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How to Select a Great Professional Speaker

Public speakers come a dime a dozen; however, great professional speakers are rare. So how can you select a great professional speaker for your next event? Look for these five characteristics and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the quality of your next professional speaker choice.

Pleasant Personality. A great speaker should be easy to get along with, especially before you hire them. If the speaker is demanding and disagreeable during the negotiation phase, he or she is more likely to be that way afterwards. Speakers with pleasant personalities possess the ability to deliver a message that is easy to understand and apply. He or she will be your biggest asset when it comes to inspiring and motivating your intended audience.

People Person. Empathy defined is the ability to identify with and understand someone else's situation, feelings, and motives. Find a speaker who can empathize with the needs and wants of your intended audience and you will find a great speaker. A great speaker is one who can immediately interact with the audience and adjust the message to reach the masses.

Positive Attitude. Look for a positive attitude in their presentation. Your speaker's attitude has a distinctive voice even when it appears to be silent. Why is the speaker presenting this information? Is the speaker there because it's a job requirement or a way to make money? The attitude the speaker takes concerning the material he or she presents will show through in the presentation.

Physical Energy. How does your intended speaker use the space around them? This important aspect of assessing a public speaker is often overlooked. However, you should pay attention because the way a speaker uses their physical energy communicates volumes about their passion for their topic. Excitement spreads like wildfire! On the other hand, so does boredom. Can the speaker get your intended audience excited about what they're presenting? The right amount of physical energy can take your intended audience from a one to a ten in a few seconds.

Passionate Communicator. You certainly don't want to neglect the speaker's passion about their topic. Passion, like positive energy speaks volumes to your intended audience. A great speaker's passion come through, and allows the audience to feed on that passion. Passion, more than anything else, will communicate and motivate your audience from complacency to inspired action.

Summary: Pay careful attention to your next choice for a professional speaker. Great speaking is more than a honed technical skill. In fact, if your next choice is not pleasant, people-oriented, positive, energetic, and passionate, then don't feel bad when you have to say, "Next!"