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high-stakes communication speaker

What can a
hostage negotiator teach your audience about influence?

A lot.

Scott Tillema turns 20 years of high-stakes experience into unforgettable keynotes, stories, and practical strategies for communicating, connecting, and leading when the pressure is on.

Book Scott

WATCH SCOTT SPEAK

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A conversation doesn’t have to be life-or-death to be important.

Giving tough feedback. Navigating conflict. Leading through uncertainty. Negotiating the deal. The conversations that matter most are often the hardest to get right.

Scott knows what happens when pressure enters the conversation. Drawing on decades of experience in law enforcement and negotiation, he helps audiences slow down, listen differently, communicate intentionally, and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

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KEYNOTE

Leading With Influence

Communicating Powerfully and Navigating Difficult Conversations

Scott’s signature keynote takes audiences inside the world of high-stakes negotiation to reveal what it takes to communicate when emotions are high, trust is critical, and the outcome matters.

Through gripping stories from his career as a SWAT hostage negotiator, he translates those lessons into practical strategies audiences can use to navigate difficult conversations, build stronger connections, and influence better outcomes.

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Scott Tillema's keynote speaking topic on Communicating Powerfully and Navigating Difficult Conversations.
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Audiences will learn how to:

  • Find the courage to have the conversation,
    after hearing what it means to choose every word carefully when a life is actually on the line.

  • Understand why respect can change an outcome
    including how something as small as using the wrong name nearly derailed a five-hour armed standoff.

  • Listen like a hostage negotiator,
    using active-listening techniques designed to uncover what someone really needs, wants, and isn’t saying.

  • Recognize the power of delivery,
    from rate and rhythm to pressure, volume, and tone, and discover that changing how something is said can change how it’s received.

  • Create connection before trying to influence,
    through stories that reveal why making someone feel heard, valued, and understood matters in crisis, leadership, and life.

Book Scott to Speak
Scott Tillema's keynote speaking topic on Communicating Powerfully and Navigating Difficult Conversations.

Have a specific conversation
in mind?

A leadership team navigating tough feedback has different needs than a sales team negotiating the next big deal. In Scott’s experience, no two negotiations are the same. No two audiences are, either.

Scott works with each organization to understand its people, priorities, and challenges, then shapes his message around the conversations that matter most in the room.

Talk to Scott

  • “Scott's keynote presentation was absolutely outstanding. He was highly engaging, had us laughing, and sometimes holding back tears. His information was easy to understand and totally inspirational.”

    – CARRIE CHANDLER, HERITAGE BANK OF NEVADA

  • “Scott, I’ve been working for 30 years and you delivered the absolute best keynote I’ve ever heard. It was inspiring and very helpful.”

    – CATHERINE LAND, SCHAEFER ADVERTISING CO.

  • “ I walked away not only feeling inspired, but also with some personal homework and goals I’m ready to tackle. Scott was truly motivating and delivered such a powerful message. Grateful to have been part of it!”

    – MELISSA CARDNUTO

Why Scott belongs
on your stage

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He’s
lived it.

The lessons Scott shares weren’t learned from hypotheticals. They were put to the test across 20 years in law enforcement and high-stakes negotiation.

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He knows
the why.

Degrees in behavioral science and psychology, plus negotiation training from the FBI and Harvard, give Scott the expertise to explain not just what works, but why.

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The tools
stick.

The stories get their attention. The strategies give them something to use in the very next conversation.

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He makes
it easy.

Scott brings the same intention offstage that he brings on it: responsive, collaborative, and focused on making your event a success.

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More About Scott
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Negotiation and Communication Keynote Speaker
Scott Tillema is a keynote speaker who talks about communication and influence when the stakes are high.

Planning
an event?

Find Scott’s bio, media kit, headshots, tech requirements, and everything your team needs in one place.

Meeting Planner Resources

Start a conversation your audience won’t forget.

One keynote. A whole lot of better conversations ahead.

Bring Scott to Your Stage