CREATED BY RICH “TRIGGER” BONTRAGER
The H.E.A.R.T. Method™
A Leadership Communication Framework People Don’t Just Hear—They Feel
The H.E.A.R.T. Method™ is a proprietary leadership communication framework created by Rich “Trigger” Bontrager, America’s Leadership Broadcaster™. Built from more than 35 years of professional broadcasting and communication experience, it helps leaders build trust, strengthen human connection, and communicate with greater clarity and confidence—through every conversation, camera, and stage.
New to camera-first leadership? Learn what it means and why it has become an essential communication skill for today’s leaders.
BROADCAST-TESTED LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION
Built Through the
Broadcaster's Lens™
The H.E.A.R.T. Method™ grew from Rich “Trigger” Bontrager’s experience communicating in television studios, radio control rooms, sports broadcasts, media interviews, keynote presentations, and high-stakes leadership conversations.
In those environments, words are only part of the message. Preparation, timing, emotional intention, vocal delivery, body language, and audience awareness all influence whether people understand the message—and whether they trust the person delivering it.
Trigger brings those broadcast-tested disciplines into today’s leadership challenges, helping executives and teams communicate with authentic authority while creating stronger human connection.
This is more than presentation training. It is a human-centered approach to becoming the kind of communicator people understand, trust, and want to follow.
What Does H.E.A.R.T. Mean?
Five Principles.
One Human-Centered Framework.
H.E.A.R.T. represents five communication principles that help leaders move beyond simply delivering information to creating clarity, connection, credibility, and trust.
Human Connection
Help people feel seen, heard, and valued. Human connection creates the relationship through which leadership messages are received.
Emotional Intention
Decide what people should feel before choosing what to say. Emotional intention aligns your words, voice, presence, and desired impact.
Authentic Authority
Communicate with confidence and credibility without sounding artificial or over-rehearsed. Authentic authority combines expertise with honesty and humanity.
Relatable Story
Turn information into meaningful stories, examples, and moments people recognize. Relatable stories make leadership messages easier to understand and remember.
Trust Through the Lens™
Create credibility and a human connection when communicating through a camera or screen. Trust grows when your message, voice, expression, and presence feel aligned.
Imagine what happens when
your leaders communicate
this way every day.
H.E.A.R.T. IN ACTION
When Leaders Change Their Communication... Organizations Change Their Culture.
The H.E.A.R.T. Method™ helps organizations:
• Build trust more intentionally
• Strengthen executive presence.
• Improve communication across teams
• Navigate change with greater confidence.
• Create stronger customer and employee relationships.
• Lead more effectively in today's digital-first world.
Leadership isn't measured by how clearly people hear you.
It's measured by how deeply people trust you.
Ready to see what the H.E.A.R.T. Method™
could do for your leaders?
Rich “Trigger” Bontrager
helps leaders understand
not only what they communicate, but how their preparation, intention, delivery, and presence shape
the way people respond.