2027 Theme: Foundations of High Performance

 

Inclusion Academy 2027 explores the science of human behavior and the everyday choices that shape inclusion, belonging, psychological safety, relationships, and workplace culture.

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Across three focused learning experiences, participants will better understand why we do what we do—and develop practical skills for becoming more aware, intentional, and effective in how they show up with others.

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Inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety are the purpose. Human behavior is the foundation. HERO Skills® are the tools.

 

Monthly Learning Schedule

Live with Dr. Steve Robbins | 3:10–3:55 PM ET

Monthly live sessions take place on the fourth Thursday of each active Academy month, except where noted.

But the learning doesn’t begin and end with the webinar.

Each monthly topic is designed as a learning experience that gives participants multiple opportunities to explore an idea, think about how it shows up in their lives, and put what they’re learning into practice.

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Each monthly learning experience includes:

A Live, Interactive Webinar
A 45-minute session with Dr. Steve exploring the science, stories, and practical implications behind the month’s topic.

 

Practical Application Challenges
Simple opportunities to take an idea out of the webinar and experiment with it in everyday work and life.

 

Companion Reading Material
Accessible, research-grounded content that allows participants to explore important ideas more deeply.

 

Two Neuro Nuggets™ Reinforcement Videos
Short videos from Dr. Steve designed to reinforce key ideas and keep the learning alive after the webinar.

 

Opportunities for Reflection and Discussion
Questions and prompts participants can use individually or with colleagues and teams to continue the conversation.

 

EXPERIENCE 1: Understanding Human Behavior

Why We Do What We Do
Why do capable people sometimes think worse, communicate poorly, and behave unlike themselves under pressure? This session introduces the foundational concepts of the HERO Performance Lab™, including the Ancient Brain/Modern Brain framework, Behavioral Action Moments (BAMs), and the role of Reflection in improving performance.​

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Neuro Nuggets™

• Your Brain Is a Prediction Machine — How past experience helps the brain anticipate what’s happening now—and why those predictions aren’t always right.

• Your Brain Loves a Shortcut — Why mental shortcuts are necessary, how they help us navigate an impossibly complex world, and when they can lead us astray.

 

February 25, 2027

Meet Your Brain: Why We Do What We Do

Why do smart, well-intentioned people sometimes behave in ways that don’t make sense—even to themselves? Explore the brain’s automatic processes, mental shortcuts, and Dr. Steve’s Ancient Brain/Modern Brain framework to better understand some of the hidden forces shaping everyday behavior. Participants will leave with a new lens for understanding their own reactions—and why becoming more aware of what’s happening beneath the surface is an important first step toward showing up better.

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Neuro Nuggets™

• Your Brain Is a Prediction Machine — How past experience helps the brain anticipate what’s happening now—and why those predictions aren’t always right.

• Your Brain Loves a Shortcut — Why mental shortcuts are necessary, how they help us navigate an impossibly complex world, and when they can lead us astray.

 

March 25, 2027

The Human Need to Belong: Why Inclusion Matters

Belonging isn’t simply something that’s nice to have. The need to belong is a powerful human motivation that influences how we think, feel, and behave. Explore what happens when people experience belonging, what can happen when belonging is threatened, and how seemingly small everyday interactions can strengthen—or weaken—someone’s sense of inclusion.

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April 29, 2027

The Power of Reflection & the Stories We Tell Ourselves

We don’t simply experience what happens around us. We interpret it—and often do so quickly and outside our awareness.

Explore how Reflection can help us slow down long enough to recognize the assumptions, interpretations, and stories shaping our reactions.

Because sometimes changing what happens next begins with becoming curious about the story we’re telling ourselves.

 

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EXPERIENCE 2: Building Better Human Connections​

The Science of Relationships

Understanding people is one thing. Building better relationships with them is another.

 

June 24, 2027

The Empathy Gap​
We like to think we’re pretty good at understanding other people. The science suggests it’s much harder than we think.

Explore why perspective-taking can be especially difficult when people have different experiences, identities, beliefs, or points of view—and how curiosity, humility, and empathy can help us better understand the people around us.

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July 22, 2027

Trust: Built in Moments - Broken in Moments
Trust isn’t built only through grand gestures. It develops through the small interactions that happen every day. Explore the psychology of trust and the behaviors that signal whether others can rely on us, be open with us, and take interpersonal risks around us. Participants will consider the everyday moments that strengthen trust—and the seemingly small behaviors that can quietly undermine it.

 

August 26, 2027

Psychological Safety: Beyond the Buzzword

Psychological safety has become one of the most talked-about ideas in today’s workplace—and one of the most misunderstood.

Explore what psychological safety really means, what it doesn’t mean, and why it matters. Participants will examine the everyday behaviors that make it easier—or harder—for people to ask questions, acknowledge mistakes, challenge ideas, disagree, and speak up when it matters.

 

EXPERIENCE 3: Navigating the Human Side of Work
Showing Up Better When Matters Most
Understanding human behavior becomes especially important when situations become difficult.

 

October 28, 2027

Focus in a Distracted World: Protecting attention in an age of interruption

Attention has become one of the most valuable resources in modern life. This session explores distraction, dopamine-driven behaviors, attention fatigue, and practical strategies for improving focus and mental clarity.

 

Neuro Nuggets™

• Dopamine and Distraction

• Attention Is a Competitive Advantage

 

November 18, 2027

High Performance in the Age of AI: Why human skills matter more as technology advances

As AI becomes more capable, deeply human skills become more valuable. This session explores adaptability, judgment, communication, emotional intelligence, and why human behavior still matters in an increasingly technological world.

Neuro Nuggets™

• AI Can’t Replace This

• Human Skills in an AI World

 

December 9, 2027

(Special Year-End Session)

The Year You Became Different: Reflection, integration, and designing the next version of yourself

Growth is often difficult to see while it is happening. This final session focuses on reflection, behavioral consistency, identity change, and carrying the lessons of the year forward intentionally.

 

Neuro Nuggets™

• Why Growth Is Hard to Notice

• Reps Over Time

 

Quarterly Ask Dr. Steve Sessions™

In addition to the monthly webinars, participants will also engage in four live Ask Dr. Steve Sessions™ throughout the year. These sessions provide opportunities for:

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• open discussion

• practical application

• Q&A

• organizational challenges

• real-world problem solving

• deeper exploration of Academy concepts

 

The HERO Performance Lab™ Difference

The HERO Performance Lab™ is not simply a webinar series.

It is an ongoing, practice-based learning experience designed to help people better understand:

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• how humans behave under pressure

• why performance breaks down

• how relationships shape outcomes

• and how awareness, reflection, and practice improve consistency over time

 

Because high performance is not just about doing more. It is about becoming harder to derail when life gets difficult.

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