Is there value in hiring a motivational speaker?

The value of hiring a great motivational speaker...

There is always a question of what kind of results really happen when you hire a motivational speaker. Recently one of our speakers, Brian Biro, did a big event for a Fortune 500 company in Lake Tahoe. Brian is one of the most dynamic and impactful speakers we've had the opportunity to work with, and there are still questions about whether you can really move an audience to action with the right speech.  

The feedback below is important on 3 fronts.

1. You'll note there was initial skepticism about the value of bringing in a speaker like Brian...much like many people who question the value.

2. They also share some of the results that happened at the event because Brian was such a great fit for this company.

3. Finally, pay attention to the suggestion that is made for how to improve the results of the session by involving the attendees up front.

(The format of this feedback is in a Q&A style. The client at the company was approached by another prospective client who was thinking about booking Brian. The contact offered this feedback.)

• Did he meet (or exceed) your objectives? o   Brian significantly exceeded our expectations for the event. I was referred to Brian from another internal group that had a great event with him but in a much smaller setting (30 people) than what I needed (200+ people from all geographies of many different experience levels (executives to high potential junior employees)). Candidly, I had some pre-event reservations about Brian’s ability to connect with a group of executives that are very pragmatic, process-oriented, less impressed with motivational speakers, etc…it’s a challenging group! But I was blown away by Brian’s ability to connect and make the message we needed him to focus on relevant for the entire audience – again, all experience levels – and do so in an authentic, genuine way. His energy infects the audience immediately but the lasting impression and message sticks long after his in-room energy fades. I’ve attached a sample of post-event survey feedback on Brian’s portion of the event – a chance for you to see how others speak on his behalf and how they’ll apply his message.
• What was/were the best take-away(s)? o   For my group, it was 1) the simplicity and consistency of the message about what breakthrough performance means to individuals and how to then apply it to teams and organizations of all sizes, and 2) following his keynotes we used his Team Possibility Workshops format to apply his teachings/principles for brainstorming and working on our Operations-specific challenges.
• Did you experience aha moments? o   Yes, everyone did and in different ways and at different times. Some personal, some professional - it depended on the individual and what they’re facing in their personal/professional life which crossed into their professional/personal lives.
• What could have been improved or done differently? o   Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything I’d do differently or ask Brian to do differently.  Even Brian’s event costs were well below what other big name speakers charge (Ken Blanchard, Marcus Buckingham, etc.) and in these tight budget times it was a welcome bonus. What was really important for my group was that we not only hear the message, but apply it. If I were to suggest something to really focus on that you control (outside of Brian’s message), it’s to work with your teams to define up front – solicit input, ask for feedback, etc. – on some topics that you want to solve/address/start problem solving, etc. during the Team Possibility Workshops. This was a big win for my skeptical group. I used their feedback as a way to generate buy-in that the topics they wanted to talk about/problem solve/etc. were their choice and by the time Brian is done speaking, they’re ready to tackle them with zest. Brian was an excellent help in providing counsel on how we structured the workshops. I’ve attached our topics as an example of what we worked on in my group.

In this instance, I'm certainly suggesting that Brian does a fabulous job for companies that are looking to engage their workforce and grow their leaders. However, the more important aspect is how to make the entire event more successful by engaging everyone involved. That will always make it much more valuable to your attendees and will make the impact that much greater for you.