PreethiHeadshot

Preethi Fernando

Keynote Speaker Author Consultant

PreethiHeadshot

Preethi Fernando

Keynote Speaker Author Consultant

Watch Preethi Speak live, in front of an audience

Keynote Address at the 25th Anniversary of the Alaska Association of Medical Staff Services, Girdwood, Alaska.

What I Offer

  • Keynote speaking
  • Breakout Sessions
  • pre-conference workshops
  • Training and Consulting
  • Deep dives for staff training
  • Personal development and transformation coaching
  • Webinars
  • Staff Retreats
  • Individual Coaching for Businesses and Individuals
  • Author of 15 Books

Upcoming Speaking Schedule

May 17, 2025

International Institute of Municipal Clerks, St.Louis, Missouri | Command and Control to Trust and Inspire
Learn More. https://online.iimc.com/Public/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=CONF25

May 21, 2025

National Electrical Contractors ASsociaition | Des Moines | Iowa Overcoming Disengagement burnout, fatigue, Creating Trustworthy, Inspiring Work Environments
Learn More. https://www.necanet.org/nspc

Preethi’s Topics

Emotional Intelligence and Time Management

Time management is life management, Emotionally intelligent people are mindful of time. They pick up t he phone and make that phone call rather than exchanging 30 different e-mails to save time; they take a client out to lunch to lubricate business and negotiate contracts face to face rather than sending links to proposals that might never get opened, they know when to say no. They prioritize tasks. They do the heavy lifting first. They pay attention to the “when.” In decision making they first ask themselves “is this is a morning decision or is this an afternoon decision?” They know when to use AI to craft e-mails and when AI could backfire.

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader Doing the Hard Things for the Right Reasons…

Emotionally intelligent leaders bring out the best in others. There is a sense of “flow” in their thinking, behavior, and habits. The one quality t hat makes them shine is their genuine sincerity. They balance AI with EI. They leave others in increase. Businesses led by leaders high in EQ, treat employees with dignity, authenticity, and transparency. Emotionally intelligent leaders know how to say “no.” Emotionally intelligent workplaces create happier, less-stressful work environments.

Regaining Resilience, tenacity, and grit (Mental Toughness)

Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. Mental toughness is that fine line that builds or breaks us during crisis times. To stretch and not snap, to hang in there and not give up, and to know when to walk away in a different direction. Resilience, tenacity, and grit make that tipping point that either pushes someone over the edge or shoots them up towards greatness beyond their wildest imagination. It’s  that winning edge nearly everyone faces at some point. It’s that point where some people “lose it” and do disastrously selfish acts that not only destroy themselves but also others. Abraham Lincoln once said “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe.” That preparation act of sharpening the axe is resilience, tenacity, and grit.

How to Work In a Toxic Environment (And not Lose It)

All it takes is one toxic employee to run wild and before you know it, the workplace gets od’d and infected by division, manipulation, low morale, burnout, and time waste. Identify the toxic behavior. Stop feeding into the gossip. Is it time to weed out the toxic person from your office? Set boundaries. Opt out of their group chats. Get attuned with your self. Pay attention to how you get your day started. These are practical zero cost solutions, that will give you restful sleep, while working in a toxic environment.

Restoring Trust

Broken trust keeps people up at night. Underlying every successful business is trust. The worst place for broken trust to take root is in. the psyche. Once it a takes a mental hold, the strongest crowbar cannot uproot it. Everything changes from that point on in that relationship. One bad apple spoils the rest. With a handful of employees betraying consumer trust, there is mistrust of "who can I trust who has no hidden agenda?" I focus on solutions in restoring trust. When trust is broken, we spend more time repairing less time preparing. Sometimes it is not worthwhile, trying to restore trust. Re-building damaged trust takes time, effort, money, and lot of energy.

Overcoming Disengagement, Burnout, Fatigue

Disengaged, burnout, fatigued employees suck the bubbling energy from the good workers, leaving the staff feeling demoralized. Engaged employee are asking themselves what can I give to this job? Disengaged employees are constantly asking themselves, what can I get from this person, job? Silent quitting is taking its toll. Fatigue is weariness. That feeling of being battered. Delegate tasks, learn to say no, set boundaries, surround yourself with people who boost your spirits and not drag you down, go on a retreat, face the difficult conversations to go beyond these dynamics. Would a staff retreat help than another workshop? Train the staff to practice affirmations, visualizations, start the day with quietness, shuffle the daily routine a little bit, create inspired workforces.

How to Improve Focus, Concentration, and Attention Span Of Your Employees

The Inability to focus is costing time, money, and cashflow, in businesses- and they don’t even realize it. What took someone two hours to do, now takes them two days to do and two people to do it. Employees who can focus, concentrate, and give their undivided attention to a specific task for an extended period of time, are much sought after today. They get things done right the first time, there is no picking up the mess, they save time, they bring in great energy to the work space, are happier, more productive, and they have clarity of thought. Here are some focus building tools. Start the day with quietness not chaos; write down your to- do list the night before; pay attention to what thoughts occupy your mind during the last few minutes before your head hits the pillow; have hand written post its as reminders; keep the i- phone shut off at allotted intervals; know when Zoom calls are unnecessary and when a phone call is better

I Never Said It Was Easy… I Said “You Got This.” Going the extra mile on your service

Extra mile goers are go givers, not go grabbers, they have a healthy balance between giving and receiving, they give recognition when it’s due, they set boundaries, they call upon the slackers, they bring out the best in others. There is something about giving our best to any task that leaves us feeling fulfilled, accomplished, and energized. These are peak performers, who share the load, reduce anotherperson’s burdens, lift others, and create happy, productive work environments. They create inspired, engaged workforces, they go the extra mile.

Command and Control to Trust and Inspire

Trustworthy people and workplaces inspire others to give their best. Inspiration is the new engagement. To inspire means t o “Breathe life into.” The opposite effect is to suck. The life out of. Inspired employees give their best and travel the extra mile. Controlled, commanding work environments stifles creativity, dampens team spirits, has low tolerance for mistakes, and have external motivation tactics. In a trustworthy work culture, there is innovation, excellent time management, low turnover, caring employees looking out for each other.

Leading Through Change

Change creates discomfort, conflict, disagreement, and even the breaking up of the team player spirit. Leaders navigating change have the courage, despite fear, to cut across opposition and step out of the boat into choppy waters. Change takes time, planning, and strategic execution. Successful leaders make half time adjustments. Like a great football coach who throws out the old pe-game plan at half time and comes up with an entire new strategy for the second half, a great leader has flexibility of thinking, to toss out repeated mistakes and replace them with new ideas, habits, and execution. Leading through change requires an ability to balance AI with EI. Chat GPT is useful but can also backfire. It’s knowing that holding on to good old fashioned habits like sending a hand written thank you note through good old U.S. postal service goes a long way in deepening trust, loyalty, and good will.

AI vs EI (Artificial Intelligence Versus Emotional Intelligence)

Knowing when to use Chat GPT, Google Gemini, and when not to, is the difference maker. While AI is good for data driven decision making, automated tasks, and brainstorming, EI is better for interpersonal problems, weaving through emotionally driven tasks, and providing one on one customer service. Mixing the two can work, it can also backfire.

Healing After Trauma

Trauma can lead to breakthrough instead of a breakdown. Trauma, leaves scars. Long after the traumatic event has completed its journey it leaves aftershocks. The passing of time does not automatically heal traumatic wounds, especially the emotional ones. It’s what’s done with the passing of time that determines the level of the healing process. It’s not what happens to us, but it’s what we do with what happens to us, that determines how our lives turn out. Healing after trauma, is a choice.
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