Hiring a motivational speaker can be a great way to fire up your employees and help them grow outside of their comfort zones. However, it’s critical that you hire someone who will provide a relatable story and not waste their time with simple platitudes that mean nothing to them. If you’re spending the money on a motivational speaker, make sure it’s someone who will resonate with your employees. Let’s take a closer look at some of the things to look for and avoid when hiring someone to speak to your people.
Do Find Someone Who Has Professional Experience
The person you hire to speak at your next conference or retreat doesn’t have to be someone who has experience in your industry. Of course, this person should have experience in some sort of professional setting. For example, you could hire a former football player to talk about the importance of working as a team.
Alternatively, you could hire a former office manager to talk to your factory personnel about the importance of workplace safety. Ultimately, having experience in a workplace setting makes it easier to create a narrative that your people can relate to on some level.
Don’t Hire Someone Who Hasn’t Faced Adversity
There are few things worse than being forced to listen to someone talk about all the great things that he or she has accomplished. One of those things might be to hear someone talk about those accomplishments without also hearing about the obstacles overcome on the path to success. Ideally, you’ll refrain from hiring someone who was simply handed a large company to run or came from a family who had enough money to allow your speaker to buy their success.
Do Find Out If the Speaker is Selling Merchandise
Speakers often take gigs as a method of promoting their books, courses, or other products. In such a scenario, you should consult your company handbook, legal department, or other resources to determine if you should hire someone who sees a speaking event as a marketing opportunity. You may also want to ask your workers whether a given speaker would be seen as objectionable based on what they are selling. Ultimately, you have the final say as to whether you think the time and money spent on finding and paying your preferred speaker is worth what you’re getting.
Don’t Forget to Check With Speaker Agencies
Many speakers have agents that will help them find work. Working with an agency can be ideal if you’re looking for a well-known individual who needs to be booked for a certain date weeks or months in advance. However, there is nothing wrong with hiring a friend, local celebrity, or someone else who simply has a story to tell and is willing to interact with your people.
Hiring a motivational speaker can be a great way to help your employees find the passion needed to make your business thrive. Ideally, you’ll hire someone with a proven track record of inspiring others and who has the ability to tailor the message that they provide to the needs of your workers.
