Meetings: Guest Speakers
Guest speakers, also known as
Keynote speakers, can be a way to draw in an audience: Get their behinds in the seats and keep them
there. Nobody goes out of their way to
attend a boring meeting. Whether you
have a small meeting of 20 people or a huge event with 2,000, you may want to
consider inviting a guest speaker for your next event.
Consideration Criteria
However, first you need to decide
on one. Locating a good guest speaker
may seem like a daunting task at first, but it should not be that difficult if
you break it into its components. Here
are some of the things you should consider:
1) Relationship - Internal / Related / External
Decide if you want your
speaker to be drawn from someone inside your organization; someone that is
related in some way to your organization (vendor, family, industry); or someone
that is external and unrelated to the organization.
2) Style - Motivational / Expert / Humorous /
Celebrity
There are many different
styles of speaker to draw from.
Motivational speakers may not speak to a specific problem, but they can help
bring energy to a meeting and leave the attendees with enthusiasm when they
leave. Experts have specific knowledge
in a position or industry that they want to pass along to their attendees. Humorous speakers can make your meetings
happier and can boost morale; however off-color comments could be something to
watch out for. Celebrity speakers may be
motivational, expert, or humorous; but their biggest draw is their famous
status.
3) Budget
If you are looking at
Internal or Related speakers that you already have seen in larger group
settings, you may be able to find a good inexpensive speaker. However, External speakers can be a
risk. You sometimes get the speaker you
pay for. Free or cheap speakers can be a
great way to add some “bang” to your meeting, but they may also fizzle out. You should expect to pay higher rates for
higher quality speakers.
4) Schedule
How soon do you need
them? Some speakers may have other
speaking engagements, family events, or work conflicts. Try to schedule your guest as soon as
possible. You may want to have the
schedule of alternate speakers available too, in case your first choice becomes
unavailable.
These were just a few basic
criteria that you should consider in picking and deciding on a guest
speaker. Think about your organization. What other criteria might be important to you
in the speak at your next big meeting?
And remember all of you Human Resources
professionals: Be Human... Be a
Resource... Be a Resource for Humans.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post are by the author Trevor Stasik, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer or any other organization. Please note, this information is based on my understanding and is only to be used for informational and educational purposes. Do not take what I am writing as advice. Seek your own legal counsel and/or see a tax accountant before making business or personal decisions. The author of this post makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.
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