What questions could you ask if you thought
about your upcoming seminar as a personal
development party you were hosting? What
additional research might you consider if you
thought about the consulting contract as an opportunity to be
the catalyst for great collaboration that will totally change the
client’s organization?
Here are some questions being used by other speakers to
help them learn about their audience members and to create an interactive experience that will be both meaningful
and effective.
Understand Your Audience Better—
“Are there any language or literacy barriers? If so, what
percentage?” (Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE)
“Are there any problems, competition, resentment or peer
pressures that I should know about?” (Brian Norris)
“What differentiates your company from competitors in
your customers’ minds?” (Sandi Smith)
“Is there a slogan or philosophy that is commonly used in
your association/company?” (Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE)
“Are there any subjects, words, phrases or concepts that
people are negative about and should be avoided?”
(Rodger Dean Duncan, PhD)
Link Interaction to Tangible Outcomes—
“What are three things your people are doing well that
you want to emphasize and reinforce?” (Roxanne
Emmerich, CSP, CMC)
“Are there any messages you cannot give that I can give
for you?” (Sandi Smith)
“Any seed you want Scott to plant?” (Scott Friedman, CSP)
“If Kare could wave a magic wand and help your group
do one thing better, what would it be?” (Kare Anderson)
“How does this group make a unique contribution to
America/society?” (Laura Stack, CSP)
Use Interaction to Solve Practical Problems—
“What are some of the things customers or co-workers say
or do that may be irritating or causing stress at work?”
(Laura Stack, CSP)
“Who is your typical customer?” (Tony Alessandra, CSP)
Get Audience Members Involved —
“Please list the names of three well-liked and well-known
people who will be present at the program with whom
John could have some fun on-stage.” (John Kinde)
Build on the Group’s Current and Past Interactions
with Each Other—
“Are there any highlights (or disasters) from past meetings
that your people would call ‘memorable’? How did the
speakers you’ve had in the past contribute to the highlights (or disasters)?” (Billy Riggs)
“What are some specific examples of what your people
do that goes “beyond the call of duty” in the area I’m discussing?” (Delatorro McNeal II)
“What interesting or significant events have occurred
within your industry, or to your group, during the past
year?” (Bill Catlette & Richard Hadden, CSP)
