You’ve been asked to give a presentation. But you aren’t sure if it’s a commitment you should make. You know that saying “yes” to this speaking gig will mean lots of research, weeks of preparation, and hours spent practicing. Is that an investment you are ready to make?
With so many factors weighing in on your decision, it would be helpful to have some guidance. While this list is not exhaustive and each speaking opportunity is unique, here are 4 questions you can use to make a smart decision about whether to not to accept a speaking gig.
1. Is this worth my time and effort?
Before saying “yes,” take stock of the time you’ll need to put in for this presentation. Consider research, writing, development of graphics, practice, and travel time. Come up with an approximate number of hours this presentation might cost you. Then compare that to what you are being offered to speak. Is the time and effort you’re going to give out worth what you’re going to get back? And keep in mind, there are more than just monetary benefits to speaking engagements (see question 2).
2. Will this give me valuable experience or exposure?
If you are just starting out or are presenting for a non-profit company, you may not be paid that much to speak. However, don’t let that be your only measure for accepting a speaking gig. There are two other things to consider that can be just as valuable as money: experience and exposure. Every time you step in front of an audience to deliver a presentation, you are learning how to do it better the next time. Researchers from Rice University wanted to explore the correlation between practice and performance to figure out if practice really does make perfect. So they reviewed 88 previous studies which involved over 11 thousand participants. The results were clear. “Deliberate practice was a strong overall predictor of success in many performance domains, and not surprisingly, people who report practicing a lot generally tend to perform at a higher level than people who practice less.”
But in addition to the experience, you could also gain valuable exposure when you accept an opportunity to present. There could be someone sitting in that audience who decides to hire you or refer you in the future. While this particular gig might not have a lot to offer you in the way of money, it might open up a lead to a better paying gig down the road.
3. Does this align with my greater goals?
As a speaker, you need to have a brand and you need to have greater goals. And you need keep those in mind as you make decisions. If accepting a particular speaking gig leads you off that path, don’t be afraid to say “no.” As John C. Maxwell says, “Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.” Think about whether this particular speaking opportunity puts you closer to your end goals or farther away from them.
4. Does this provide a service to others?
One of my friends works in the medical community. She is a doctor who also happens to be terrified of public speaking. Because of that, she almost always turns down requests to speak at medical events and conferences. We were talking about her fear recently and I asked her if she had knowledge or experience that she thought might help others in the community. She said she did. I told her to think about that before she said “no” next time. I encouraged her to be driven more by what she had to offer others than by her fear. If you are on the fence about whether or not to accept a speaking engagement, consider whether an altruistic approach might be the right one to take.
As speakers, we have great gifts to offer in the form of inspiring words, clear information, innovative ideas, and powerful narratives. We have to be wise in choosing how and when we give those gifts away.
At Ethos3, we can help make the presentation process run smoothly. From development, to design, to delivery, we are here to help.
