Rick Brinkman, ND

Customer Service
Communications
Leadership

Programs

Dealing with People You Can't Stand

In an energetic, humorous manner, Dr. Brinkman's message hits home with situations people find themselves in every day, and empowers them with practical skills. Communication is like a phone number, we need all the digits to get through and we need them in the right order. When we don't pay attention to our communication and its effects on people we often create difficult situations for ourselves. By becoming a conscious communicator, having the skills and knowing the specific strategies to handle various problem behaviors, you empower yourself to be successful in bringing out the best in people (even at their worst).

Love Thy Customer

In this program you will better understand thy Customer to see yourself, and the world, as your Customers do. You will learn to master the unconscious signals you send that makes or breaks your relationship with Customers. This session will also focus on how to turn an upset Customer into your most loyal Customer as well as a 5 step approach to diffuse anger, establish control of a situation and move to constructive solutions. Love Thy Customer is sure to eliminate the all-too-common stresses and challenges associated with dealing with customers.

Conscious Communication & Leadership: The Leader's Role as a Conscious Communicator

In a time of rapid change where the need to do more with less exists, leaders must create an inspiring environment, empower others, give useful feedback, create an attitude of continuous improvement, and rally people around greater visions and goals. After this presentation, leaders will feel empowered to be great communicators and bring out the best in their teams.

Cage Rattling 101: How to Thrive on Chaos, Embrace, and Create Change

In a rapidly changing world, innovation is not about getting ahead; it's about simply surviving. How do you embrace change instead of resist it? Depending on which you choose, you can get stressed and lose your energy, or you can be enlivened with more energy. In this keynote, Dr. Brinkman demonstrates how to get in a flow with change, how to look at what you do every day and see it in a new way, and how to take an attitude of continuous improvement.

Speaker Information

Dr. Rick Brinkman has been sharing his human behavior insights and practical communication strategies in his trademark entertaining and educational style, both nationally and internationally, since 1980.

After graduating with a Bachelor's of Science degree from State University of New York at Oneonta, Dr. Brinkman earned his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Following his residency in obstetrics and psychology, he practiced mind/body medicine for twelve years. From his study of communication and how it profoundly affects our quality of life, Dr. Brinkman developed his "Life by Design" system, which he utilized with his patients.

In 1990, Dr. Brinkman began teaching customer service to healthcare organizations in conjunction with the Tom Peters group. One of only fifteen people approved to present Peters' "In Search of Excellence" programs, Dr. Brinkman's total quality management program was used as a model by the State Hospital System of Hawaii.

Currently, Dr. Brinkman is on the faculty of the American College of Physician Executives, an MBA program in medical administration for physicians. As a guest instructor, he has also taught doctor/patient communication and clinical hypnosis at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Brinkman served as president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians for three years, vice-president for three years, and one year as past president. During this time, he developed his "Meeting Magic" system, a method for conducting meetings in a way that avoids conflict, encourages participation, and results in consensus. He currently teaches "Meeting Magic" to boards of healthcare associations, as well as leadership teams at various medical centers across the country.

In 1994, Dr. Brinkman co-authored the international bestselling book, Dealing With People You Can't Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, which has been translated into twelve languages. In 1998 he co-authored the book, Life by Design: Bringing Out the Best in Yourself, which is available in three languages. In 2002, Dr. Brinkman released his third book, Dealing With Relatives: Bringing Out the Best in Family at Their Worst. In addition, he is the author of four audio and two video training programs on customer service, communication and life management. His latest book, Love Thy Customer: Creating Delight, Preventing Dissatisfaction, and Pleasing Your Hardest-to-Please Customers, is slated for release later this year.

Dr. Brinkman has received numerous awards, including "Funniest Speaker of the Year" by the Sales Forum and the Institute for Management Studies Distinguished Faculty Award. His audio tape, "Dealing with Difficult People," is on Columbia House's all time top ten bestseller list.

Committed to helping people to become better leaders, as well as inspiring organizations to improve workplace performance and the bottom line, Dr. Brinkman's signature "educating through entertainment" style has made him a favorite with a variety of healthcare organizations, including the National Association of Homecare, the American Red Cross, Loma Linda University Medical Center, the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses, Pfizer, Interim Healthcare, and the American Dental Association. An energetic, larger-than-life presenter, his topics are universal, and his humor is loved by everyone.