Workplace Priorities: How PepTalk's Top Topics Have Evolved
The most sought-after topics for workplace growth and improvement: effective leadership, change management and more.
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In the ever-changing world of professional development, staying on top of workplace priorities is crucial for keeping teams engaged, resilient and future-ready. Here's how PepTalk's top topics — the corporate speaker sessions organisations request most — have shifted over recent years, and what that shift reveals about what teams need next.
Most Requested Speaking Topics
PepTalk's Top Five Topics in 2024
Here are the top 5 most requested speaker sessions at PepTalk in 2024:
What's particularly interesting about this list is the shift from what was once considered 'soft skills' to what we can call the 'ripple effect.' This concept, which we'll explore further, underscores the importance of inner growth that not only benefits the individual but also has a positive impact on the entire team and, ultimately, the company's bottom line.
The Ripple Effect
The "ripple effect" in the workplace refers to the idea that individual growth can positively influence a broader range of outcomes. This growth not only enhances the individual's skills and satisfaction but also benefits their team and the entire company.
As people grow, their positive attitudes and improved performance can inspire and uplift their colleagues, creating a more collaborative and supportive team environment. This, in turn, leads to higher productivity, better innovation, and improved bottom-line results, fostering a thriving workplace.
One example is Major Scotty Mills, a retired Green Beret and leadership expert whose Ripple Effect framework channels personal resilience into team-wide impact.
READ MORE: Personal Resilience — The Ripple Effect with Major Scotty Mills
To appreciate the significance of this shift, let's take a look at the top requested topics from previous years:
2023's Top Five Topics
2022's Top Five Topics
These changes in top-requested topics reflect evolving priorities in the workplace. In 2022, the focus on Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Fitness, and Pride emphasised creating a more inclusive, healthy, and supportive work environment, likely stemming from the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic, which underscored the importance of physical health and mental well-being and a societal push towards greater equality and representation.
READ MORE: The Best Work-Life Balance Speakers
By 2023, the shift towards Mental Health, Workplace Wellbeing, and Stress Management suggested a deeper recognition of the importance of psychological resilience and creating a supportive work environment to combat the increasing pressures of modern work life. The appearance of Confidence and Growth Mindset in the top five reflected a growing interest in personal development and cultivating positive, adaptive attitudes towards work and personal challenges.
Speakers like Chad Foster, a Harvard-educated sales and leadership catalyst who lost his sight in his twenties, help explain why growth mindset and change management resonate as themes: his story is a working example of adapting and continuing to lead through major change. Similarly, Pandit Dasa, a former monk turned workplace culture expert, brings a distinctive lens to why mental health and mindfulness became recurring fixtures on this list.
Global events like the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly influenced these shifts, pushing organisations to prioritise employee well-being and mental health. Technological advancements also played a role, with remote work and digital transformation creating new stressors and necessitating a focus on stress management and workplace wellbeing. Societal shifts towards greater inclusivity and equity further drove the focus on Diversity and Inclusion, Pride, and Personal Finance.
Emerging Workplace Trends
The rise of Effective Leadership and Change Management as top priorities in 2024 reflected a growing recognition of the need for strong, adaptable leadership in a fast-paced business environment.
Being an effective leader means developing the skills to handle complex challenges and motivate teams to achieve objectives. At the same time, change management highlights the importance of being adaptable and responsive to changes in the business environment, ensuring organisations can adjust and succeed in uncertain circumstances. This was particularly relevant in 2024, a year in which more than 64 countries — together representing about 49% of the world's population — held national elections, the outcomes of which continue to have significant implications for organisations and their people.
Meanwhile, the consistent presence of Mental Health and Growth Mindset across every year on record underscores their enduring importance in fostering a thriving workplace.
According to Carol Dweck, the preeminent growth mindset researcher, when companies collectively adopt a growth mindset, their workers indicate a stronger sense of empowerment and dedication; they also experience increased support from the organisation for working together and coming up with new ideas. On the other hand, people at companies with a fixed mindset report more instances of dishonesty and deceit among employees, possibly to gain an edge in the talent competition.
Looking back across these years, it's clear that organisations have been increasingly focused on developing well-rounded leaders who can navigate change, foster growth, prioritise mental health, and build resilience within their teams. Investing in these areas improves individual performance and creates a positive ripple effect that enhances overall organisational success. These themes — adaptable leadership, resilience, growth mindset and mental health — continue to define what organisations look for in a speaker today, alongside growing interest in Artificial Intelligence as teams navigate new tools and new ways of working.
💡 Would you like to upskill with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we'll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!
Amber Parkin
Read more from Amber Parkin
Amber is VP of Talent & Marketing. She has 20 years of international experience in the creative industries, including as a copywriter and Head of Customer Experience in the music industry, using storytelling to drive behaviour change. Amber holds an MA in Digital Management and an MSc in Organisational Psychology and is always looking for inspiration.
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