Sunday, May 8, 2016

What To Look For In A Keynote Speaker

By Larry Martin


The keynote address cements what a conference or meeting is all about. It sets the agenda or confirms the deliberations already made. This places the keynote speaker at the center of your proceedings. You probably wonder why the speech is not delivered by the chairman or most influential member of the congress. This only confirms the centrality of the address and the need to get the right person.

Authority is a crucial attribute of any target person. The audience must hold the invited guest in high regard. This explains why you look for the influential and successful people in the industry. Most of the participants of the fraternity must consider him or her enviable. It is the authority and personality surrounding such people that make them fit for the role.

The person chosen to deliver the speech must also be conversant with the successes and challenges facing participants. It is this information that will be used to motivate participants. Such knowledge makes the address relevant to the situation. It is easier to relate with people whose situation and way of life you understand.

Conferences and symposiums are not all serious business. You will need a funny and humorous person to deliver the address. It not only entertains the crowd but also makes the message memorable. It is this memorable delivery that will keep the event and the message alive until the next conference. It also helps to shed off fatigue that characterizes lengthy deliberations that take place in conferences. It takes a lot of experience and creativity to deliver serious message with humor.

Some situations call for speakers to act as moderators. This happens when the person is expected to motivate or cause the participants to generate ideas. You will need an outgoing personality in such a case. This is a person who can engage without intimidating. The hall must also be organized in a way to facilitate such a discussion. This is the best approach when dealing with a small group of people.

Keynote speeches are slotted for different purposes depending on their allocation in the program. The speech may be allocated the beginning, middle or end of meeting. A speech at the beginning is meant to determine or expound on the agenda. Speakers slotted the middle of a symposium have the duty of energizing deliberations towards a climax. Should you be asked to close a meeting, your responsibility is to crown all deliberations.

There are people to avoid when selecting a speaker. Controversial personalities will only cause division within the group. Persons who advocate for radical ideas can only be invited if the group stands by such. Obvious figures are also likely to deliver a flat speech since their style and ideas are already known. Only consider personalities who will add value to your program.

Despite speakers having own messages to deliver and style, they must be briefed to customize their delivery. This includes the actual position of participants, organization, group or company. Sensitivity to the expectations of the crowd will make the delivery effective. Your primary goal should be to find an individual who best represents your journey or status as a group.




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