“Friedman’s findings are often surprisingly counterintuitive, yet always convincing.”

— Daniel Pink, author of Drive

“Ron Friedman is a master of how people think and work.”

— Jonah Berger, author of Contagious 

“Absolutely fabulous. Our attendees were blown away.”

— IBM Smarter Workforce Institute

Award-Winning
Social Psychologist,
Bestselling Author,
& Keynote Speaker

Award-Winning
Social Psychologist,
Bestselling Author,
& Keynote Speaker

“Ron Friedman is a master of
how people think and work.”

— Jonah Berger,
author of Contagious 

“Absolutely fabulous. Our attendees were blown away.”

— IBM Smarter
Workforce Institute

“Friedman’s findings are often surprisingly counterintuitive, yet always convincing.”

— Daniel Pink, author of Drive

As Seen In

Hi, I’m Ron Friedman.

I’m a social psychologist who left academia to write books and design training programs that translate the best of what science has uncovered about top performance into actionable strategies. 

My company, ignite80, has helped over 100,000 leaders create high-performing teams at organizations like IBM, AB InBev, ADP, Walgreens, MassMutual, Cognizant, SunLife, Boeing, and Accenture.

“Dr. Friedman is the single best speaker we’ve ever had at an annual event.”

— Zach Brandon, Greater Madison
Chamber of Commerce

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You will learn:

  • What master chefs can teach us about multitasking intelligently 

  • How to determine the best use of your time with a single question

  • How to have a creative breakthrough when you’re stuck

  • The optimal time of day to take a break

  • How to quiet your mind before bed so you have more energy tomorrow

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Books

"A much-needed handbook for learning how success really happens. Read this book if you want to upgrade from working hard to actually producing results that matter."

— Cal Newport,
author of Deep Work

"An engaging journey through the latest science of improving the quality of life in organizations.

— Adam Grant,
author of Think Again

Recent Articles

As seen in

Speaking

Keynotes

  • In The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace, I surveyed the world’s most successful organizations, identifying key practices that position them to thrive. In this engaging keynote, I reveal the highlights, offering a surprising look at the emerging science of workplace excellence.

    You’ll discover...

    1. What the best jobs have in common with a video game.

    2. Why turning colleagues into close friends elevates your performance at work.

    3. How to boost your energy level without drinking more coffee.

    4. The one workplace reward that feels better than a raise.

    5. Why Dreamworks pays employees to decorate their desks, the Boston Consulting Group penalizes analysts who don’t go on vacation, and Radio Flyer provides mileage reimbursement for employees who ride their bikes.

    By the end of this presentation, not only will you and your team think differently about your workplace, you’re bound to come away with a variety of actionable insights that you can immediately put to use.

  • How do you motivate others to produce their best work?

    For generations, leaders have received conflicting advice. But now, thanks to groundbreaking new research, we have clear, data-driven insights into the factors that generate employee engagement and sustain performance over the long term.

    In this compelling and persuasive presentation, you’ll learn the surprising truth about what motivates excellence (hint: it’s not money or titles) and discover practical steps you can immediately apply to elevate your team’s performance.

    You’ll discover...

    1. The scientific secret to elevating your team’s performance without burning them out.

    2. Why lavish bonuses, glowing performance reviews, and employee-of-the-month awards don’t work—and what does.

    3. How to make any job feel more rewarding.

    4. Why great workplaces reward failure.

    5. How the best leaders motivate top performance.

    By the end of this keynote, you and your leaders will walk away with a thorough understanding of the latest science, along with practical strategies you can apply to elevate performance.

  • What do leaders of highly successful teams do differently?

    From a research perspective, the answer is simple. Decades of peer-reviewed studies have found a reliable path for improving employee productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty—while shrinking stress, burnout, and turnover.

    The solution is not a higher salary, fewer hours, or even a better relationship with a manager.

    The secret is fueling your team’s psychological needs for mastery, connection, and autonomy—the three factors at the heart of job satisfaction and work performance.

    So, how do you do it? That’s exactly what this unforgettable keynote reveals.

    You’ll discover…

    1. How the best leaders foster collaboration, from the moment a new member joins their team.

    2. How to cultivate trust in a way that leads to more transparency and intelligent risk-taking.

    3. How to motivate your team to take ownership over important projects.

    4. How to ensure that every member of your team feels like they are growing.

    5. How to get your team feeling energized, engaged, and passionate about doing great work.

    By the end of this talk, you’ll have a powerful, science-backed framework of what the best leaders do differently, as well as an arsenal of practical strategies that you can apply every day.

Workshops

  • This workshop teaches leaders cutting-edge strategies from the emerging science of workplace friendships, and gives them proven tools for sparking genuine connections, strengthening collaboration, and fueling top performance—even within remote and hybrid settings.

    You will learn:

    1. The 5 Friendship Accelerators that turn colleagues into friends

    2. How to design team meetings that improve collaboration and eliminate silos

    3. The ideal way to introduce a new employee to your team

    4. How to highlight shared goals in ways that make everyone feel like a contributor

    5. How to instantly transform disagreements into connection-building opportunities

    Ideal for leaders looking to boost collaboration, improve morale, and fuel high performance.

  • Leadership is about more than ensuring the job gets done. It’s about inspiring others to take ownership, embrace high standards, and experience pride in their work.

    Grounded in over 60 years of human motivation research, this workshop teaches leaders how to motivate their team to own their responsibilities, in ways that simultaneously elevate performance and job satisfaction.

    You will learn:

    1. The psychological levers that inspire a team to take ownership

    2. Why sharing leadership motivates others to step up

    3. How to set high standards without micromanaging

    4. How to communicate in a way that fuels your team’s experience of autonomy

    5. How to motivate your team to take ownership with a few simple words

    Ideal for leaders looking to inspire leadership in others, improve job satisfaction and pride, and take their team to the next level.

  • Extraordinary leaders do more than manage people. They lift them up, empower them, and inspire them to reach new heights.

    As a leader, how do you ensure every member of your team is growing—without losing focus on major projects? That’s what this workshop is about.

    You will learn how to:

    1. Turn learning into a daily, team-wide habit

    2. Get your team talking about fresh ideas and industry trends on a regular basis

    3. Spot team members who are bored or overwhelmed (and get them back on track)

    4. Deliver the feedback people need to grow (without sounding critical)

    5. Ensure that your team is consistently getting better

    Ideal for leaders looking to keep talented workers engaged and energized.

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