Speaker - March 2012

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Casting a reality check on real-world conundrums
Executive Decision

Since you already agreed to speak, my only question would be to consider how much your word is worth. We have already determined that the price of the speech is “exposure.” With that, be careful about what you’re being exposed to.

—Van Brown Atlanta, Ga.

I see two parts to this question: The first one is I have made a commitment, and I would follow through on it. The second part is educating. I’m not one who gives presentations as sales pitches, and people need to know that. Clarify that “free” for me means “donated” and explain I made a commitment to allocate a portion of my time to pro bono work in order to give back to my community. If I happen to do an exceptional job and word gets out there, then that is just icing on the cake.

You accepted an offer to speak for free
to a corporate audience. You heard
that a senior executive feels that “free”
presentations are just sales pitches
with no content. He won’t attend and
might discourage other employees from
attending. What do you do?

The senior executive has a point. It does seem that many speeches have become extended sales pitches. To that end, I would give my speech a close critique to ensure that it has not drifted into that territory. Then I would offer all senior management an outline and explain the “end goal” of my topic, and then deliver more than I promised. If you wow the crowd that IS there, it will get back to that executive—and maybe even change his mind.

—Aradia Zenobia Roanoke, Va.

One person does not make an audience. There is no way you can please all people at all times. This person was being authentic with his beliefs. Let us give him credit for stating his beliefs upfront. I believe the hallmark of a great speaker is one who gives her all each time, no matter what the circumstances.

—Kathy Condon Vancouver, Wash.

—Terri (Cooke) Bruce Ontario, Canada

After agreeing to speak— short of an actual death in the family—any reason for not honoring your commitment is ethically inappropriate. That means crafting an outstanding presentation suited to your audience’s needs and delivering it with the conviction that every word matters.

By doing this, you provide contrary evidence to the senior executive’s notion that free speeches are nothing but “sales pitches with no content.

What Would You Do? is a regular column that presents a real-life dilemma faced by professional speakers. NSA members are encouraged to submit a dilemma for possible discussion in this column. Please submit dilemmas to ethics@nsa-speaker.org. NSA reserves the right to edit submissions for length and style. All dilemmas will be anonymously attributed. Opinions expressed are those of the individual respondents, not NSA.

If I made a date, I’d keep it. However, before the presentation, I might also try to send a message to the company’s top executives thanking them for their assumed attendance, and providing them with a brief overview of my presentation’s content and the benefits of personally attending.