What should be in a Corporate Speaker Brief? The AI Answer and what it misses...

We all use AI. It's great but never perfect…or even close to perfect. If you search a topic you know well you will always find holes or misinformation.

So I asked the question... What should be in a Corporate Speaker Brief?  I tried 3 generative AI platforms and they were all pretty much the same. Below is one of the answers: Have a read and see if you agree with my comments at the end!

The AI Answer to What should be in a Corporate Speaker Brief?

A well-crafted speaker brief is essential for ensuring that presenters at a business event are well-prepared and aligned with the event's objectives. Here are key elements to include:

1. Event Overview:
   • Event Name, Date, and Location: Clearly state the event's title, when and where it will take place.
   • Purpose and Goals: Outline the main objectives of the event and the desired outcomes.
   • Theme: Describe the central theme or focus to guide the speaker's content.
2. Audience Profile:
   • Demographics: Provide information on the attendees' roles, industries, and experience levels.
   • Interests and Expectations: Highlight what the audience hopes to gain and any specific topics of interest.
3. Speaker's Role and Session Details:
   • Session Title and Description: Define the topic and scope of the speaker's presentation.
   • Duration and Format: Specify the length of the session and the preferred format (e.g., lecture, workshop, panel).
   • Key Messages: Identify three main takeaways you want the audience to retain.
4. Logistics and Technical Requirements:
   • Venue Layout: Inform about the room setup and available equipment.
   • Audio-Visual Needs: Confirm the speaker's requirements for microphones, projectors, etc.
   • Rehearsal Opportunities: Provide details on any scheduled practice sessions.
5. Audience Engagement:
   • Q&A Sessions: Clarify if there will be a question-and-answer segment and its format.
   • Interactive Elements: Encourage the inclusion of polls, discussions, or other interactive components.
6. Branding and Content Guidelines:
   • Brand Standards: Share guidelines to ensure the presentation aligns with the event's branding.
   • Content Restrictions: Note any topics or language to avoid.
7. Biographical Information:
   • Speaker Introduction: Request a brief bio and introduction script for the event host.
8. Contact Information:
   • Event Coordinator Details: Provide the contact information of the person responsible for assisting the speaker.

By including these elements, you equip your speakers with the necessary information to deliver effective and cohesive presentations that resonate with your audience.

My thoughts on what the AI missed: It's the vibe!

You have to ask yourself... Why do you brief speakers? Yes, speakers need to be at the right place, right time with the right stuff, and know their objective. But they also have to be in the right mood, the right headspace, be geed up and ready to go. When you deliver a brief you are the coach of a sports team!

Purpose and Goals

Change them into something more tangible, rephrase them as what you want the audience to DO as a result of attending the whole event

Audience Profile

Give as much information as you can on the mood of the audience, their attitude to the topic. Are they excited, angry, etc. Are they knowledgeable or not? Invariably you will have to break the audience down into smaller 'mood' groupings. 

Speaker’s Role and Session Details

Don’t just tell them about their session, let them know what comes before and after their session and what impact that will have on the mood of the audience 

Key messages

End with 3 key takeaways is as old as the hills, and normally delivered with little flair. Like the event objectives make this more tangible and tell the speaker what you want the audience to DO as a result of their presentation [measure what the audience does and you have your KPI]

Audience engagement 

Unless the speaker is really good, asking to engage the audience is rarely enough to get them to actually do it. Speakers need help, they need to work through exactly how they are going to engage and they need to commit and probably practice

Logistics but also stage craft

To feel calm and prepared a speaker needs to know where they will be before they present, how they will be announced and how they should take the stage. They also need to know what to do at the end of their presentation, how they are going to exit.

In conclusion

It’s all about treating them as professionals. Brief presenters well and it will have a huge impact on their self-confidence and performance, and remember your brief is more than a list of facts...
it’s a call to action.