Keynote speakers are essential to any gathering of experts looking to further themselves with networking and knowledge. A good keynote speech must inspire and unite an audience with a common purpose. He or she should also offer direction for the conference purposes and objectives. This sets the tone for the event; which can launch a conference with simplicity or, at its worst, move it forward with non-existent or muddled ideas.
Gurbaksh Chahal point out ways people judge keynote speakers:
- The successful keynote speaker always knows at which level to approach the audience. If you evaluate an audience appropriately, you will strike that spot where you establish credibility, rapport, and attention to the message you are trying to impart. If you misjudge the audience, you will generate boredom; if you misjudge, confusion will result. A good keynote speaker will work with the organizer of the event closely, to ensure he or she knows as much as possible about the psychographics of the audience they will be addressing.
- Many keynote speakers essentially use a speech at a conference just to sell themselves, instead of further the theme of the event. If you have been paid and hired as a keynote speaker, the sale has been made and there is no need to carry on selling who you are. Gurbaksh Chahal says what you need to do is to sell the theme of the event. A good keynote speech must be global in nature, pragmatic, inspiring, and memorable. If this is done, who you will be clear.
- Several keynote speakers suffer from too much information. You should substantiate factual images and statements can help to drive a point home, but complex spreadsheets and crowded text pieces can dull your messages. The best keynote speakers use negligible props and allow their words do the heavy lifting.
- Humor can be the lubricant of good speeches. Having said that, ensure you have done your homework. Misplaced comedy can be lethal. Properly presented, humor, and anecdotes will yield greater receipt of your message.
- For the duration of a keynote speech you have to build a connection with the audience. There has to be an ambiance of trust engendered. There is no better way to do that than to share life experiences, personal observations. This helps the audience to see that you are a real person with emotions, and lessons learned. When you personalize sections of a speech and show passion for your topic, you have a better chance of selling the principles you are trying to convey. Some of the best keynote speakers will admit openly they do not know everything, but what they know has worked.
- The pacing of a motivational speaker is more important than the length. A frantic pace will tire out the audience and a slow, arduous pace will put them to sleep. Diversity is the zest of life and; when it comes to keynote speeches, assortment of pacing is necessary. A good keynote speaker knows when to ramp up the strength, and when to mitigate the presentation to keep interest. If you plan to include a Q&A section in a keynote speech, never end with it; always ensure to do a wrap up and control the message with the last words.
After experiencing several speakers in action, these are just a few of the key points by which people judge them.
