Redefining Strength
The Key to a Mentally Healthier, More Productive Workplace
We admire people who are strong. They handle problems. They persevere. They keep going when things get difficult.
But what happens when the qualities we associate with strength make it harder for someone to say, “I need help”?
In Redefining Strength, David P. Otey challenges audiences to reconsider what strength looks like when life gets difficult—and to recognize that sometimes the strongest thing we can do is connect, speak honestly, and ask for help.
Sometimes the strengths we value can get in the way.
Self-reliance, perseverance, and resilience can serve us well. They help us navigate setbacks, take responsibility, and keep moving when things get difficult.
But those same qualities can become barriers when self-reliance becomes silence.
The problem isn’t that people aren’t strong enough.
Sometimes the problem is that we’ve defined strength too narrowly.
That’s the premise behind Redefining Strength.
See Redefining Strength in action.
What happens when the things that matter most are the things we find hardest to say?
What if we expanded our definition of strength?
Strength doesn’t have to mean doing everything on our own. It can also mean recognizing when something isn’t right, reaching out when we need support, and responding when someone else does.
In Redefining Strength, David invites audiences to consider how our ideas about strength shape the conversations we have, the conversations we avoid, and the way we respond when someone is struggling.
Policies, programs, and resources matter. But culture is also shaped in the moments when people decide whether to speak, listen, reach out, or stay silent.
Those moments are where Redefining Strength begins.
What audiences take back to work.
Redefining Strength is designed to do more than create a meaningful moment in the room. David gives audiences ideas and language they can carry into the conversations that happen afterward.
Audience members leave better prepared to:
Recognize when someone may be struggling—including themselves.
See asking for help as an act of strength, rather than evidence that they aren’t strong enough.
Respond when someone reaches out, without feeling that they need to have all the answers.
The goal isn’t to turn employees into mental health experts.
It’s to help more people feel prepared to have the right conversation at the right time.
A serious message doesn’t have to be a heavy experience.
Talking about mental health doesn’t mean an audience needs to leave the room feeling discouraged or emotionally drained.
David brings warmth, humor, and humanity to Redefining Strength. He shares personal experiences without making the program about himself, makes research understandable without turning the keynote into a lecture, and gives audiences room to reflect without asking them to disclose more than they want to share.
Audiences laugh. They reflect. They connect. And they leave with hope.
The result is an experience that is candid without being clinical, personal without being uncomfortable, and hopeful without pretending that these issues are simple.
What people say after David speaks.
“This is a wonderful way to keep your professional hat on, but still take a moment to step back and have a meaningful conversation with other professionals regarding challenges that undoubtedly all of us are facing. A calm and safe space to have conversations and learn about actionable approaches.”
“I thought this session was incredibly helpful for how to have productive conversations with people. I loved the interactive exercise and I think it’s a great jumping off point to get my brain operating in the ‘empathy before evidence’ mindset.”
“Moving, inspiring and really engaging. I wasn’t prepared to get emotional but it was really powerful and encouraging.”
And for the person planning the event...
“David is a pleasure to work with. He’s very professional, of course, but he also makes an effort to understand and support your project and goals. You feel like he’s on your team.”
Bring Redefining Strength to your organization.
Redefining Strength is designed for organizations that want to create a healthier culture around mental health—not simply by providing resources, but by making it easier for people to connect, speak honestly, and ask for help.
The keynote works especially well for:
- Corporate and organizational meetings
- Association conferences
- Leadership and management events
- Employee wellbeing and mental health programs
- Professional development events
Every audience is different.
David works with meeting planners and organizational leaders to understand the audience, the event, and what they want people thinking, feeling, or doing differently afterward. He adapts examples, emphasis, and audience interaction accordingly.
- Typical format:
- 45–60 minute keynote
- Delivery:
- In person (preferred) or virtual
Other program lengths and formats can be discussed based on the needs of the event.
The conversation begins before David takes the stage.
Is Redefining Strength right for your audience?
Let’s talk about your audience, your goals, and the conversations you want your people to be better prepared to have.