SEAL Inc.
847.394.9857
stinnish@ameritech.net
Innovative meetings occur where there is a good match between speakers, topic, your requirements/needs, desired outcome and the setting with a twist of the right chemistry.
The best speakers create in audiences the desire to change, the confidence to act, and the knowledge or tools to succeed. Speakers can impact people’s:
• Attitudes (how they feel)
• Knowledge (what they know)
• Actions (what they can or will do)
Before even previewing or considering a single speaker, be clear on your objectives for hiring a speaker. “Because we always have a keynote speaker.” is not a good reason to hire a speaker again this year.
Clarify why you want to hire a speaker. Select speakers who will deliver the outcomes you want/need. Some common objectives include the desire to:
• Entertain (change how they feel)
• Motivate (change how they feel)
• Promote a cause or organization (change how they feel and what they know)
• Educate (change what they know; perhaps what they do)
• Shift behavior (change what they do)
Many other sources (including speaker bureaus) offer checklists that cover logistics, legal issues and also content. This checklist is intended to help you hire a speaker who is the best match with your meeting. This checklist of 20 questions will help you create an innovative meeting.
Checklist for Innovative Meetings
1. What size of a group do you work with?
2. What level of people do you work with?
3. Are we an attractive audience for you? Why? Most top speakers don’t accept every engagement even if they are available. They select audiences with whom they have the greatest chance of success.
4. How would you characterize your “style” of speaking?
5. What is your focus? Are you more of a “special event” speaker? Do you focus on keynotes? Do you offer ongoing, long-term training as well? Most speakers operate a three-pronged business: Keynoting, workshops and consulting.
6. Do you specialize by topic or industry?
7. How long is your “typical” program?
8. How do we make sure your program works?
9. What will you do to make your message relevant to our group?
10. How will you create an empathetic connection with the audience?
11. How will you create involvement and interactivity? Professional speaker Patricia Gardner says “People don’t want to listen to a lecturer.” That requires speakers to use techniques and tactics that involve the audience.
12. What will you do to finish on time?
13. How can you help us promote this meeting?
14. What else do we get when hiring you?
Some options include:
• Deliver one or two “breakout sessions” or a spouse program
• Introduce other speakers
• Emcee the event that they are part of
• Host a book signing
• Meet and greet at a reception
• Coach other internal speakers either in advance or on-site
• Moderate a panel
• Sign autographs
• Appear in the sponsor’s booth to increase the value of their sponsorship
15. What are the pros and cons of having you speak to our organization more than once?
16. Will you customize your program for our organization? Content, titles, introductions, props and visuals are areas that can be customized? For example, your organization’s name, logo, and meeting theme can be incorporated in the handout.
17. What type of pre-program research do you conduct?
18. Do you provide handout masters and/or finished handouts? Who pays for the handouts?
19. How do you accommodate hearing and sight impaired audience members (i.e., Handouts in Braille, audio tapes, etc.)?
20. Will you be accessible to all attendees before and after the event?
Ultimately when narrowing down your selection, ask yourself these questions to help guide your decision:
1. Have I considered a widely-diversified group of potential speakers? Does the pool of speakers address the type of diversity in my audience?
2. Do I have a match between Content (topic), Style (delivery), and the Call to Action (outcomes)?
3. Is the speaker entertaining as well as informative?
4. How does our location/site influence our selection of a speaker and that speaker’s success? How will a rugged, individualist speaker play in a tony, urban 4-star property? Can I use our site to help build a theme or thread running throughout the meeting?
Does the speaker have verifiable references that increase my comfort?
These questions will help you get a great match between your speakers, topic, requirements/needs, desired outcome and the setting while maximizing that all important twist of chemistry.