SCOTT TILLEMA
Scott Tillema helps organizations build trust, lead under pressure, and communicate with clarity, especially when the stakes are high.
SWAT Negotiator · Crisis Communication Expert
Scott Tillema is a SWAT hostage negotiator and senior law enforcement leader, FBI-trained in crisis communication and negotiation. With over two decades of experience, he teaches leaders how to build trust, lead under pressure, and communicate with clarity, especially when the stakes are high.
Practical Strategies for Leadership, Trust & Tough Conversations
Scott’s keynote, Communication and Connection: Insights from a Hostage Negotiator, blends real-world negotiation stories with research-backed tools from Harvard and Chicago Booth. He equips leaders and teams to navigate hard conversations, defuse tension, and build connection through emotionally intelligent communication.
Tactical Tools for Real-World Results
Scott’s presentations are story-driven and immediately applicable. Audiences leave with practical tools to ask smarter questions, manage emotion, and create trust—even in high-stress conversations. His delivery is grounded, relatable, and actionable, ideal for leadership, culture, and communication-focused events.
PRESENTATIONS
Scott Tillema’s keynote speeches are repeatedly described as practical, engaging, and inspiring, with a strong emphasis on actionable communication and leadership strategies, real-world storytelling, and a genuine connection with the audience.
"Communication and Connection: Insights from a Hostage Negotiator"
From armed standoffs to executive boardrooms, FBI-trained hostage negotiator Scott Tillema brings clarity to communication when the stakes are high. In this powerful keynote, Scott shares real-life stories from the field and translates them into practical, repeatable strategies for leaders and teams. Audiences learn how to build trust quickly, defuse tension before it escalates, and lead hard conversations with confidence and calm. With humor, insight, and tactical tools, Scott challenges traditional communication norms and equips every leader to connect when it counts most.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize and work with emotion—because that’s where decisions are made
- Apply active listening techniques to earn trust and influence outcomes
- Lead hard conversations with courage, empathy, and timing
- Create cooperation by offering autonomy and building connection
- Develop calm, clear communication—even under pressure
Perfect for:
- Leadership development programs
- HR, people leaders, and culture teams
- Sales, law enforcement, or conflict-sensitive industries
- Conferences focused on emotional intelligence, communication, or resilience
"The Four Pillars of Negotiation: A Framework for Influence"
Scott reveals the essential four-pillar framework he’s used in high-stakes negotiations, from SWAT incidents to business deals. This session demystifies negotiation, giving leaders and teams a clear, actionable roadmap for influencing outcomes, resolving conflict, and building lasting agreements.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the four pillars that drive successful negotiations
- Prepare for and approach negotiations with clarity and purpose
- Use empathy and listening to uncover what really matters
- Navigate obstacles and deadlocks with confidence
- Achieve agreements that stand the test of time
Perfect for:
- Sales and procurement teams
- Executive leadership
- Cross-functional project teams
- Anyone seeking to improve influence and negotiation skills
"Leading Under Pressure: Decision-Making When It Matters Most"
Drawing on his SWAT and FBI experience, Scott teaches leaders how to stay calm, focused, and effective when the pressure is on. This keynote equips audiences with tools for clear thinking, rapid decision-making, and resilient leadership in high-stress situations.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize and manage stress responses in yourself and others
- Apply proven frameworks for making tough decisions quickly
- Communicate with clarity and authority under pressure
- Build team trust and cohesion in challenging moments
- Turn crisis into opportunity with resilient leadership
Perfect for:
- C-suite and senior leaders
- Crisis management teams
- Healthcare and emergency services
- Fast-paced or high-pressure industries
"Building Trust Fast: Lessons from Hostage Negotiation"
Trust is the foundation of every successful team and negotiation. Scott shares the principles and tactics he used to build trust in life-or-death situations and how these same skills apply to business, leadership, and everyday life.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the science and psychology of trust
- Build rapport quickly, even in tense or skeptical environments
- Repair trust when it’s been broken
- Foster a culture of transparency and accountability
- Use trust as a lever for influence and collaboration
Perfect for:
- Leadership and management teams
- Sales and client-facing professionals
- Organizations facing change or transition
- Teams seeking stronger relationships and performance
Breakout/Module Topics
"Emotional Intelligence in Crisis Communication"
Understand why emotion—not logic—is the real driver of behavior, and how to navigate high-emotion conversations without triggering resistance or shutdown.
"The Power of Tactical Listening"
Discover the hostage negotiator’s version of active listening—how to use open-ended questions, emotion labeling, and patience to build trust fast.
"Speaking with Purpose and Precision"
Master the art of message delivery—timing, tone, and word choice—to increase your leadership influence in high-stakes situations.
"Creating Compliance Through Respect"
Explore why respect and autonomy lead to better outcomes than control, and how to implement this principle in your team dynamics.
Audiences and organizers consistently praise Scott for turning high-stakes negotiation principles into clear, actionable strategies leaders can use immediately.
His keynotes are known for:
- Practical frameworks for influence and decision-making
- Engaging, memorable storytelling from real-world crisis negotiation
- Tools for navigating difficult conversations and building trust
- A calm, relatable delivery that inspires confidence and action
- Customization for each audience’s unique challenges
SCOTT TILLEMA
Great Speaker for
- Delivering high-impact keynotes on trust, negotiation, and communication under pressure
- Teaching leaders how to speak with courage, listen with precision, and build trust when the stakes are high
- Helping organizations defuse tension, lead tough conversations, and create connection in crisis and calm
- Translating hostage negotiation tactics into powerful tools for business, leadership, and team performance
Travels from: Chicago, IL
