Remote control cars can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys! Versatile and exciting, these pint-sized cars and trucks can still race along at up to 70 miles per hour.
They also provide a diversion for those who want excitement that requires focus and attention to detail. That’s why many motivational speakers drive RC vehicles.
In fact, the paths of many RC enthusiasts and motivational speakers cross in a couple of ways because sooner or later, many RD drivers are going to be in a position to help select a motivational speaker for a meeting at their company or trade association.
Making sure that you pick exactly the right person to speak at your next meeting is never an easy task. In fact, at times it may feel like an impossible one.
But if you keep certain guidelines in mind, finding the right person can be a rewarding task. A good place to start is by understanding that people use different terms to describe different types of speakers.
Other keynote speakers – while they may have less marquee value – can deliver exceptional value to your audience. Think faculty or former faculty from major universities or authors of New York Times Bestsellers for this group. Tom Connellan is a good example of this category.Click here for information on Tom.
A motivational speaker is generally thought of as someone who gets the audience stirred up. Motivational speakers generally cover topics such as goal setting, positive thinking. Some motivational speakers simply cover well-known platitudes, others put a unique spin on them, and some have a powerful personal message they convey.A business speaker – at least a good one – focuses on one to three related topics. Be careful of someone who lists twenty topics as their “area of expertise”. In this category, look for speakers who have authored business books, have special expertise in some area, or are well-known for covering a particular topic.
A word of warning. Just because someone has written a book doesn’t mean they’re an expert. If you’re thinking of using someone, read their book. See if the material hangs together. Make sure the content is solid and fits with your overall business strategy. Once you’ve decided the content makes sense, then you can decide whether or not the individual is worth considering a someone you’d like to have make a presentation to your conference.
Breakout speakers usually handle concurrent sessions. Maybe there’s a keynote first thing in the morning and then a choice of several breakout sessions during the balance of the morning or even over the whole day. If you’re having breakout sessions, this is a good place to get added value from the individual who delivered the keynote. Perhaps they could also conduct a breakout session – either related to their keynote or on a separate topic. Not only does this save you money on travel and expenses, but can also save you money on fees. Many top-ranked speakers will add a breakout session to their general session presentation at a greatly reduced cost.
Breakout sessions, by their very nature, have fewer participants and tend to be more how-to in nature. There’s time for discussions along the way as well as questions and answers at the end.
Here are a few more hints to keep in mind.
Most keynote sessions seem to run from 60-75 minutes. Some keynote speakers can do a better job for you in 45 minutes and some can do a better job for you in 90 minutes. But here’s the key. Include the person delivering the keynote in the process. Make sure they understand your needs, your audience, and what you expect them to accomplish during the session. Then see what time frame they would recommend. Breakout sessions, on the other hand, are usually 75-90 minutes and have less time flexibility.
Chemistry is all important. Does the individual you have in mind deliver in a style that will match your audience? Will your participants feel understood by that individual? If not, you’re better off looking somewhere else.
It’s much like the people you run RC cars with. If they’re not fun – if the chemistry isn’t right, it doesn’t matter how much they know or how much they can teach you, there’s just not a good fit. So make sure that the chemistry is right between those you’re considering as a motivational keynote speaker and the people who will be in attendance.
Some people can deliver a great presentation and simply don’t have the depth to answer a tough question – either at during a formal question and answer period or on an informal basis after the presentation. If that happens, it will call into question everything covered during the presentation. So to ensure a great total experience, make sure that whomever you select has substantial depth.
Many meeting planners insist on talking the person who will be delivering the speech before they make their final decision. With the exception of celebrities (who are generally too busy), that’s a wise thing to do. It will give you a feel for how that particular individual will fit with your particular group.
Think of it this way. Picking a speaker for your next meeting is a lot like deciding who should teach you about RC cars. You want someone who is knowledgeable, interesting to listen to, motivating, and keeps your attention. Pick a bad “coach” and you’re yawning. Pick a good one and you’re involved, motivated, and learning.
The bottom line is do your homework, ask around, ask for references, and work closely with whomever you select to make sure they’ll do the job for you. Then sit back and enjoy the presentation.
