlock exceptional performance within teams and organizations. Through the metaphor of musical notes, Dr. Brenner offers an innovative way to think about leadership, focusing on the elements that truly matter for fostering communication, collaboration, accountability, and success. You will be equipped with the tools and strategies needed to strike the right chord in your own leadership practices, inspiring greatness in yourself and those you lead.

Attendees will learn

By the end of the session, attendees will:

  • Understand the CHORDS Model™: Gain insight into how six essential elements – Communication, Harmony, Ownership, Respect, Direction, and Support – serve as the foundation for high-performing leadership.
  • Learn Practical Strategies: Walk away with actionable tools to integrate these six key leadership “notes” into their own leadership development efforts.
  • Enhance Team Performance: Discover how to apply these principles to improve team dynamics, foster collaboration, and achieve organizational goals.
  • Create Lasting Change: Equip themselves with the knowledge to inspire and empower others, creating a lasting impact on organizational culture and individual performance.

Special offers from our sponsor

Strike the Right Chord: The Emerging Leader’s Guide to Exceptional Performance

Pre-order now! In this engaging and unconventional book, presented as candid letters to an emerging leader, readers will find clear, insightful advice. Strike the Right Chord explores key leadership skills – from emotional intelligence and communication to team management and conflict resolution – with warmth, wit, and wisdom.

Presenter

Michael Brenner, founder and CEO of Right Chord Leadership, helps leaders and teams at all levels enhance key skills for peak performance. With 25 years as a leadership consultant, executive coach, speaker, and educator, plus over 40 years as a professional musician, Michael’s unconventional workshops and coaching have led to improved employee engagement, reduced turnover, and more inclusive environments.

Michael created the CHORDS Model™ – Communication, Harmony, Ownership, Respect, Direction, and Support – which highlights essential “notes” for leadership and team success. He has worked with top organizations like law firm Ballard Spahr, QVC, Boeing, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, as well as not-for-profits like United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

A sought-after international speaker, Michael has presented in South Asia, Canada, and Australia. He holds a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a master’s in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. He has taught at Immaculata University, Temple University, and La Salle University and currently teaches at Penn State University and the Kogod School of Business at American University.

His new book, Strike the Right Chord: The Emerging Leader’s Guide to Exceptional Performance, was recently published.

Sponsor

HRDQ
HRDQ

Training Tools for Developing Great People Skills

This event is sponsored by HRDQ. For 45 years HRDQ has provided research-based, off-the-shelf soft-skills training resources for classroom, virtual, and online training. From assessments and workshops to experiential hands-on games, HRDQ helps organizations improve performance, increase job satisfaction, and more.

Learn more at HRDQstore.com

On-Demand Webinar Recording
Strike the Right Chord: A Bold Roadmap for Emerging Leaders
This on-demand event is available exclusively for HRDQ-U members.
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