audio close compressed excel CS_logo_icon_solid_yellow_alt Created with Sketch. x x image insta-black menu pdf Print BTN - Shortlist Created with Sketch. Share Asset 1 word
speaker

Steve
Simpson

Transforming workplace cultures

Transforming culture by exposing the rules you can’t see

Profile

For more than 30 years, Steve Simpson has been working with organisations across the world to help them boost performance and productivity by transforming workplace cultures.

Creator of the UGRs – unwritten ground rules – concept, Steve is an international speaker, author and consultant who has worked with the likes of McLaren Automotive and Next in the UK, Kmart Australia and New Zealand, SAP globally and Toyota Australia.

Steve is the author of two books including ‘UGRs: Cracking the Corporate Culture Code’. He is the co-author to a further three books, the latest being ‘A Culture Turned’. He has a Masters Degree from the University of Alberta, and was invited to undertake an Australian city lecture tour to co-present with Harvard University Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

Professional Speakers Australia recognised Steve’s achievements by awarding him two Hall of Fame Awards

Expertise
Talking Points

Culture and Performance: How UGRs Drive Results in Your Organisation

Every workplace has Unwritten Ground Rules (UGRs) that define how people truly operate day-to-day. These invisible rules, formed through perceptions and repeated behaviours, directly influence your team's performance. In this keynote, Steve Simpson will explore the critical connection between culture and performance, showing leaders how to identify and leverage UGRs to create a high-performing, engaged workforce that consistently achieves results.

Change Management and UGRs: The Key to Successful Transformation

Organisational change efforts often fail because they don’t account for the unspoken norms and behaviours—UGRs—that govern workplace culture. In this talk, Steve reveals how UGRs can either accelerate or derail change initiatives. Leaders will learn practical approaches to address these invisible rules, ensuring that their change efforts are embraced by employees and lead to lasting transformation, rather than short-term compliance.

Safety Culture and UGRs: Unlocking the Hidden Barriers to a Safer Workplace

Safety in the workplace is driven by more than just policies and procedures—it’s shaped by the underlying UGRs that dictate how safety is perceived and prioritised. In this keynote, Steve Simpson will uncover how these unseen rules affect safety behaviours and outcomes. He’ll offer leaders strategies to reshape UGRs, creating a culture where safety is not just a priority on paper but a reality embedded in every employee's actions.

Customer Service Excellence: How UGRs Shape the Way We Serve

Exceptional customer service is a result of more than training and policies—it’s about the culture behind the scenes. UGRs influence how teams approach customer interactions, often determining whether service is average or outstanding. In this keynote, Steve shows how organisations can identify and shift the UGRs that impact customer service, ensuring a culture that empowers employees to consistently deliver memorable, positive experiences to customers.
Media
Feedback
have no hesitation in ranking Steve Simpson as one of the best public speakers that I have ever encountered. His recent presentation on "Unwritten Ground Rules" at the Australian Institute of Building Surveyor's state conference was nothing short of excellent. His content was easy to understand, relevant and at times humorous. Further, his presentation skills kept the audience completely captivated and focused on the message being conveyed for the whole hour. I certainly hope that I get to experience another one of Steve's presentations in the not too distant future. City of Mandurah, Western Australia

Steve Simpson’s contribution to the Institute of Customer Service Conference was first-class: a stimulating, persuasive, convincing and valuably provocative overview of the unwritten ground rules which actually underpin the reality of corporate life.

Institute of Customer Service

Steve is a breath of fresh air as a presenter. He captivated and engaged the whole group at the recent Victorian Health Association Governance Conference in Melbourne. His approach to talking about and approaching the unwritten ground rules (UGRs) in organisations was both refreshing and genuine.

Bass Coast Health

Steve would have to be one of the most energetic and motivational speakers I have encountered. Not only is his subject matter relevant, delightfully insightful, incredibly well researched and fresh, his delivery is second to none. I can't wait to start working on our own UGRs. Thanks Steve.

TOLL IPEC

I attended a seminar recently at the Perth Concert Hall. One of the principal speakers was Steve Simpson whose presentation I considered to be one of the best that I have ever seen not only in Australia but around the world. I have no hesitation in saying that Steve Simpson is one of the best in the business. He is so impressive. I commend him highly.

Judge John Gotjamanos, Western Australia

I had the great pleasure of attending one of Steve's presentations last week at the European Customer Management Conference in London - I am so pleased that I chose his session. The UGRs concept has given me the key I have been searching for....the concept is simple, practical and engaging/humorous - it will certainly support me in driving the behavioural changes we seek. Steve was inspirational and of course the content of his talk was extremely thought provoking.... Thank you so much Steve you are certainly on my wave length...

Halifax Bank of Scotland

At this year's HDI Conference in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to attend Steve Simpson's workshop on "Unwritten Ground Rules." His presentation was a highlight of the conference. Steve's sense of humour, credibility, and subject matter gave me pages of notes to use in my own consulting and training. I would recommend Steve to anyone who needs to better understand the complicated, vital, and often-misunderstood world of corporate culture.

Kuni BMW-Cadillac-Saab

You've renewed my enthusiasm and I can't wait to get back to implement many of the suggestions made at the seminar. You have a unique speaking style, which I thoroughly enjoyed. You involve the audience and made us believe anything is possible and that we can each make a huge difference in our own way. You're clearly passionate about your subject and your enjoyment is palpable. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Latrobe City Council

I have been exposed to a large number of speakers on a wide range of customer service/management topics. Steve Simpson is a motivating, energetic, knowledgeable speaker who provided a very different slant on the usual topics with his UGR concept. I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation and have begun to focus on instilling positive UGRs with my team. Thanks Steve for an opportunity to re-energise and refresh my own approach.

Ansell

I was really impressed by your ability to command the audience's attention with humour as well as a profound knowledge of your subject. The concept of unwritten ground rules came alive with your examples and will remain as a key ingredient in all my work on company cultures.

Service Excellence Study Tours

Congratulations and thanks for an excellent presentation. I have attended many Customer Service type conferences - your presentation gave the subject plenty of humour, passion, experiences, knowledge and "The Journey Ahead". You kept your audience focused and engaged for the entire presentation. Very few speakers have those talents. I look forward to your next Conference.

Boral Plasterboard

Your research on UGRs and your ability to present your findings in such an informative and relaxed way have now made the task of cultural change so much easier. The beauty of your work is that it can, and should, be shared with every member of the organisation. Everyone's accountable and can't help but take ownership of the impact their individual actions have on the true culture of their organisation. Great stuff.

Greg Taylor, LJ Hooker

After sitting through hours of dry information fed to us by PowerPoint presentations and pie charts, it was a breath of fresh air when the guest speaker, Steve Simpson, bounded to the podium with an energy that had the whole room responding to him. A good mix of humour, information and audience interaction made sure that Steve's presentation on UGRs was the one we were all talking about at the post-function drinks.

Deanne Howard, Cadden Crowe

I can only pen the too often used phrase that a light was turned on after hearing your presentation - which was fantastic both in content and delivery from yourself.

Steve Murakami, Bullivants NT

I was fortunate to attend a customer's function recently where Steve Simpson was the guest speaker... Steve's ability and skill to immediately snatch our attention with an exciting presentation style, full of movement, tone and excitement which obviously his natural effervescent style, had us all enthralled in UGRs. Steve is passionate about UGRs and was able to impart the same enthusiasm to the audience as many attendees were discussing UGRs well into the social session at the conclusion of the day.

N Tippett, State Manager (SA & NT), SFK Australia

To say that I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation on Friday is an understatement. How wonderful to put a name to Corporate Culture with UGRs. I am sure that everyone who had the pleasure of listening to your very captivating and inspiring presentation will put their business to the UGRs test to see how they rate and make some changes to their organisational culture if necessary. UGRs apply to every business so your presentation was very appropriate to reach a wide cross sector. I know I have become wiser for having the privilege of listening to you and hope its not in the too distant future that I again have the opportunity.

Fay Miller MLA, Member for Katherine

Many thanks for a great session. Your presentation was alive and valuable. One of our key challenges in growing an organisation in the UK is the ability to sustain the culture and I have already spoken to two of our General Managers about UGRs and their affect on our culture. Thank you.

Carole Hunt, Sunrise Assisted Living, UK

Steve Simpson is an excellent presenter. He combines great energy and enthusiasm with a strong relevance to the subject matter. His punchy style mixes humour with hard cutting facts that ease the learning process for his audience.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Scotland

Steve's talk captured my attention from the start and the concept of UGR's really rang true. I rushed off after his talk to buy his book from the bookstall - and he was the only speaker who had that effect! We have already started using the concept within my team

Brenda Klug, Virgin Trains, UK

I knew, when I read the conference brief that Steve would be brilliant and I wasn't disappointed! The room was packed and he delivered an enthusiastic, funny and informative presentation. I've already talked to a company about their UGRs and they've found lots which hold them back. Excellent!

Wales Quality Centre

One of the highlights for me of the 2003 conference was Steve Simpson's session " Strategies to Create a Culture of Service: The Unwritten Ground Rules". Steve's ability to combine a practical perspective on developing corporate culture with his excellent presentational skills made this a memorable session.

Social Security Agency, Belfast, Ireland

I had the great pleasure of attending one of Steve's presentations last week at the European Customer Management Conference in London - I am so pleased that I chose his session. The UGRs concept has given me the key I have been searching for....the concept is simple, practical and engaging/humorous - it will certainly support me in driving the behavioural changes we seek. Steve was inspirational and of course the content of his talk was extremely thought provoking.... Thank you so much Steve you are certainly on my wave length...

Karen E Berry, Halifax Bank of Scotland

I was really impressed by your ability to command the audience's attention with humour as well as a profound knowledge of your subject. The concept of unwritten ground rules came alive with your examples and will remain as a key ingredient in all my work on company cultures.

Service Excellence Study Tours, UK
Let us know

and we'll send all the latest Saxton updates and news direct to your inbox
Thanks, you have been subscribed
View Shortlist