Keynotes are speeches from a professional that last about 45 minutes and talk about the points that will be covered during the meeting, seminar or event you’re hosting. A corporate keynote speaker should be able to unify the audience and inspire/motivate them using stories and personal experiences, all while keeping with the theme or purpose of the overall meeting. They will set the entire tone of the event, which should provide clarity rather than muddling the ideas.
Understand The Purpose
Speakers should be able to understand what the purpose of the meeting is, but many are focused on selling themselves rather than promoting the event. When you choose a corporate keynote speaker, they may more easily understand what’s going to happen because they’ve likely worked in business before and will keep it catered to the audience.
Target Audience
Speakers must also know how to approach their audience. Some audiences will respond better to jokes and humor while others will respond to seriousness and fact. It can be hard to determine if the person you’ve chosen will know what to do, but a good rule of thumb is to view past performances, especially the beginning of the speech. If the audience seems engaged and interested, it’s a good sign that they’ll be able to do that for you, as well.
Be Entertaining Without Props
While you may not think of it as entertainment, people respond better when they forget where they are or why they’re there. Entertainment is an excellent motivator and can help others listen to what’s being said, but props may not be the best way to go about it. Props can be anything, including spreadsheets, text pieces, and images. They should always back up any factual statements with a prop that will drive home the point, but they should know how to keep it minimal and still fun.
