What to Say to a Speaker

One of the best parts of going to hear someone speak in person is the chance to talk with them afterward.

Perhaps they just shared a new idea that you want to explore, or maybe you’ve really admired their work for years. Either way, you may only have a few minutes to connect, so it helps to know what you want to say.

Here are three ways to connect with a speaker:

A great talk can leave you with lots of questions, but there may be other people waiting to speak with the presenter, too. Pick one question they can answer in a few sentences, and save the rest for another time.

Avoid asking something complex like, “How did you start your career?” or “How did you reach this level of success?” Instead, ask for a resource or two for you to learn more about a specific topic or accomplishment and how you can use that information.

Asking people questions empowers them to be a source of information and makes them feel good.

Compliments are nice, but they often don’t say much. Rather than just shaking the speaker’s hand and saying, “I enjoyed that!”, provide the speaker with praise and a reason why. “I really enjoyed your talk on (this topic), because it taught me more about (fill in the blank).”

Don’t think of giving the speaker your card! If you do give your card to a presenter, there is no incentive for her/him to contact you. It most likely will get discarded. The speaker usually has a lot to pack up and your card might not make it back home.

Instead, ask for the best way way to contact that person. Reach out later that afternoon, or the next day, with an informative, yet short, follow-up email. Include a reference to your conversation, a brief line of a praise, and a value-added resource (for example: recommending an article, a podcast episode, or a book).

When it is your turn to have face time with the speaker, it’s best to be prepared. Have a game plan of what questions you want to ask, what praise you want to give, and how to follow-up afterward.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your communication skills, register for one of our public classes.

Image courtesy of SIM USA

Other Resources:

Say it quick, say it well – the attention span of a modern internet consumer.

How to Write an Elevator Pitch

10 Powerful Networking Questions

JG