What Makes a Leadership Keynote Speaker Truly Memorable?

When you’re thinking of booking a keynote speaker for any leadership event, you want to have someone who will have the audience applauding at the end. We’re talking enthusiastic applause, not polite clapping by people who are happy the speech is over. What type of things can a speaker do to put that audience in the palm of their hand? ​

There are some things that you can be on the lookout for. These are some of the traits that a leadership keynote speaker will have to leave a lasting impression on their audience. Some of those traits may be obvious while others might require a bit of intuition on your part. 

​Please note: This collaborative article does not contain healthcare, therapeutic or financial advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. The links in this article may be affiliate links that I will be compensated for at no additional cost to  you.

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An Engaging Delivery

This one might seem like it’s a no-brainer, but it’s not always the case. A good clue, though, is if they are in demand as a speaker. This usually indicates that they have something to say and they do a really good job of doing just that. 

Your potential speaker might do this in one of several ways. They could have a certain type of voice like a deep one like James Earl Jones did. They could also be very animated on the stage, which can keep both their and the audience’s attention. 

A Connection With the Audience

Would you rather listen to someone who is only there to collect a paycheck or one who is thrilled to be there to talk about leadership? The second one, right? You want them to make the people who are sitting in the auditorium feel like the speaker is talking to them directly in an authentic way.

This happens when the speaker talks both with knowledge and humility. They can make it clear that they know everything about the topic without making the audience feel like they are being talked down to. It’s a situation of them both teaching and speaking. 

Adaptability

A speaker might cover the same topic throughout their career. It’s the way that they do it that can make it unique. This means that they can tailor the speech to your audience and give it in a way that doesn’t feel like a replica of the speech they gave three days ago. 

The legendary band The Grateful Dead was famous for not performing songs the same way each time they played. That made each concert a memorable one for their legions of fans who followed them around the country. While your speaker might not get that sort of following, giving unique speeches can make them popular on the leadership circuit. 

If the speaker has the above qualities and other ones like empathy, good diction, and humor, then chances are good that their audience will remember them. If you’re booking someone, do some research beforehand and see what people said about their previous speeches. You’ll also likely find entire speeches uploaded to sites like YouTube, which will give you the best chance of being able to gauge whether they fit your criteria. Then it’s just a matter of hiring them. 

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