Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
| The New Meaning of Motivation |
For planners who are in charge of putting together concise, productive convention and trade show itineraries, booking a keynote speaker is the least of their worries, and not just because there’s a wealth of big-name entities in Las Vegas to choose from. The decision and the thought process behind the choice seems simple enough; after all, with the help of a speaker’s bureau representative, planners can find an “engaging,” “entertaining,” and “motivational” speaker without having to do any extensive research. Or is the process really that simple? And if it is, should it be?
Most planners have been to a networking industry event and have met a ton of public speakers that are eager to book another gig. The glossy cards that accumulate in desk drawers by the dozen all tout their representative with the same familiar moniker: John Doe, Motivational Speaker. Just what, though, needs motivating? It’s a question planners are beginning to ask themselves with more and more frequency.
The economy is said to be steadily improving. That’s a debatable observation. What’s for certain is that the budget constraints of the last few years have caused planners to second guess every aspect of their spending. And that’s not a bad thing. Why spend more when you can spend less, especially when you’re achieving the same end result? The same budget-conscious approach is being used in assessing public speaker needs.
Many planners often forget that a motivational speaker doesn’t necessarily equal an informative keynote speaker. Motivational speakers address the audience with the goal to uplift, inspire and, well, motivate. However, more often than not motivational speakers are grouped under the category of “soft speakers.” They usually have no experience in the industry that is hosting the event and they usual format their presentations in a series of generalizations and abstractions. Personal wellness and how to set life goals are popular topics for motivational addresses. In other words, there’s not going to be much ROI benefits from a speaker whose main point involves how to keep a smile on your face for the duration of the work day.
So if motivational speakers are out, then what’s in? For starters, don’t be afraid to look inside of your own talent pool. If you’re working in a specific industry, then chances are you know someone (or someone who knows of someone else) who has a story worth telling. Even if they don’t have any memorable anecdotal material to work with, they definitely have a perspective worth listening to. It puts the audience at ease when they see one of their own standing on the stage and addressing them as equals. Having a friend on the program is sure to boost attendance as well, erasing any worries of losing audience interest during the keynote address.
Corporate America is a tough terrain to conquer, so never underestimate the grit of the average business professional. They are adept at taking criticism and the best of the best are open to constructive assessments of their work. They don’t need motivating; the drive to succeed is already there. What they do want is direction, honest feedback and a sense of camaraderie that everyone in the room is moving towards an ultimate goal. So why not bring in a higher level executive onto the podium, someone whose job it is to evaluate the performance of the general audience?
If that sounds like a misfire waiting to happen, think again. It took work for that executive to get to that position. He/she knows the ins and outs of their industry like few other people would, not to mention the fact that they were once sitting in the same seats as their audience, both literally and figuratively. Hearing veterans of the business speak can be a truly moving experience, and rest assured, no one is going to put as much thought into their address as a seasoned executive. They have the interests of their company at heart, so naturally encouraging attendees to put their best foot forward is going to be at the top of their agenda.
However, planners shouldn’t hesitate to steer the direction of the speech. Make sure that the speaker touches on some of the positive aspects of the audience’s performance. No one likes to be lectured to, but everyone loves to hear what they’ve been doing right. By letting attendees know that, overall, they’re on the right track, they’ll be more inclined to take constructive criticism and utilize the main points to maximize their future efforts.
Most planners have been to a networking industry event and have met a ton of public speakers that are eager to book another gig. The glossy cards that accumulate in desk drawers by the dozen all tout their representative with the same familiar moniker: John Doe, Motivational Speaker. Just what, though, needs motivating? It’s a question planners are beginning to ask themselves with more and more frequency.
The economy is said to be steadily improving. That’s a debatable observation. What’s for certain is that the budget constraints of the last few years have caused planners to second guess every aspect of their spending. And that’s not a bad thing. Why spend more when you can spend less, especially when you’re achieving the same end result? The same budget-conscious approach is being used in assessing public speaker needs.
Many planners often forget that a motivational speaker doesn’t necessarily equal an informative keynote speaker. Motivational speakers address the audience with the goal to uplift, inspire and, well, motivate. However, more often than not motivational speakers are grouped under the category of “soft speakers.” They usually have no experience in the industry that is hosting the event and they usual format their presentations in a series of generalizations and abstractions. Personal wellness and how to set life goals are popular topics for motivational addresses. In other words, there’s not going to be much ROI benefits from a speaker whose main point involves how to keep a smile on your face for the duration of the work day.
So if motivational speakers are out, then what’s in? For starters, don’t be afraid to look inside of your own talent pool. If you’re working in a specific industry, then chances are you know someone (or someone who knows of someone else) who has a story worth telling. Even if they don’t have any memorable anecdotal material to work with, they definitely have a perspective worth listening to. It puts the audience at ease when they see one of their own standing on the stage and addressing them as equals. Having a friend on the program is sure to boost attendance as well, erasing any worries of losing audience interest during the keynote address.
Corporate America is a tough terrain to conquer, so never underestimate the grit of the average business professional. They are adept at taking criticism and the best of the best are open to constructive assessments of their work. They don’t need motivating; the drive to succeed is already there. What they do want is direction, honest feedback and a sense of camaraderie that everyone in the room is moving towards an ultimate goal. So why not bring in a higher level executive onto the podium, someone whose job it is to evaluate the performance of the general audience?
If that sounds like a misfire waiting to happen, think again. It took work for that executive to get to that position. He/she knows the ins and outs of their industry like few other people would, not to mention the fact that they were once sitting in the same seats as their audience, both literally and figuratively. Hearing veterans of the business speak can be a truly moving experience, and rest assured, no one is going to put as much thought into their address as a seasoned executive. They have the interests of their company at heart, so naturally encouraging attendees to put their best foot forward is going to be at the top of their agenda.
However, planners shouldn’t hesitate to steer the direction of the speech. Make sure that the speaker touches on some of the positive aspects of the audience’s performance. No one likes to be lectured to, but everyone loves to hear what they’ve been doing right. By letting attendees know that, overall, they’re on the right track, they’ll be more inclined to take constructive criticism and utilize the main points to maximize their future efforts.
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