Heather R. Huhman

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking at James Madison University last week. Not only was the audience extremely attentive, but I also felt like I was making a huge impact.

But afterward, I got to thinking about how the experience could have been even better for the students. (Other than me bringing handouts. Next time, guys. Sorry!)

1. Take notes, but remain in the room. I often find students mentally leave the room when taking notes. They are so busy jotting down the speaker’s every word that they forget to really listen. So, write down only points you are truly afraid you might forget. Otherwise, just listen and let the content sink in.
2. Don’t just listen–engage. You attend professional speaking engagements because the speaker has information you do not, correct? Surely he or she did not answer every question during the presentation. Speak up! If the question is on your mind, it’s likely be be on others’ minds, as well.
3. Introduce yourself to the speaker. Speakers will often arrive early or stay late to speak with students who want to introduce themselves or ask more personal/private questions. Take advantage of this opportunity!
4. Bring business cards. As a speaker, this is something I really felt was missing from the James Madison presentation. There were too many names to remember! Help your speaker remember you by bringing business cards.
5. Connect on social networks. Probably the easiest way to continue a relationship with your speaker after the presentation is to connect with him or her on social networks. But, don’t just “follow” or “friend”–again, engage. Ask questions. Offer answers. Build a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship.

What other suggestions do you have for getting more out of attending a professional speaker’s presentation?