David Burkus Featured Organizational Psychologist; Rated Top 50 Business Thinker; Bestselling Author of "Best Team Ever"

Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, and nearly everyone wants to be on one. But most teams fail to perform at their optimal level. We try to recruit star players, improve compensation, give copious feedback, obsess over engagement surveys, and in the end, we still don’t have the results we want and often feel we're out of options. But the secret to unlocking performance isn't recruiting new teammates or designing the perfect incentive. The most effective teams became that way by building the habits and culture of the team that allows for optimal performance. 

Talent doesn't make the team; the team makes the talent. 

That’s what building the best team ever is all about. When you focus on improving the culture of the teams you lead–or the teams you're on–you create an environment that improves the performance of everyone on it. In this entertaining and enlightening keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the secrets of the highest-performing teams in the world and how you can get started tomorrow applying those secrets.  Leaders will leave with a clear and concise understanding of how the culture of their team affects its performance, and a simple and practical blueprint for how to build the best team ever.

Every firm wants a team that just clicks—one that collaborates seamlessly across roles, communicates clearly, and consistently delivers high performance. But in today’s hybrid work environment, collaboration can be harder than ever. Some teams thrive while others stall. Some build momentum while others burn out. So what makes the difference? 

Most leaders assume that better collaboration comes from more meetings, more tools, or more talent. But the real key is mastering the two core elements of effective teamwork: clarity and empathy. When people understand their roles and responsibilities (clarity) and how to work with the personalities and preferences of others (empathy), teams move faster, work smarter, and waste less time. When they don’t, they’re just one miscommunication away from dysfunction. 

In this high-energy, research-driven keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the science behind high-performing teams—and how to foster true collaboration between colleagues, across levels, and even across locations. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen team cohesion, align expectations, and create a culture of collaboration—whether working in-person, remotely, or in between. 

Perfect for law firms and knowledge-based organizations, this session shows how partners, associates, and support teams can all work together with less friction and more focus. 

Let’s make your teams click.

 Every leader wants a team they can trust. Every teammate wants to know their trust is earned. But here’s the reality: Trust isn’t built in a moment; it's grown over time with each and every interaction.

Trust isn't given. Trust isn't earned. Trust is reciprocated.

The highest-performing teams don’t just hope for trust—they build it, reinforce it, and protect it through a powerful feedback cycle–The Trust Loop. Every time trust is extended, it needs to be met with respect to keep the cycle going.

In this dynamic and research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals a proven framework for reinforcing trust in every interaction. You'll learn why trust erodes faster than you think—and how to prevent it from slipping away, but also how great teams recover from failures and setbacks without losing trust. And you'll leave with a practical blueprint to strengthen trust and drive results.

Let’s get The Trust Loop going.

As the challenges organizations face seem to compound, we need innovative ideas more than ever. But many teams struggle to find and implement their brightest ideas. Much of this struggle comes from a common misconception: you can’t create an innovative company teaching individuals to be more creative. Instead, research reveals that “lone creators” are historically rare and for most innovations, creativity is a team sport.

Teams bring a broader perspective and a more diverse set of solutions, but only if they know how to leverage the wisdom of everyone involved.

By combining insights from social science research and practical takeaways from the most innovative companies and teams, Dr. David Burkus outlines a prescription for any team or organization to work more creatively together, without silos, politics, or frustration. You'll learn how to leverage the expertise of the whole team, how to harness conflict to strengthen ideas, and how to find and implement the best solutions to the challenges your teams face.