Richard Gerver
Richard Gerver has led people through change, even when they didn’t want to change, and inspired them as individuals along the way.
He’s a former headteacher who is now an internationally renowned speaker on changing organisations and cultures. Listening to him is powerful, life-changing stuff.
Richard took a failing UK school and turned it into an outstanding place to learn and teach in less than five years. He did this by getting to the heart of what motivates individuals & groups, of whatever age, and working with them through three stages:
• Communication
• Empowerment
• Impact
Underpinning his theory of change is the idea that an organisation that wants to develop its people needs to allow them to ‘live, learn and laugh’ as they embrace new ways of thinking and working.
Before becoming a teacher, Richard was an actor. He credits his powers of communication for making him a skilled educator, speaker and agent of change. All the theory, all the thinking, and all the publications on leading change are meaningless if you can’t let people know what you need them to do.
Already recognised as one of the most outstanding teachers in the country, in 2005, Richard won the UK’s ‘School Head Teacher of the Year’ award for creating one of the most innovative schools in the world. Demand quickly grew for his skills as a speaker and advisor on education policy and the business of change.
Organisations that have benefited from Richard’s insights include: UNESCO, UK government, government of China, HBOS, SKANSKA, the British Council, the Blue Man Group and RBS Bank.
Richard has worked with Think Again for two years, developing the company’s innovative work in supporting organizations and individuals through times of change.
He still plays a part in education, and has co-founded The International Curriculum Foundation, which will help schools and authorities around the world develop education systems that will reflect the challenges facing our children in their future.
Richard and the Think Again team have close links with Sir Ken Robinson and his work on developing the awareness of human potential and creativity, and Richard features in his book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.
Richard’s own book, Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today is currently revolutionising the way teachers, parents and governments think about children’s entitlement to an education fit for the 21st Century.