Since March of 2020, we speakers have been on a rollercoaster. At first there were no speaking events at all. Then there were no in-person events… some in-person events… great—it looks like things are finally beginning to get back to normal events… and then BOOM… we’re back on the rollercoaster wondering what’s ahead for speakers in 2022.
The good news is that most speakers (even those who were holding out for a quick return to our old normal) have adapted their content and learned how to navigate virtual stages so they can continue showing up for their peeps. Meeting and event planners have learned how to adjust too. The one thing most of us seem to have forgotten is all the other legitimate reasons why an event might have to suddenly adjust or cancel at the last moment. For example:
Bailey is the event planner for an organization that’s one of your ideal target audiences. She has a problem because one of her scheduled speakers called her at 6am the day of the event to cancel, due to a death in the family.
When I presented this scenario to my mastermind group this past weekend, I was very impressed with how many of them could say YES to “Bailey.” They were prepared to send their one sheet, bio, presentation title and description, and introduction, within the next 15 minutes so she could update the conference website and be ready to bring them on. My first question to you is:
Are you prepared to say yes and save the day for Bailey?
Congratulations if your answer is “YES!” Now for a little speaker tough love with a second question:
Who knows you’re ready, willing, and able to speak…
even at a moment’s notice if needed?
I understand. You’ve been meaning to reach out to Bailey. In fact, you’ve been meaning to reach out to a whole list of people, but things aren’t back to normal yet and blah, blah, blah… all of which results in no phone call from Bailey, or from any of the other planners and connections you’ve been meaning to reach out to. Question #3:
When was the last time you reached out
to your list of speaker connections?
Regardless of how long it’s been, the new year presents the perfect opportunity to reach out, whether it’s for the first time, or to reconnect.
Update your list and decide how you’re going to reach out to each person. No doubt, some people would be happy to get a phone call from you, while it would be more appropriate to send others an email, or connect via social media platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook. Remember too, that posting and sharing articles on social media is a great way for people to see and remember you too.
The new year extends that clean-slate feeling to all of us. It’s a true, genuine, and authentic reason to reach out and ask people how they’re doing and what they’re up to. Listen to what they have to say, and then, if/when it feels right, you can share information about how you’re gearing up for another year of helping your peeps solve their problems.
Happy New Year! I hope you’re looking as forward to all the new connection and reconnection opportunities at the start of 2022 as I am!
‘Til we speak again… I wish you a safe and healthy New Year!
Speaker Tip
“The public speaking industry is more crowded than ever these days, so if you want to be memorable and to build a reputation, you need to find ways to differentiate yourself. But how do you go about doing that?”
This article shares 11 tips for standing out in your field. No doubt, you’ll be familiar with some of them. That’s okay though, because whether you’ve read a specific tip before or not, sometimes it’s just what you need… a perfectly sized nugget of information and inspiration that gets you off your butt! Read on…
Did You Know? At the Podium does One-Sheets!
Ready to Change Things Up?
