What I Need to Know at Our First Meeting
At our very first meeting I’ll be looking for insights I couldn’t find just as easily online.
About the ultimate outcome: why are you doing this?
- What would be your wildest aspiration for the overall event – and my role in it?
- What are you hoping I will bring to this event?
- What would our audience think/say/do differently as a result?
About the audience: how are they feeling?
I like a deep, honest brief, preferably meeting in person but virtual is fine [allow 30 mins] in order to fully answer two, critically important questions:
- What has this audience been through in the last 24-36 months?
- What new insights/skills/mindsets will they need for the next 12 months?
I also like to review any recent cultural surveys and sometimes even find the odd gem in the latest strategic plan and/or Annual Report. And of course, the usual Vision, Mission and Values statements are always interesting reading.
About the session vibe (before/after)
- What mood do you expect our audience to be in? [Excited? Exhausted? Hopeful? Cynical? etc…]
- Are you hoping I’ll match that mood? Enhance it? Or change it completely?
If I can demonstrate a solid understanding of these three issues you can safely step back and let me start designing my session; once that’s done I always recommend a follow-up meeting closer to the event to discuss my material and approach, just to ensure we’re all still on the same page.
It’s good for me and it helps the organisers sleep a little more easily.
If, on the other hand it’s clear to either [or both!] of us that I just don’t have a tight grasp of the brief I promise I’ll be the first to recommend you find a smarter, more insightful speaker.