Broadly speaking there are two styles of motivational speaker. The Self Motivator and the Leadership Motivator.
Self Motivators may have a background in sports or the military. They may have overcome a severe difficulty in their lives. Leadership Motivators are usually from a business background or have had a leadership role in the Public Sector
Choosing a Motivational Speaker for your event means understanding and anticipating the needs of the audience. In particular you need to understand what they want from the event. and the message you want them to take away. These things are important because they form the basis of the brief you will give to prospective speakers.
For example if you want attendees to review their personal and business goals and go on to take increased levels of responsibility you should consider a Self Motivator style of speaker.
If you want to build team spirit, communication skills, leadership, and develop a profile for a shared vision the Leadership Motivator style will suit you better.
Our advice is to look for a speaker who has experience that your audience can relate to. Hearing about climbing a mountain, enduring incredible hardships and overcoming them can be uplifting but someone who has faced the challenges of building a business or leading a team in a way that your audience can identify with may be more valuable. By all means opt for a “household name” but ensure the speakers experience and expertise relates to both your budget and the real needs of the audience. Best value can often be achieved by identifying a speaker who has operated in the commercial world and has some scars to show for it!
It is crucial to satisfy yourself that the speaker will provide a bespoke speech closely aligned to the needs of your audience. To help you achieve this set out your requirements in writing giving a high level overview. This will help both you and your chosen speaker. This should be no more than a page of A4. Explain why the event is necessary and why you want to use a motivational speaker. Then set out the goals of the event and its theme. Describe any challenges facing attendees or the organisation. Touch on any history and any future objectives the organisation has.
Ensure that your speaker will work with you as you prepare for the day. Look for someone that will visit your workplace and meet key individuals in advance.
For more information contact terrythespeaker.com or call 0845 459 3417
