“Content is still important, but content is much more of a commodity. So the premise has to be that we’ve got to create something…It has to include conversation, it has to include community, it has to include the idea that there’s going to be something that’s analog that happens.”
In this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin chats with Brad Lomenick about what truly makes speakers memorable. Brad’s big takeaway is that being great to work with matters even more than being the most dynamic person on stage.
Brad shares that self-awareness is key: know your strengths, get feedback, and focus on the type of events where you shine. He also highlights the importance of personal touches like connecting with organizers, knowing your audience, and showing genuine kindness.
Ultimately, it’s the offstage moments and relationships you build that lead to lasting success. Want to get booked again and again? Prioritize being a good human, not just a good speaker!
You’ll learn:
- The value of feedback in improving as a communicator
- Pursuing growth without losing sight of strengths
- How to elicit helpful criticism
- The difference between different types of feedback
- Navigating the challenge of competing with digital content
- Building community and trust as a speaker
- Tips for making big rooms feel “smaller”
- The long-term effect of how speakers treat people off-stage
- And much, much more!
“Sometimes our own personal emotions are not the best indicator because we look at [our talk] and go, oh, I crushed it, and the audience looks at it and goes, good intentions.”