A motivational speaker is only as good as his success. If you hire someone who speaks well but has their finances, personal life and their company in a bad state, you’re setting up your audience for a bad example.
So I went ahead and listed down the things you need to check before finally deciding to take on a motivational speaker for your event.
Important things that a good motivational speaker possess:
Exceptional Showmanship
You don’t want your audience to fall asleep during the talk. One obvious clue that the speaker cares about his presentation is his Powerpoint deck. If the Powerpoint deck is well designed, there’s a high probability that the speaker takes the stage seriously. Motivational speaking is a privilege, not a career.
At the end of the day, it’s not about money. It’s about passion and it’s about the mission to inspire people.
That’s arguably why the best motivational speakers are those who have jobs or businesses to support their main livelihood.
Concrete, Actionable Life Lessons Derived from the Speaker’s Past or Present
A good motivational speaker has a story to tell. Motivating and inspiring people is not all about teaching, rather it’s about empathizing and understanding. People fail and the best motivational speakers out there have known how it really is to be at the end of the rope.
This makes up an enjoyable and realistic case study for the audience. Listening to the speaker’s personal story on failure, getting back up, grinding and succeeding is the meat of what would get them going where they are in life.
This is also arguably the best inspiration for your audience to take home
A Happy Family and a Successful Career or Business
There is no real reason to speak in front of a crowd hungry to be inspired when you are down in the mud – struggling or even failing in your family, career or business. Someone who is in trouble shouldn’t be on the stage.
“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” – Proverbs 24:27
A good motivational speaker is someone who is successful in all aspects of his life and so he has the energy, wisdom and ability to bring others there.
I believe that Francis Kong, who, if we are to admit, is one of the most prominent and successful motivational speakers out there embodies this perfectly.
A Mission that is Bigger than Himself
If everything ends on the day we die, then all that there is in life is to eat, drink and be merry. In short, life will be all about money, fame and success. A motivational speaker who has that kind of a worldview will speak in terms of those things. And that’s a very dangerous and materialistic worldview to behold.
A motivational speaker who has a mission that is bigger than himself doesn’t see things that way. And if we’re going to be honest, the one main mission that a motivational speaker must have is to make a positive change in an individual’s life.
I’ve seen Francis Kong do it in his own personal time. He meets up with people who are having problems the size of suicidal tendencies and spends time with them. Motivating people doesn’t always have to be on stage. It is a lifestyle.
Testimonials from Other People About the Speaker
There’s no better way to verify a motivational speaker than testimonials from other people. Whether it is in the person’s website or otherwise. I posted a video that outlines some of the most influential speakers and authors in our time – I believe they already speak for me in my time and expertise as a motivational speaker.
A Central Point of Morality
I’ve seen a motivational speaker before who influenced the crowd to cheat. That’s just horrifying. I wanted to go on stage and point out that the speaker is not fit to be a motivational speaker and perhaps next time I would. As of that time, I was a co-speaker and I wanted to be respectful the stage and the organizers.
The point is, if the speaker’s central point of morality is unfounded, it could be dangerous for the audience. First check what the speaker really believes in and if your values coincide. Shared values are very important. It could be the dividing line between a motivated, inspired crowd who will wake up the next day and decide to do what’s right – and a confused crowd whose morals have been shaken.
In all, these are points that are easily missed by event organizers and HR personnel who are tasked to onboard a motivational speaker for their event. I hope that this provides a definite guide in how to choose a motivational speaker who will best fit your audience.
May God richly bless you.
