Tips for choosing the right motivational speaker to inspire your team

We love our athletes and those whose exploits inspire us to excel in our business and personal lives. But how do you choose the right speaker for your next annual meeting? How do you inspire AND create a real impact that will produce results after the event?

Every year, I rub shoulders with event planners, top executives and a whole host of players in the world of corporate events. Here are four key principles I’ve learned over the course of my speaking career.

Choose a message, not an achievement.

A conference can easily entertain, but you’ll get tangible results with powerful, relevant messages. Resist the temptation to invite a freshly medaled athlete without substance, and make sure you always validate the messages that will be shared.

Look for a speaker who shares what they’ve learned, not what they’ve done.

Every member of the audience will be asking: What’s in it for me? What are the simple lessons I can take back to my home or office? How can I use what is shared with me in my own career? Being a speaker means giving.

Look for concrete lessons that are transferable to your industry.

A message is powerful if it’s relevant. Compare the backgrounds and key messages of the few speakers you’re considering for your event. Identify the one that offers the best parallels with your industry, your meeting theme and the challenges facing your organization.

The magic happens before the conference. The desired impact is always achieved through collaboration between the company and the speaker. Choose a speaker who wants to get involved, increase his or her understanding of your organization, and who will work with you beforehand to adapt his or her message to your realities and challenges. In short, look for a speaker who’s committed to working as hard as you are!