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Captain Dave Gillespie

Learn to put out fires through Command & Control of You.

Captain Dave Gillespie is a renowned author, speaker, and professional Fire Captain, widely recognized for his expertise in helping people manage high-stress situations that come with high risks and consequences. With 27 years of front-line experience in extreme stress and access to the latest research and evidence-based practices used by police, special forces, aviators, and Olympic athletes, Dave has become a sought-after conference keynote speaker and workshop facilitator across Canada and the USA.

Dave’s expertise in resilience and high performance is particularly relevant in the post-pandemic era, as the world faces a myriad of challenges that demand individuals and organizations to operate in chaotic situations. As a current firefighter, college professor, and workplace mental health trainer, Dave leverages his extensive experience and knowledge to deliver conference keynotes and workshops that empower participants with practical tactics to manage high-stress situations effectively.

Attendees of Dave’s conference keynotes or workshops can expect to learn tactics that can be practiced right there and then, adopted by the night, and applied by the following day. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced and knowledgeable conference keynote speakers in the industry!

Programs By Captain Dave Gillespie

Cool Under Pressure

“Cool Under Pressure” is an innovative program that is specifically designed to help professionals in various industries manage high-stress situations. This experiential workshop is geared towards identifying common stressors and scenarios that individuals may face in their day-to-day lives, and equipping them with the necessary skills to handle these situations with confidence.

The workshop begins by exploring the neuroscience behind the amygdala hijack and the fight, flight, or freeze response that typically follows. Participants will learn how to effectively manage these responses using specific Mental Toughness strategies utilized by firefighters, SWAT police officers, special operations forces, and Olympic athletes. Through a combination of cognitive and physical strategies, participants will learn how to take control of their body’s response to stress and move forward with confidence.

Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in customized scenarios to practice the five specific Mental Toughness strategies. This fast-paced, interactive session is designed for both new and experienced staff who may encounter tough situations in their professional or personal lives. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to develop high-performance skill sets that can be applied in any high-stress situation!

Leading Resilient Teams

Creating a highly functional and resilient team is all about fostering a positive culture that promotes growth and development. This involves investing in your people, nurturing relationships with clients, optimizing systems, and most importantly, knowing how to handle failure and turn it into an opportunity for post-traumatic growth. The success of any team, organization, or agency hinges on the culture that is established and embraced, and this is what makes the difference between mere complacency and true high-performance.

In this engaging keynote speech, we explore the parallels between highly resilient teams and the moment-by-moment actions that contribute to their success. Drawing on real-life examples, we examine the strategies and techniques that enable teams to overcome adversity, build resilience, and thrive in challenging situations. Whether you’re a team leader, a manager, or an individual looking to enhance your own personal resilience, this keynote is a must-attend event that will equip you with the tools and insights you need to succeed.

Books By Captain Dave Gillespie

Developing Firefighter Resiliency

Developing Firefighter Resiliency

Training ordinary people to do extraordinary things requires an understanding of how we learn. Developing Firefighter Resiliency starts with the basic psychophysical aspects of learning.The fire service has unwittingly used a failure-based training model for many years. Hands-on training exercises are often based on unachievable objectives. Trainers are often not educated about the psychology of adult learning or the effect of stress during learning. Consequently, participants face learning activities with mastery-level skill requirement to succeed when competency has yet to be established. This amounts to a never-ending diet of tests without actual skill development or high performance. Accessing knowledge under extreme circumstances cannot be left to chance, because the penalty for failure is severe.This book provides the roadmap for a journey to train, develop competency in the skills, manage physiology under stress, and capitalize on confidence to achieve mastery. We study the impact of a stressful environment on the ability to learn and function to a high performance level.

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