How do you choose a motivational speaker for a company event?

Whether it's an annual kick-off, a sales convention or a leadership meeting, organising an event takes time and investment. You want your team to leave with energy and with a message that lasts. And that is where the choice of speaker makes all the difference.

I have given talks to companies such as Salesforce, Doutor Finanças and RE/MAX Portugal. From the other side of the stage, I have learned what separates a talk people discuss for months from one that is forgotten the next day. Here are the criteria I would use if I were in your shoes.

1. Start with the goal of the event, not the speaker's name

Before you look for names, answer these questions:

• What do I want the team to feel at the end?
• What do I want the team to do differently the following Monday?
• What moment is the team going through: growth, change, pressure, loss of motivation?

A sales team facing a year of ambitious targets needs something different from a team that has just been through a restructuring. The right speaker is the one whose message answers the moment your team is in.

2. Look for a true story, lived first-hand

People remember stories, not slides with quotes. A good motivational speaker talks about what they have lived, mistakes and doubts included. That is what creates a connection.

Ask yourself: has this person done something my team respects? Is there authenticity in the way they tell it? In the testimonials about my talks, authenticity is often the point people mention most, and that is no accident. A team can tell straight away when a story has been memorised.

3. Make sure inspiration turns into tools

Emotion without application fades quickly. The best talk connects an extraordinary experience to your team's day-to-day reality. Ask the speaker to tell you, specifically, what people will take home.

For example, in my talk “What's your Everest?” I work on five points:

• making decisions under pressure;
• managing emotions in difficult situations;
• setting “impossible” goals and going after them;
• valuing preparation;
• connecting vision, planning and execution.

4. Check that the speaker adapts the message

Every company has its own language, challenges and culture. A good speaker asks questions before the event: who will be in the room, which topics are sensitive, what words the company uses, what the strategy for the year is.

Be wary of anyone who gives the same talk to every audience.

5. See the speaker in action

Ask for videos, photos from previous events and client testimonials. Even better: talk to someone who has already hired them. Pay attention to their energy on stage, their rhythm, their humour and how they handle questions.

6. Think about format and length

A 40 to 45-minute talk followed by 15 to 20 minutes of questions works very well for most events. It is enough time to build a deep connection without tiring the room. The questions are often the richest moment: the team brings the story into its own challenges.

Also confirm what you need technically: microphone, screen, sound for video and set-up time at the venue.

7. See the budget as an investment

The fee of a motivational speaker varies a lot, depending on their profile, the length of the talk and travel. My talks start at €1,500 + VAT. More important than the price is the return: a team that is more aligned, more confident and better able to handle pressure.

Also consider extras that extend the impact. For example, giving each participant a book keeps the message alive long after the event.

8. Value the purpose behind the story

More and more people want to work for companies with values. A speaker whose story is linked to a cause reinforces that message. In my case, 3% of INFINITY's revenue goes to social projects in Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania and Portugal. When you book a talk, your company contributes to that too.

Quick checklist

Shall we talk about your event?

If you are looking for a motivational speaker who talks about decisions, resilience and overcoming limits, drawing on Everest, the Nepal earthquake and 100 marathons in 100 days, find out more about the talk “What's your Everest?”. Tell me the date, the place, the number of participants and your goals, and I will send you a proposal.