Dr. Toby Groves

Speaking
Speaking

Talks that unlock a very different level of thinking

My talks inspire audiences to unlock thinking skills they didn’t realize they possessed, regardless of their industry or level of expertise. Grounded in counterintuitive lessons from neurological recovery, sports psychology, and high-stakes decision-making—and informed by insights gained from working with hundreds of expert audiences—each event is an engaging, thought-provoking journey designed to spark profound insights, inspire innovative problem-solving, and build resilience and adaptability. Custom topics are available for any audience.

Professional Education – For professionals in fields like audit and accounting, IT, government, investigations, policing, HR, law, project management, or change management, my research directly with practitioners has led to tailored content—including technical topics—designed to address your unique challenges and opportunities. With sessions covering communications, leadership, and ethics, many are also eligible for professional education credit. Explore these offerings to discover practical solutions and powerful tools for your work.

Untapped!

“Untapped” is an inspiring, eye-opening session that equips professionals with tools to harness (tap) into hidden or underutilized cognitive abilities and reimagine their approach to problem-solving. By leveraging insights from neurological recovery therapies, sports psychology, and high-stakes decision-making, this session offers a fresh perspective on overcoming mental barriers and accessing innovative thinking.

Participants will explore practical techniques to enhance judgment, improve decision quality, and adapt with resilience in the face of challenges. “Untapped” transforms hidden cognitive potential into actionable strengths, enabling professionals to approach their work with newfound clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Invisible Strengths: The Traits That Set Exceptional Leaders Apart

Beneath the surface, extraordinary leaders cultivate hidden patterns within their groups, much like setting a DNA that shapes the team’s resilience, adaptability, and success. This session explores these often-overlooked dynamics and the unseen strengths—emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility, and resilience—that define transformative leadership. Participants will discover how these deeper qualities enable leaders to navigate uncertainty, foster trust, and unlock untapped potential in their teams. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and real-world leadership examples, this talk reveals how to create and sustain the patterns that truly empower teams to thrive.

Invisible Strengths challenges leaders to move beyond traditional concepts, embrace the deeper traits that set them apart, and design the underlying framework for lasting impact and purpose-driven leadership.

Collective Genius: The Hidden Science of High-Performing Teams

What makes a truly great team? It’s not just talent or effort—it’s the unseen patterns that define how people interact, communicate, and adapt together. Exceptional teams share a kind of “DNA,” a hidden framework that fosters resilience, creativity, and trust. At the heart of this framework lies a concept I call the social immune system—the dynamic, self-regulating force that keeps teams cohesive, adaptive, and aligned under pressure.

This session delves into the science of communication, exploring how the right conditions—such as psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and shared purpose—amplify collective intelligence and drive team success. Drawing from cutting-edge research and real-world examples, participants will uncover practical strategies to design team environments that thrive on trust, openness, and adaptability.

By understanding and shaping the “DNA” of your team, you’ll learn how to build a culture of collaboration and resilience that unlocks your group’s hidden potential, transforming ordinary teams into extraordinary ones.

The New Intelligences

New Intelligences redefines what it means to succeed in a world of constant change. As knowledge becomes increasingly accessible, the true differentiators of success are not what you know but how you think—your ability to apply knowledge with accuracy, interpret situations effectively, and adapt to new challenges with ease.

Grounded in neuroscience and real-world insights, this session delves into the cognitive and emotional strategies that underpin flexibility, resilience, and adaptability. Participants will explore how the brain’s natural ability to rewire itself can be harnessed to enhance judgment, embrace uncertainty, and unlock innovative solutions. Through actionable techniques, they’ll learn to think more effectively, respond to challenges with agility, and thrive in dynamic environments.