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Leadership Development
Business Strategy
Employee Experience
Conflict Resolution

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DISCOVER THE CHAMPION WITHIN

The single most influential factor in your race to success is this – your ability to build meaningful RELATIONSHIPS.

MEET LAVON

Business Owner…
Organizational Conflict Specialist…
Award-Winning Author…
Professor…
NCAA Football Referee…
These are just a few of the hats worn by Dr. Lavon Gray.

When it comes to conflict, Dr. Lavon Gray has seen it all. From the tension-filled sidelines of NCAA football to corporate boardrooms, Lavon has not just faced adversity but thrived in it, while at the same time equipping leaders to do the same. His approach is practical, proven, and powerful, refined through over 7,000 hours of platform experience and over three decades of leading organizations. Lavon holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®️) designation from the National Speakers Association, a distinction held by the elite in the field of professional speaking. He also is a founding member and a certified coach, trainer, and speaker with the John Maxwell Group.

With a PhD in Administration, an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Family Business, and specialized certifications from Northwestern, Cornell, and Harvard Universities, Dr. Gray’s insights are both academically sound and battle-tested in the real world. As the CEO of Blue Hen Agency and an award-winning author, he’s dedicated to helping leaders discover the champion within them.

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.S. in political science, Lavon also holds a PhD with a specialization in administration and an MBA in entrepreneurship and family enterprise from Louisiana State University (Shreveport), as well as certificates in mediation from Northwestern University, conflict resolution from Cornell University, and leadership and persuasion from Harvard University. A certified speaker and leadership coach with The John Maxwell Team, Lavon has written five books, including Never Wrestle with Pigs: A Survival Guide for Dealing with Difficult Personalities, and developed the Blue Hen OCI Health Index to help organizations identify their internal conflict levels and develop strategies that promote organizational health.
Lavon’s keynotes
Never Wrestle with Pigs: Dealing with Difficult Workplace Personalities
Choose to Defuse: Conflict Resolution in the Heat of Battle
It’s Simple…but It Ain’t Easy: Leadership Lessons from a Life in the Trenches
The Leadership Superpower: Harnessing the Power of Relationships
Never Wrestle with Pigs: Dealing with Difficult Workplace Personalities
Navigate Complex Personalities, Foster Team Harmony, Achieve Collaborative Success

In his insightful keynote “Never Wrestle with Pigs,” Dr. Lavon Gray reveals the secret to turning workplace tensions into opportunities for growth and leadership. He explores the seven personality types that are the fabric of every organization and guides you on how to work with each effectively.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR LEADERS AT EVERY STAGE:
  • Tasked with the nuanced challenge of guiding a diverse and evolving workforce in a rapidly changing business landscape.
  • Seeking to rekindle motivation and maintain a steadfast commitment to excellence in a competitive and often stressful environment.
  • Determined to optimize their influence, ensuring no opportunity for positive impact on their team and clients is overlooked.

ATTENDEES WILL LEAVE WITH:

  • Practical strategies to identify and engage with varied workplace personalities, with tools they can put to use right away.
  • The motivation to align their professional actions with their personal values, setting the stage for meaningful progress today.
  • Enhanced insights into fostering strong relationships, essential for navigating conflicts and cultivating a healthy workplace culture.

Buy the book here!

Choose to Defuse: Conflict Resolution in the Heat of Battle
Navigate Conflict, Unleash Potential, Cultivate Harmony
Conflict in the workplace isn’t just inevitable; it’s a pivotal point where organizations can pivot towards growth or stumble into stagnation. The “Choose to Defuse” keynote focuses on transforming conflict from a silent profit-drainer, costing American businesses billions in productivity losses, into a catalyst for innovation, collaborative success, and a thriving company culture.

This keynote equips leaders and teams with the knowledge to effectively leverage conflict, offering practical steps and insights into the complex interplay of personalities and emotions. Participants will come away with:

  • A clear 3-step pathway to navigate and resolve conflicts effectively.
  • Strategies for steering difficult conversations towards constructive outcomes.
  • An appreciation for the role of relationships in shaping a positive workplace environment, one conversation at a time.

ESSENTIAL FOR LEADERS WHO AIM TO:

  • Master the art of conflict resolution to build stronger, more cohesive teams ready to meet any challenge.
  • Develop a keen understanding of conflict dynamics to transform potential tensions into productive dialogue.
  • Cultivate resilience and adaptability in leadership, turning conflict scenarios into opportunities for development and innovation.

ATTENDEES WILL LEAVE WITH:

  • The ability to execute three practical principles for resolving conflicts, enhancing efficiency and focus within their teams.
  • Insights into the five distinctive conflict resolution styles of the Thomas-Kilmann model, alongside the knowledge of how to effectively employ each one.
  • A deeper understanding of the pivotal role relationships play in resolving conflicts and fostering a supportive and productive workplace culture.
It’s Simple…but It Ain’t Easy: Leadership Lessons from a Life in the Trenches
Lead with Clarity, Motivate with Purpose, Excel in Change
Discover the hard-earned leadership secrets from the trenches with Dr. Lavon Gray. With four decades steering non-profits, educational institutions, and businesses to victory, Dr. Gray distills his profound insights into eight pivotal leadership principles that will thrust your team into a successful future, no matter how rapidly the culture shifts.

ESSENTIAL FOR LEADERS WHO SEEK TO:

  • Forge deep connections and leverage the untapped power of relationships to influence organizational triumphs.
  • Foster a culture of trust and embody servant leadership to nurture a thriving business environment.
  • Embrace change with open arms and an agile mindset, understanding it as the pathway to innovation and growth.

ATTENDEES WILL LEAVE WITH:

  • A deep understanding of how robust relationships catalyze organizational success.
  • Strategies for fostering trust and practicing servant leadership to enrich corporate culture.
  • A framework to embrace and lead through change with confidence and proactive listening.
  • Insights on recognizing personal and organizational resistance, and the skills to address it head-on.
  • A mindset ready to embrace change as an ally, not an adversary.
  • Tools to define and communicate expectations that drive collective performance.
  • Guidance on engaging in and navigating challenging conversations with finesse and effectiveness.
The Leadership Superpower: Harnessing the Power of Relationships
Harness ‘The Leadership Superpower’: Building Relationships that Propel Success
In the vast landscape of leadership skills, one stands out above the rest—the power to forge meaningful relationships. Dr. Lavon Gray uncovers the ‘The Leadership Superpower’ that’s been the silent force behind triumphant leaders and thriving organizations.

DESIGNED FOR LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO:

  • Leveraging the power of relationships for professional and organizational success.
  • Rising above the challenge of the modern epidemic of loneliness in the workplace, which erodes culture and impacts productivity.
  • Recognizing that the cornerstone of influence is the capacity to cultivate genuine connections.

ATTENDEES WILL LEAVE WITH:

  • A deeper appreciation of how relationships are the foundation of influence.
  • A practical ‘Law of the Harvest’ strategy to build and maintain professional relationships that transcend the norm.
  • Techniques to ensure consistent personal growth and to nurture the growth of future leaders within their organizations.
  • A profound understanding that by investing in relationships, we can move mountains—and, indeed, so can those we lead.

HEADSHOTS AND DOWNLOADS

LAVON’S
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WHAT’S A BLUE HEN?

Discover the Champion Within: Blue Hen’s Legacy of Leadership
What’s a Blue Hen?

In the horse racing world, a Blue Hen mare is celebrated for producing winners—foals destined to become champions on the track. Blue Hen Agency, led by CEO and professional speaker Dr. Lavon Gray, embraces this legacy of leadership. Our team goes beyond traditional consulting roles; we become part of your extended team—your embedded strategic partners dedicated to realizing the vision of superior performance.

Dr. Lavon Gray brings his rich experience and motivational expertise to guide you in seeing the untapped potential within your organization. More importantly, he believes you and your organization are destined for greatness. Let Lavon help you and your team discover the champion within!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“Probably one of the most entertaining corporate speakers I’ve heard.”
Benjamin Teague

Vice-President of Strategic Development , Biltmore Farms, LLC – Asheville, North Carolina

Lavon Gray lives what he believes… convincing, convicting, and contagious.
Derric Johnson

Former Creative Consultant , The Walt Disney Company

Not only is Lavon gifted and talented, but he has a great heart to compliment his professionalism! And on top of all that, HE’S FUN!
Dr. Dennis Swanberg

America’s Minister of Encouragement

Connect with Lavon today!
LLG@LAVONGRAY.COM
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