These steps will help you resist your own tendency to try to be a hero by solving someone else’s problem, usually before they even ask for your help. This game usually starts by someone lamenting about a problem instead of asking for help to solve it.

The invitation you are learning to decline is really about proving that problem is unsolvable, that nobody can help, and that problem holder is justified in giving up and doing nothing further about problem.

Instead, you affirm problem holder’s skill and resourcefulness, without getting involved in game. And you may become hero after all.

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Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. Email: media@laurieweiss.com

Copyright 2004 Laurie Weiss, Ph.D.

Also include as much information as possible about size and demographics of audience such as age, gender, and positions. 8. Ask for an outline. Ask prospective speakers for an outline of presentation to make sure they will be covering material as you discussed. This will clearly lay out what’s expected as verbal communication is subject to being misunderstood or misinterpreted. Seeing exactly what speakers plan to cover in sessions should help to ensure that material is tailored to your specific needs. 9. Maximize opportunities. Look for ways to maximize opportunities with your speakers. Discuss different ways they can add extra value and be a significant resource to help improve your meeting’s success. Brainstorm ways that you feel they can assist you in planning, preparing, promoting, and presenting. Some suggestions include serving as an emcee, conducting special sessions or roundtable discussions about current issues for select groups such as company executives or board of directors, and participating in a spouse program. 10. Trust your instincts. Through your communication with speaker, you will quickly form an opinion or have a feeling about this person. First reactions count here. “I like this person” or “I don’t like this person,” or “I feel comfortable or uncomfortable working with this person,” are strong indicators. These responses usually comes from your gut — a very trustworthy organ. Have confidence in your instincts and trust that so-called sixth sense. If you experience any kind of negative feeling, think about looking for someone else or get another opinion from a colleague. You want to make sure that you can work with this person and that both of you are on same wavelength.

The true objective of hiring a professional speaker hinges on establishing a partnership where a mutually beneficial relationship grows and flourishes. When this happens, you know you’ve chosen well. The Perfect Match

Overwhelmed with plethora of speakers to choose from? You may want to turn to a speaker’s bureau for advice and guidance. A good bureau should act as a consultant and partner to help your event succeed. Even though many hundreds of bureaus are out there, numbers pale in comparison to thousands of speakers. A bureau’s sole purpose is simply to make your job easier and provide you with solutions. They want to find best possible match for your event within your price range. So, where do go looking for one of these bureaus? Here are a few places to start your search: phone book, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, Internet, industry colleagues, and friends. A Final Note:

Look for CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) or CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) designations. Both these are conferred by National Speakers Association and are considered speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill (http://www.nsaspeaker.org). Armed with these guidelines and resources, your search for perfect speaker will be more fruitful. And with a little effort and some time, you will connect with a speaker who will fulfill your goals— one that will be both inform and enlighten. Your audience will thank you.