9 Ways To Help Your Speaker Make A Great First Impression
?Sylvie di Giusto?
International 3D Immersive Holographic Keynote Speaker ?? Emotional Intelligence for Sales and Leadership ?? Helping professionals make intentional choices to sell faster, leader better and persuade instantly
No matter if you are a member of the C-Suite, an association executive, the head of one of your company’s divisions or a meeting professional, if you are responsible for your next annual meeting or conference, you know that evaluating and finding the right speaker can be an intense process and is an important decision you have to make.
And while you and your team might immediately move on coordinating details with venue partners and sponsors, or handling budget issues and agenda items, it’s easy to forget that preparing and arming your speaker with everything needed to set them up for great success should stay a top priority. Is that really your job you ask? Well, while it’s certainly the speaker's responsibility to prepare and deliver prior, it will truly pay off off in the success of your event if you team up and make sure your speaker is equipped with everything needed to make the best impression possible on your audience from the very first moment:
1. Help us understand your overall goal
While our time together might be limited on the day of your event, you and your organization probably have an overall goal in mind that goes far beyond the event date. Helping your speaker understand what it is and how this particular event plays a role within this overall strategy gives us the opportunity to adjust our messaging and deliver exactly what your attendees needed to know in order to achieve this goal.
2. Give us a full rundown of the event
While speakers often get contracted for just a short period of time, the 30, 60 or 90 minutes we may present at your event prior to or past other presentations. By sharing information about the other presenters and their topics, or by even making introductions to each other, we can work on smooth transitions that make it look like we have planned all the details and crafted a red thread,... which we did.
3. Tell us everything –and then much more– about the audience
The more we know about your attendees the better we can deliver an impactful program for them. Not just the numbers, and titles and positions. Instead, what are their latest wins and worries? Are there specific terms we can use to address them better; or is there language we should avoid at all? How does their daily work life look like? Are there corporate heroes can refer to? What went well at past events and what could have gone better? What do they expect to learn? What is the level of knowledge they have about the topic? To connect with your audience, we need to understand why our topic is important to them.
4. Help us look good, yes literally, look good.
Looking good starts long before your event because every professional speaker should have a meeting planner packet filled with headshots to choose from, well-thought-out bios and descriptions and everything you need to announce your picture-perfect speaker to your guests. The pictures your team finds on the internet from unqualified sources might just not be the best way to introduce us to your crowd. Also, by sharing the attendees’ dress code at your event, you can help us pack the perfect pieces and adjust our wardrobe for the event. No, some speakers will never show up in a suit and others won’t wear jeans and cowboy boots. However, a great speaker respects the clients' corporate culture and tries to come as far as possible your way by not losing his or her unique personal style. There are many more practical reasons why we appreciate any information on this. How does the stage look like? What’s the backdrop’s color? Will there be video recording? Whether you are doing a multiple cameras shoot or streaming a live web broadcast, under beautiful chandeliers or cold blue LED lighting, let us know in advance, so we know what to pack.
5. Help us avoid any logistical hiccups
It takes a village to run one event for you. Your speaker, however, might be part of several this week. And while every speaker is responsible to get from A to B, in the heat of the moment, you’d want to avoid any hiccups caused by miscommunication. Together with your team try to double-check if everyone involved has the same hotel information, travel details, stage times, check-in and check-out details, phone numbers, directions and much more. “I want to come late…” said no speaker ever.
6. Allow us to work closely with the AV Team
The A/V Team are our secret ninjas – the people we need when microphones don’t work, videos don’t play sound, slide decks are cut off, batteries aren't fully charged. Because of how specialized and complex today’s technology is and the specific terms and language that comes along with it, miscommunication is inevitable. However, for a lot of technical issues, there are simple things we can do to prevent them or at least reduce the likelihood of their happening. If you allow us to connect with your AV Team early enough we can figure out adapters and dongles, transmitters and receivers, bandwidth and frequency and avoid the biggest headaches.
7. Ask us how we'd like to be introduced
" Diva, huh?" is what you are thinking? Well, for many it is “just an introduction” and who would even care? For speakers, however, it’s a crucial element of their performance and simply sets the tone before they have a chance to say a word themselves. Sometimes the introducer might not be prepared and simply stumble a few words. Other times the introducer might share something he or she found during their research, which was meant to be a surprise or important point during our presentations. If you are working with an experienced and professional speaker, chances are high that they offer you a well-written and well-thought-out introduction with the goal to generate enthusiasm and interest and highlight why you have chosen this speaker for your event.
8. Help me connect with your audience beyond the ballroom
Social Media has become a crucial part of your event marketing and so it is of any speaker's daily life. The more you share about your social media strategy and the profiles, handles, hashtags involved, the better we can engage with your audience, respond to their questions, start new conversations, provide content and insights, or promote your event beyond the ballroom.
9. Agree to a debrief call
Our work is never done – not even when the event itself is over. Just as important as getting all the details right before your event, there is a gift you can give us after the event: valuable feedback. It allows us to streamline our process, to improve our content and to enhance every future attendee's experience. And who knows? Possibly this conversation is the next step to further cement your relationship with the speaker and plan on future events that will again hit the mark for you, your audience and us – the speakers.
Thank you for the gift of allowing us to be part of your events and your professional world. Speaking at your events is a privilege and many of us know that getting to that moment of standing on the stage, ready to begin, required the hard work of an entire team of C-Suite or association executives, meeting professionals, AV teams, venue staff and YOU. Thank you. I appreciate you.
Keynote speaker and corporate trainer Sylvie di Giusto, CSP takes audiences around the world on an entertaining and engaging journey that reveals how others perceive them and thus perceive the value of their abilities, their services or their company.
Helping LinkedIn Close The Skills Gap Through Sales Excellence
5 年Erikan Obotetukudo
5. Observe and Adapt to Others Observing and adapting to the way others communicate can increase your success in making a positive first impression. By tactfully reflecting the other person’s eye contact, body language, and tone of voice, you become more relatable and help the other person feel more relaxed. This technique is often referred to as “mirroring” or “mimicking” and is something people often do subconsciously. For example, if you are being interviewed by someone who is speaking in a softer tone, avoid overpowering or drowning out the other person by speaking too loudly. You will appear more approachable by being aware of others and adapting your style of communication to theirs. As you follow these tips, you will be able to present yourself in a positive and professional manner. Remember, it only takes a fraction of a second for others to make up their mind about you, so make it count.
4. Smile and Make Proper Eye Contact Facial expressions are a key element to making a first impression in person. Smiling, for example, is a friendly way to connect with others, break the ice, and influence how others perceive you and remember your attitude. Employers hire people they like and can easily get along with. Eye contact is another cue that others will instantly notice. In many cultures, good eye contact expresses trust, confidence, interest, understanding, and a mutual connection between two individuals. However, the respectful amount of eye contact varies among different cultures. Be sensitive to these differences in all forms of your communication.
3. Control Your Voice and Listen The tone and volume of your voice can often say much more about you than the actual words you speak. Be confident in your tone, and maintain a volume appropriate to your environment. Speak up if you know your voice doesn’t carry, and practice saying your “Me in 30 Seconds” and power statements so that you can clearly communicate when meeting someone new. Avoid using filler words such as um and like, and remember to speak calmly and at a speed that others can understand, especially during phone interviews and conference calls. This helps those who are listening since they don’t have the context of your presence to help with visual communication cues. Be comfortable with silence and find an appropriate balance between listening and speaking. Practice reflective listening techniques in which you first seek to understand a speaker’s idea, and then relay the idea back to the speaker in order to confirm that you correctly understood him or her.
2. Maintain Your Appearance “One cannot not communicate,” according to communication theorist Paul Watzlawick in his book Pragmatics of Human Communication ([1967], 30). Everything about you sends some kind of message, and your appearance is often one of the first things others will notice. Always dress the part, especially at job interviews and networking events. Research the dress code beforehand and match your appearance to the company or industry culture. For example, if you are interviewing for a position in with outdoor recreation management, then a suit and tie might not be the best choice for your interview. If you are unsure about what to wear, a general guideline is to dress a step above the dress code of the company. Remember that appearance is much more than what you wear; it also includes your posture, personal hygiene, use of jewelry and makeup, environment, and behavior. Make sure these things aren’t a distraction and that they add to your overall appearance. Think about it this way: if someone asked you to describe yourself, what would you say? Every aspect of your appearance should communicate those same characteristics. In video interviews, be attentive to your surroundings. Consider the environment of the area within sight and sound of the web camera, such as what is hanging on the walls, exterior noises, and the cleanliness of the room.