Member-only story
The 5 Types of Public Speakers in Demand Right Now
What do audiences want to hear from speakers, coming out of the pandemic (if in fact we are finally emerging)? With the caveat that there are no good databases or sources for that kind of information in the rather Byzantine speaking world, I’ve been talking to industry insiders, speakers, meeting planners, bureau folks, and Yoda, and this is what I’ve learned. It’s non-scientific, but good as at least a directional indicator. (With thanks to my old friend Adam Hartung for the idea that started this post. )
1. Funny speakers: Audiences need to be entertained more than ever. Many people I talked to said that “their people” are tired, stressed out, grumpy, and in need of a break. We can blame the usual suspects here, I think: the pandemic, of course, and the various workplace trends that began before the pandemic and have continued in this post-pandemic period. For example, the flattening of workplace hierarchies, the increased speed of change in the workplace, the need for near-constant innovation, and so on. I’ve been working with a shifting group of executives from one company over the past 5 years, from before the pandemic, through the lockdowns, and now in a post-pandemic-back-in-the-office period, and the current set are as stressed out — stretched thin — as any group of executives I’ve ever seen. As a result, the increase in demand for speakers that…
