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Chicago Speakers for Meetings and Conferences
By admin | November 20, 2006
Coach Mike Ditka, Speaker
Are you seeking a speaker for your next sales meeting, conference or corporate meeting?
National Speakers Bureau offers speakers for motivational and educational meetings in
Learning Curve: Develop Your Speaker Game Plan
Continuing Education for Meeting Professionals By Brian D. Palmer
The complexity of our days causes most of us to covet our time, which means meetings are scrutinized more closely than ever. Before a meeting, people are asking, “Do I really need to go?” And after attending, they ask, “Was it worth my time?”
Every part of a meeting needs to be closely tied to the objectives of the individual and the organization. Because speakers are often a prominent component of these gatherings, it’s important that you have a game plan in place for selecting an effective presenter.
Build A Bench
In team sports, a good coach has people he or she can depend on when the situation warrants. The players on the bench have developed their skills, and the coach knows right where they fit. If speakers are an important part of your responsibility, you might consider developing your own “speakers bench.”
Make it an ongoing process by continually seeking out prospects. If you know individuals who have attended a meeting recently, ask them if they heard any particularly effective speakers, and ask why they considered the speakers to be effective. The “why” will teach you about the speaker and the reviewer. You’ll learn about your co-workers’ or clients’ overall preferences and find out which ones can provide useful insights.
Take notes and be as specific as possible.
File this information away so you can be more effective in supporting and satisfying the clients’ future needs. Also, you may want to contact the speaker or his or her representative for additional information.
Establish A Framework
Just as a bench can add a level of professionalism and speed to your speaker selection process, so can developing a framework. Starting with the end in mind, have a clear picture of what you want to happen and how it will contribute to your organization’s objectives. This fosters a process that is more affirmative and more likely to tie closely to the intent of your event.
Ask your meeting stakeholders:
What is the session’s objective?
Is it the same objective for the event, and how do they tie together?
How does it tie into the organization’s overall objectives?
How do you want the speaker to participate in sessions other than the speech?
Use this feedback about past speakers to learn what your stakeholders like and dislike.
What’s In It For Me?
The No. 1 source of praise for speakers results from the way they related their comments to the specific event and audience. An effective, well-targeted speech can take an audience - and a meeting - to a new level.
Conversely, the No. 1 source of criticism of speakers centers on not accounting for the group, delivering a general or irrelevant presentation or, even worse, making insulting or offensive comments. A speaker must possess a systematic process for understanding the audience and event. Don’t just ask if he or she personalizes the presentation; ask how it’s done. When checking references, ask about the degree to which the presentation was personalized. Be specific when seeking references and ask to speak with organizers of the last two or three presentations the speaker has given.
Once your speakers are selected, tell them why they were chosen, even mentioning specific points they made previously. This will help get them on the right track in preparing for your event. You might also put them on a mailing list so they receive periodic information about your organization.
Be very clear up front about all the components of their participation, including fee, travel arrangements, ground transportation and meals.
The activities or sessions you want the speaker to participate in, as well as the particulars about delivering the speech, should all be part of the deal.
One of the key benefits of having an effective selection and preparation process is the signal it sends to your speakers. When they see how thoughtful and careful you are about selection and preparation, it inspires them to elevate their games, further improving the chance that they, your event and you will be a hit.
BRIAN D. PALMER is president of the National Speakers Bureau, where he has worked
for 23 years. He is also former president of the MPI Chicago Area Chapter and a former member of MPI’s International Board of Directors.
Topics: Tips from the Pros |