About Robert Grayson
Robert Grayson is an American-born counsellor, personal development facilitator and performer who brings a passion for helping people to everything he does.
Through the many facets of his professional life, including his Captivating Communications workshops, his private practice and corporate coaching, stand-up comedy workshops and public performances as a comedian, MC and musician, Robert seeks to touch people in a meaningful way. He sees himself as a mirthful self-actualisation catalyst.
“As a kid growing up in New York amidst the mayhem of dysfunctionality, how was I supposed to know mine was just a typical Long Island Jewish family? Because from where I hid it seemed like… well let’s put it this way … there was room for improvement!”
His less-than-idyllic childhood gave Robert a life-long fascination about what facilitates change and growth in systems and in individuals.
“I looked at my family and saw the potential of how it could be and that vision drives me today,” Robert said. “In facilitating change, either in myself or in others, change for change’s sake is more or less meaningless. It’s really about helping people evolve and grow, to self-actualise into all they can be.”
Approach
In his work Robert creates an environment of safety, compassion and acceptance as a starting point for all growth, while at the same time upholding the high standards of people’s ultimate potential.
Robert believes that as our professional and personal lives become more competitive, it naturally demands that we be more of ourselves – more present, connected and authentic in all our dealings. This naturally yields better work interactions, interpersonal relationships, better quality of life as well as net bottom-line outcomes.
“I have a talent for identifying people’s blind spots and gently making them aware. It’s a wonderful part of my work when people have breakthroughs and feel enlivened by letting go of inefficient ways of relating and/or reclaiming parts of themselves. I am often asking people to face their greatest fears and in the process they become more fully aware of just how powerful they are and just how deep their inner resources go.
Humour
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
“Once people learn how to captivate their audiences I really enjoy taking them to the next step and teaching people how to use humour effectively in their communications and to laugh more every day. There is no better salesperson than a stand-up comic and certainly no better medicine than laughter. In many situations in life you have a choice to laugh or cry. Laughter is always the best choice.
Background
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956, Robert graduated from North Shore High School in Glen Head, Long Island, and then attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He moved to Australia in 1983 and his studies since have included Counselling and Psychotherapy at CRE (Creative Resources & Education) in Sydney and at the Pasadena Institute for Relationships Therapy (Sydney). He is currently finishing postgraduate studies at The Australian College of Applied Psychology, after which he will be expanding his private practice for individuals and corporate coaching, while specialising in relationship therapy.
In his music career Robert has worked with the cream of Australia’s popular music talent, from Savage Garden to Slim Dusty. His industry awards include three Golden Guitars with country legends, the Flying Emus. Robert is an ARIA-nominated comedian and has appeared with some of Australia’s most renowned comedians, including Carl Barron, Peter Berner, Akmal Saleh and Kitty Flanagan.