July 16, 2010

Use a Motivational Speaker to Boost Staff Retention

Since the recession hit businesses have been a lot more cautious about whom they employ. Candidates who might have been given a chance in better times are no longer enough: only the best will do. Many companies have survived the recession thanks to their policy of hiring only the very best, most productive personnel. But now that there is light at the end of the tunnel and the economy is finally experiencing a little growth companies have a new task: keeping the best employees. With times better than they have been over the past couple of years, the best and brightest employees now have more opportunity to get the job they really want with the salary they really believe they’re worth. To avoid the costs of recruiting and training new personnel, the most business savvy companies will be looking at what they can do to keep staff retention high. Using a motivational speaker to help is becoming common.

Some companies are using a motivational speaker to work with their Human Resources Department. In such a context, the motivational speaker works as a trainer, advising on the best ways to keep staff morale high and keep the employees motivated. This approach can be especially helpful because unhappy employees or people who are unhappy or have grievances will normally report to HR staff first. If a motivational speaker can help the HR staff to boost the general morale of the personnel then this is a great positive.

Other managers prefer to hire a motivational speaker to address the entire company at a larger event such as a training day. It is important to understand that for staff to be happy they simply must feel appreciated in their role and feel as though they make a useful contribution. The speaker might therefore underline the business’s goals and ensure that each department has a sense of shared purpose in achieving them.

Furthermore, the happiest employees are those who feel they have a clear career path mapped out. The motivational speaker must therefore ensure that everybody knows the companies aims as well as their own personal ones. Staff are much more likely to remain in their current jobs if they feel appreciated, happy, productive and empowered and a speaker can achieve all this.

May 16, 2010

What Exactly is a Motivational Speaker?

Generally a professional, a motivational speaker is a speaker whose aim is to motivate his or her listeners. Many times, the speaker uses a very energetic manner to help encourage the audience to act.

Good motivational speakers can command high fees and are often hired long in advance of the event at which they are speaking. These speakers are often brought into the corporate field or educational establishments to boost performance.Sports coaches and managers are often called upon to work as a motivational speaker as part of their day to day work.

Public speaking skills will be the key tool of any motivational speaker to rouse the audience and encourage them to adopt the speaker’s point of view.This art is nothing new.History has many examples of motivational speakers who have changed things dramatically with just words, just think of Julius Caesar or Martin Luther King.

Further, a good motivational speaker will truly believe that what they are saying is true. Conviction and confidence are absolutely necessary to pass on the message. Without confidence and conviction, it’s unlikely that the audience will take any motivation from the presentation. As well as truly believing in one’s message, a good speaker will be capable of using speaking techniques like voice modulation, eye contact and body language to really send out their message in a convincing manner. The very best speakers will incorporate anecdotes and illustrative examples to back up their message.

May 7, 2010

How a Motivational Speaker Could Help You Keep The Best Staff

The credit crunch has forced businesses to be more careful than ever before about who they decide to employ. Although in better times average candidates might have been given the opportunity to prove themselves, only the very best will do now. The refusal to hire anyone but the very best and most productive employees is what has saved many companies in recent tough times.But now that there is light at the end of the tunnel and the economy is finally experiencing a little growth companies have a new task: keeping the best employees. With more opportunities available today than in recent times, the best employees can find the jobs they really want and command bigger salaries. The forward thinking businesses will now be looking to save money on recruiting and training new staff by retaining their present personnel. A good number are enlisting the help of a motivational speaker.

Certain businesses use the motivational speaker to work in tandem with their Human Resources department. In such a context, the motivational speaker works as a trainer, advising on the best ways to keep staff morale high and keep the employees motivated. This approach can be especially helpful because unhappy employees or people who are unhappy or have grievances will normally report to HR staff first. It is obviously a very good thing if a motivational speaker can go some way to maintaining high morale through a company.

In other companies, the favoured approach is to ask the motivational speaker to address the entire personnel, perhaps at a training day. A good motivational speaker will understand the importance of ensuring that all staff feel their contribution is both useful and appreciated. The speaker will probably wish to mention the company’s goals and instil a shared vision in all employees.

Furthermore, it is well known that the happiest employees are those who feel they have a clear path marked out for development.A motivational speaker must work to ensure staff are aware of their goals and where they are aiming to be.Staff who feel appreciated and who have control over their development are more productive and happy and are therefore more likely to remain in their current job.

March 14, 2010

Different Kinds Of Performance Anxiety Experienced By Business Speakers

Many people cannot speak or perform in front of an audience without getting nervous. For some, it can even be a frightening experience which is to be avoided at all costs. Performance anxiety, also known as a stage fright, is characterized by an intense anxiety and paranoia that occurs before, during, and after a performance.

Even professional and experienced speakers can suffer from anxiety including business speakers and motivational speakers. For some, they are able to stay composed even when the stress of a public speaking performance is getting to them but for most however, the negative thoughts about what might go wrong take over.

This debilitating fear may depend on the context of the performance. A presenter’s level of anxiety may vary with respect to the size and status of the audience, the novelty of the situation, whether it is an individual performance, or as part of the group, and on the importance of the evaluation. For a larger audience, the speaker might experience more nerves. During interviews, the interviewees tend to get more nervous with the general manager than the secretary.

Types Of Anxiety.

1. Most common among sufferers of performance anxiety is a fluttery, unsettled sensation which slowly dies down once the speech has begun. This built up energy can make performers better.

2. Reactive anxiety is something which happens when the speaker or performer is not prepared enough or they do not have any public speaking skills. With more and more events and public speaking this type of anxiety should go away. This is how business speakers get better.

3. The hallmark of performance anxiety is usually associated with signs of physical and emotional discomfort such as sweating, shaking, voice quivering, rapid heart beating, feelings of fear, and panic. These reactions are caused by the feeling that you might be evaluated negatively.

Believing that your speech or performance will be a success is a way to alleviate these symptoms. Typically this is done by asking the performer to accept the fear and come up with ways to get round it such as breathing exercises, audience relation and practise. Although some level of anxiety may always remain when you publicly speak, you can learn to enjoy your performance and share your speech with others.

March 10, 2010

How Does a Motivational Speaker do it?

Generally a professional, a motivational speaker is a speaker whose aim is to motivate his or her listeners. More often than not, the audience is encouraged to take action by the energy that the speaker puts in to the presentation.

High fees and advance bookings are not uncommon at all for the best motivational speakers. The business and educational sectors often draft in these speakers to increase morale and get better results. An example of a profession that uses motivational speaking daily is sports managing or coaching.

Any good motivational speaker will be able to use their public speaking skills to influence the audience to come round to their way of thinking. These skills are not new Martin Luther King and Julius Caesar alike changed situations dramatically using only words and a good speaking style.

Further, a good motivational speaker must be convinced that what they are saying is true. It is vital that a speaker appears convinced that what they are saying is true and that they appear confident in their message.Otherwise, no audience is likely to be motivated. Hand in hand with confidence in their message is the speaker’s use of speaking skills such as eye contact, voice modulation and confident body language to get the audience to be confident in the message. The very best speakers will incorporate anecdotes and illustrative examples to back up their message.

January 12, 2010

Beginner Business Speakers And Stage Fright

Not everyone can comfortably speak or perform in front of a lot of people. Some may find it quite a frightening experience that they want to avoid at all costs. Performance anxiety, also known as a stage fright, is characterized by an intense anxiety and paranoia that occurs before, during, and after a performance.

Even keynote and business speakers who are experienced and trained in public speaking can suffer from anxiety before a speech. While some people have the ability and presence of mind to remain cool and composed in stressful situations, most of us are geniuses as far as coming up with all the negative thoughts that may happen before and/or during a performance.

The context of the performance will often play a role in the amount of nerves someone experiences. A speaker can feel more or less anxious depending on whether they are on the stage by themselves, the number of people in the audience and if the evaluation is important for career prospects among other factors. For a larger audience, the speaker might experience more nerves. The demographic also influences like you would be more nervous speaking to the manager of the company rather than the receptionist.

Types Of Anxiety.

1. Most common among sufferers of performance anxiety is a fluttery, unsettled sensation which slowly dies down once the speech has begun. This indicates a readiness to perform; and becomes a source of energy that improves the performance.

2. If a speaker or performer has not practised, got no experience or does not have speaking skills, they may experience reactive anxiety. Usually best resolved through practice, preparation, and the repeated exposure to the experience of public speaking/performance. This is how business speakers get better.

3. The hallmark of performance anxiety is usually associated with signs of physical and emotional discomfort such as sweating, shaking, voice quivering, rapid heart beating, feelings of fear, and panic. These reactions are caused by the feeling that you might be evaluated negatively.

Positive thinking is a way that the anxiety can be alleviated as they no longer think their performance will be bad. The performer should learn to accept the fear but use breathing exercises and practise to overcome the fearful triggers. You may discover that fear still remains, but you notice that you can handle it, as you are beginning to get the sense of enjoyment from your performance and from connecting with others.