Sourcing an
Inspirational Speaker
In the third sector , event organisers are faced with particularly finite resources when it comes to top-quality speakers whose skills are in high demand for a wealth of valuable causes . It is important , therefore , that those operating in the nonprofit arena understand how to achieve the most from a speaker they hire , rather than fixating on how to minimise costs .
They often say that a keynote speaker can have a large impact on an event and in some cases they are pivotal to the proceedings , especially when there is an important message to deliver or staff to be motivated . Choosing the right person is a potential minefield where sometimes even the simplest factor can be overlooked amongst the multiple considerations of running an event . Here are our top tips to ensure that you source the right speaker for your event .
Ask for advice The success of an event and potentially significant expenditure often hinges on the speaker quality as such , independent advice should be seen as a necessity rather than a burden .
Define success It ’ s really important to single out what you hope to achieve from the speaker you book . Is it to motivate attendees to get behind a key message or is it to spark debate over thought provoking content ? Different speakers have different talents ; having a clear understanding of your own objectives and goals will help secure a person who really communicates your company ’ s or charity ’ s message to the audience .
Audience awareness Take stock of the audience demographic . This ranges from audience numbers , gender splits , age ranges , job roles , even seniority and other nuanced factors like attention span and energy levels . These discussions will help define how upbeat or reflective the speaker should be and potentially the type of speech that needs to be delivered .
Contextualise the event An event should not revolve around the prestige of the speaker . They need to fit seamlessly into the flow and above all be relevant to the occasion . Sometimes it can be all too easy to become star struck and lose sight of the main reason for booking a speaker . What is happening overall should be a critical part of the type of speaker sourced .
Full details required Go into as much detail as possible . It ’ s not just about telling the speaker a time and expecting them to turn up . Bookers also need to consider whether the speaker is to socialise with the delegates , if there will be a Q & A session as well as if the speech will be recorded . It sounds so simple but it ’ s easy to overlook even the most obvious factors . Providing a detailed brief will maximise value by seeing how to use the speaker to their best advantage in relation to your event .
Nick Gold , Managing Director , Speakers Corner https :// www . speakerscorner . co . uk /
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