by Motivational Speaker and Strategic Storytelling Expert, Kelly Swanson
Do Our People Really Need A Motivational Speaker?
We’re not here to make our people happy. We’re here to get work done.
We don’t need some fluffy pep talk. We need action steps and deliverables.
The last thing we need is some flashy overly-tanned guy in a suit spouting acronyms that don’t really matter to our organization.
That speaker was awesome and very entertaining. But now that the dust has settled, we’re not really any better off than we were before.
The day of the motivational speaker is over.
Motivational Speakers - Do They Have A Place In Our Corporate Culture?
It’s hard for me to write this article because I am a motivational speaker and so obviously I am proud of the value I bring. But I understand why we get a bad reputation - because not all motivational speakers are created equal. And most motivational speakers are not living up to the job description and giving you a poor return on your investment.
Many motivational speakers are using the label with no real idea of what it even means, because they think they can pick up more business, when the last thing they are is motivating. They think that because people are interested in their content, and their speech is interesting, that translates to an effective motivational speaker.
The wrong motivational speaker has no place in your corporate culture. But the right one can make a lasting impact on your bottom line.
What IS a Motivational Speaker?
A motivational speaker who truly understands their role, and is good at it, is someone who is able to come into your organization and help connect your employees to the WHY instead of the what. Getting your employees to do something is not nearly as effective as getting them to WANT to do it.
Every speaker or trainer addresses a certain need in the organization - better customer service, more sales, improved leadership skills, etc.
The motivational speaker addresses employee engagement.
My task as the motivational speaker when closing the conference, is not to give them more tips on customer service, sales, leadership, or team building. My job is to get them motivated to take action on whatever they have been taught by the other speakers. My job is to reinforce the objectives of your leadership team. My job is take all that data and attach a nice big WHY to it. My job is to bring together all three stories (employee, brand, customer) into one story that highlights the value in each part, strengthening the corporate narrative.
My job is not to make your people happy or teach them how to be happy.
My job is not to give tips on how to stay positive or deal with difficult people.
I’ll let the internet handle that for you.
My job is to come in and change the collective perspective. To connect and engage with your people - to build trust and likeability - so that I can then take them on a journey through their own goals.
Are Your Employees Disengaged and Just Going Through the Motions?
There is nothing fluffy about unhappy employees. Employees who have checked out cost you money. They affect the team, they affect the relationship with customers, they affect your corporate culture. Your employees are the storytellers of your brand. When they disengage they are telling a negative story. You can’t afford to have disengaged employees.
What is a disengaged employee? The employee who no longer cares about their job, the company, the brand, or the customer. The employee who is angry at leadership. The employee who doesn’t feel appreciated, heard, respected, or even noticed. This is a dangerous cocktail that can lead to a bad hangover.
The answer is not in making your people happy, but reconnecting them to the passion and purpose for what they do. There’s a big difference. Reconnect your people and they become happier as a result.
A good motivational speaker (and there are few) knows how to come into an organization with an understanding of the issues you face, connect in a very short amount of time with your people, and connect your vision to theirs. A good motivational speaker can change the way the employees see their company and its leadership team. A good motivational speaker can change the way the employee sees their own role in the organization. A good motivational speaker can show the employee that they are appreciated, instead of just telling them.
Your employee doesn’t care about your company story. They care about their own. Stop trying to force them to be excited about your story and find a way to be excited about their story, and how their story impacts your company’s story.
What Motivational Speaker Is Right For Your Bottom Line?
While I would love to say I’m the one you need, I’m not always the one you need. Choosing your motivational speaker is a personal decision and one that requires some research. Unfortunately, there are thousands who use the word “motivational speaker” and don’t deliver, giving the same speech they’ve been giving for twenty-five years. While it may be a good speech, it won’t change the culture of your organization. Here are some things to look for as you interview motivational speakers:
- Read their testimonials for more than just entertainment value. You do want a speaker who can create an amazing experience (and there are few) - but you aren’t just paying for a show. So look deeper.
- Choose the speaker who can find common ground with your people. It’s not about finding the speaker who is most like your audience - or I’d never have a job. It’s about asking the speaker how they are able to connect and engage on an emotional level. If your speaker can’t connect, the speech is just a data dump or someone else telling them what they need to do. Speakers are sales people on that stage and need buy-in from your people. Cardinal rule of sales - people buy from people they like, trust, believe, and feel like they know. If your speaker can’t establish a relationship with your audience, you’re wasting your money.
- It’s not just about the speaker’s personal story. The personal story is important, as it is a powerful tool to connect, engage, and teach. I believe story does far more than data can do. But sometimes speakers do nothing more than get up there and tell their story. While it may be entertaining, it doesn’t really help your audience much. Ask your speaker how they have customized the message to fit the needs of your audience.
- Ask for your speaker’s philosophy. That is a quick way to see the difference in someone who just brings a bunch of tips, and someone who truly has an umbrella philosophy and can help your people experience a shift in perspective.
- Ask for specific teaching points. A motivational speaker should be able to tell you, without hesitating, the lessons their message includes and the take-aways for the audience.
- As what the experience will be like. Let’s face it, if you wanted a bunch of good training tips, you could have bought the book, or sat in front of a computer and received a lifetime of information in a few minutes. People don’t remember what you made them think, but they never forget how you made them feel. The experience that speaker creates will make the difference in whether your people connect, engage, and walk away with a lasting impression. So ask your speaker what the experience will be like. If they can’t tell you, there is none. Move on.
- Pay attention to how passionate your speaker is about your event, your people, and your industry. There is a difference in a speaker being excited about how great they are, and everything they can do, and a speaker who is excited about your group and what they need. Listen closely to see where your speaker lines up.
- Don’t be persuaded by slick demo videos. A good video can make any speaker look like a rock star. Pay attention to the footage of that speaker on stage, live. Ask around. Read the testimonials (not just the impressive one put on the front page). If there aren’t enough testimonials, move on.
- Check out their social media. This is a great way to see what their audience is saying about them. Check out LinkedIn, Blogs, and Facebook, to see what kind of interaction your speaker has with people. You can quickly find out who they are and what their audiences say about them.
- Check their credibility. Everybody has an opinion. But not all of those are educated. Many speakers write a book, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a credible source of information. What has your speaker done that qualifies them to be an expert on this topic? Be careful of the leadership speaker who has never held one position of leadership.
- Don’t be afraid of the speaker who’s different. Okay, this one ‘s for my benefit. :) I used to be intimidated when I walked into a corporate environment. I didn’t match. I couldn’t blend. I didn’t know the language. I didn’t wear the right clothes. I don’t have a corporate background, I have a background in the world of storytelling. Sounds weird. But it actually makes me more effective at my job. When i want to learn to be better at what I do, I study people outside my industry. Sometimes there is more value in the one who isn’t like all the others. I always chuckle at how people in my audiences come up and say, “You’re so real. You’re just like me”. Me - the big loud southern woman with too much hair who tells stories for a living. I may seem different on the outside. But when I tell my stories, people find themselves in there. We start as strangers and walk away as friends. We were more alike than we ever imagined.
At the end of the day, just like any profession, there are good ones and bad ones. But the day of the motivational speaker is not over. There is still a need and there is search engine traffic and paychecks to prove it. Perhaps now, more than ever, the ability to encourage and inspire, motivate, renew passion, and change lives is a valued asset in our world. It’s worked for me, and I have the letters to prove it.
Good luck on your search in finding the right motivational speaker for your group. If you ever want a loud, bossy, crazy, red-headed, southern motivational speaker who is an expert on the power of story, I happen to know just the gal. Motivational Speakers
Motivational Speaker and Storytelling Expert Kelly Swanson teaches people across all industries how to use strategic storytelling to stand up and stick out in a crowded market.