KEYNOTE SPEAKER SCOTT TILLEMA
Build trust fast. Communicate clearly when the stakes are high.
Scott Tillema helps organizations strengthen trust, lead under pressure, and communicate with clarity in high-stakes situations. His approach blends crisis-tested negotiation strategies with practical tools leaders can use immediately.
SWAT Negotiator · Crisis Communication Expert
Scott Tillema is a SWAT-trained hostage negotiator and senior law-enforcement leader with FBI training in crisis communication and negotiation. With two decades of frontline experience, he teaches leaders how to build trust quickly, stay calm under pressure, and communicate with precision when decisions matter most.
Practical strategies for leadership, trust, and tough conversations.
Scott’s keynote, Communication and Connection: Insights from a Hostage Negotiator, delivers research-backed tools drawn from Harvard and Chicago Booth. He equips leaders and teams to navigate difficult conversations, reduce tension, resolve conflict, and build connection through emotionally intelligent communication.
Tactical communication tools for real-world results.
Scott’s programs are story-driven, relatable, and immediately actionable. Audiences leave with practical tools to ask better questions, manage emotion, and create trust—even in high-pressure conversations. His delivery is grounded, practical, and ideal for leadership, culture-building, and conflict-sensitive environments.
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"
Scott Tillema brings real-world hostage negotiation strategy into everyday leadership. He shows audiences how to build trust fast, reduce tension before it escalates, and lead hard conversations with clarity and confidence. This keynote gives leaders practical, repeatable tools for communicating when stakes are high and emotions run strong.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize and work with emotion—where every decision is made.
- Use active listening to earn trust and influence outcomes.
- Navigate tough conversations with calm, timing, and empathy.
- Build cooperation through autonomy and connection.
- Communicate clearly—even under extreme pressure.
Perfect For
- Leadership development programs
- HR, people leaders, and culture teams
- Sales, law enforcement, and conflict-sensitive industries
- Events focused on communication, trust, or emotional intelligence
"The Four Pillars of Negotiation: A Framework for Influence"
Scott reveals the negotiation framework he used in high-stakes environments—from SWAT callouts to business deals. He breaks down the four pillars that drive successful influence and shows leaders how to uncover what really matters, move through obstacles, and create agreements that last.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the four pillars behind every successful negotiation.
- Prepare for difficult conversations with clarity and purpose.
- Use empathy and listening to uncover real motivators.
- Navigate objections and deadlocks with confidence.
- Reach agreements that stand the test of time.
Perfect For
- Sales and procurement teams
- Executive leadership
- Cross-functional teams
- Anyone responsible for influence, negotiation, or alignment
"Leading Under Pressure: Decision-Making When It Matters Most"
Drawing from SWAT and FBI training, Scott equips leaders to stay calm, focused, and decisive in high-pressure moments. This keynote gives practical tools for rapid decision-making, clear thinking, and resilient leadership when stress is at its peak.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize and regulate stress in yourself and others.
- Use proven frameworks for effective decision-making.
- Communicate with clarity and authority under pressure.
- Build trust and team cohesion in challenging moments.
- Turn crisis into opportunity with resilient leadership.
Perfect For
- C-suite and senior leaders
- Crisis or risk-management teams
- Healthcare and emergency services
- Fast-paced, high-pressure industries
"Building Trust Fast: Lessons from Hostage Negotiation"
Trust drives every successful team, relationship, and negotiation. Scott shows how elite negotiators build or repair trust quickly—even in life-or-death situations—and how the same principles strengthen business, leadership, and everyday interactions.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the psychology and science behind trust.
- Build rapport quickly—even in skeptical or tense environments.
- Repair trust when it has been damaged.
- Create transparency and accountability inside teams.
- Use trust as a lever for influence and collaboration.
Perfect For
- Leadership and management teams
- Sales and client-facing groups
- Organizations in transition or change
- Companies seeking stronger relationships and performance
Breakout/Module Topics
Emotional Intelligence in Crisis Communication
Understand why emotion—not logic—is the engine behind human behavior. Learn how to navigate high-emotion conversations, prevent resistance, and keep communication steady and productive when pressure spikes.
The Power of Tactical Listening
Gain the hostage negotiator’s version of active listening: open-ended questions, emotion labeling, and patience as a strategic tool. Leaders learn how to build trust fast and lower tension before it escalates.
Speaking with Purpose and Precision
Master message delivery in high-stakes moments. Participants learn how timing, tone, and word choice shape influence, strengthen clarity, and drive better outcomes in conversations that matter.
Creating Compliance Through Respect
Explore why autonomy and respect outperform control in every setting. This session shows leaders how to build cooperation, increase buy-in, and improve team dynamics by applying evidence-based principles from crisis negotiation.
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
Great Speaker for
Budgets of $10,000+
- Delivering high-impact keynotes on trust, negotiation, communication, and leadership under pressure
- Teaching leaders how to speak with courage, listen with precision, and build trust quickly when the stakes are high
- Helping organizations defuse tension, lead tough conversations, and create real connection in crisis and calm
- Translating hostage negotiation tactics into practical tools for business, leadership, and team performance
