Setting the Tone: A Hospitality-Centered Approach to Speaking Engagements
From Lecturer To Host - a simple mindset shift that can change the way you approach speaking engagements. Let’s be honest, presenting in front of a large group can be nerve-wracking. Rather than seeing yourself as a dispenser of information, imagine yourself as a gracious host welcoming guests into your home. How do you want to make them feel? If the goal of your presentation is to make them feel at ease, engaged, and valued, how will you shift your tone?
Applying The Five Pillars of Hospitality to Your Speaking Engagements
Warm Welcome - Exuding warmth from the beginning sets the tone. It makes your guests relax into the space. Expressing genuine gratitude for their time makes them feel at ease and ready to receive your message.
Comfort and Connection - Make eye contact, use inclusive language, and encourage audience participation. Ask questions that invite dialogue and create space where everyone feels comfortable contributing. The more connected you feel to your audience, the more they will connect to you and your message.
Anticipate Needs - one of the most important things we do in restaurants is anticipate our guests' needs before they need to ask. There is very little that makes a person feel more cared for, valued, and seen. Simple gestures go a long way: offering water and making sure the temperature of the room is comfortable are easy ways to anticipate needs before they arise.
Engage the Senses - Use visuals, storytelling, humor, food and wine...even music to create a multi-sensory experience that keeps your audience engaged and wanting more. People learn and retain information in a variety of ways. Catering to various learning styles will boost the impact of your message.
Express Gratitude - Conclude your presentation by expressing gratitude, offering key takeaways from your presentation, and making your audience feel inspired, informed, and valued.
At Acquire, we believe that being hospitality-centered is a mindset. It is genuinely caring about the experience of others, in this case, your audience. Learning about your audience, what their interests are, and what makes them excited will increase the impact of your presentation and will allow you to connect deeper, which is the foundation for building long-lasting relationships.