We've all been to a conference where a speaker has delivered a euphoric knock-out. After a short hour of new insights, you immediately want to go out and change the world, filled with immense energy. Do you recognize yourself?
A speaker at your event won't move mountains or fundamentally change attitudes. But the speaker can give a big push in a specific direction to reinforce a meeting's message, drive a change or create some other kind of new start.
Find the right lecturer for your event
In our industry, we meet many people who share thoughts, opinions, knowledge and experiences from their own lives. Some are full-blooded professionals and live almost exclusively on lecturing and inspiring. Others do it as a complement to research, writing, leadership and political work.
The price tag varies depending on the speaker. But keep in mind that it is not always the most famous speaker in a field who can deliver the best at your particular event.
We start from your purpose and goal of the event and make recommendations on speakers who will give you what you want.
What characterizes a good lecturer?
A good lecturer has identified the right content for the lecture. The message is crisp, to the point and impossible to misinterpret. If the lecture is too general, participants will not be as engaged. The content must feel relevant.
In addition to inspiring content, the lecture must also be entertaining. But here, the speaker needs to strike the right balance - sometimes some inspirational speakers tend to be too 'funny'. When the speaker is too focused on making the audience laugh, it is easy to lose the message.
A good lecturer is phenomenal at 'building' the lecture. There is a clear plan that aims to engage - from the beginning, through the lecture, to the end where you tie it up and leave the audience energized and enthusiastic. All speakers plan their beginning and their end, but not all have mastered the technique.
When we suggest speakers, we also look at how they use presentation tools. After all, very few lecturers are able to stand upside down on a stage without tools and still capture the audience's attention.
Powerpoint can be good, but it can also be very bad if you use it wrong. Lots of pictures can be good to illustrate and reinforce, but it can also be distracting. There are lecturers who make it easy for themselves and deliver slides on a conveyor belt, but the effect can be that they water down the message.
Speakers who understand the potential - and impact - of different presentation techniques elevate a lecture. Combining different tools, conventional and unconventional, can create a tremendous dynamic.
Some lecturers are good at interacting with their audience. They have the ability to make the experience a living performance rather than a lecture. The audience is transformed into participants and becomes part of the message.