Demand is high for words of wisdom, reports David Maida
KEY POINTS:
Celebrity speakers are in hot demand as businesses seek to inject some external vitality into their organisations, says Dr Tom Mulholland, director of The Healthy Thinking Institute.
"I think there have been three days in the last month where I haven't had a speaking engagement," he says.
Mulholland says he is busier than ever because many workers are suffering from what he calls attitude illness.
"What we find in the workplace is a lot of people are paralysed with attitude illness. There is a gloom mentality. It's too difficult ... Some organisations are just going into a tailspin. They're just like the possum in the headlights."
People are also taking stress home with them.
"A lot of people aren't sleeping very well and there is a lot more anxiety out there probably than what there was six months ago."
The economic downturn has really started to affect people's moods, Mulholland says.
"What's changed in recent times is I've noticed there is a lot more panic out there. Previously people would be stressed because they've just got too much work and people were order-taking and there was a lot of demand. But now a lot of things have dried up.
"There are a lot of people who feel guilty [about] the amount of hours they spend at work. They feel guilty when they're at home that they should be at work and they feel guilty when they're at work that they should be at home. They waste a lot of time in what we call unhealthy alarm emotions."
But Mulholland says now is the time when an outside guest speaker can challenge people's attitudes and inspire them.
"For those companies that are forward-thinking and saying, `Well, how can we minimise the impact of a recession?' It's by turning people's heads around."
Mulholland says employees are disengaged 20 per cent of the time and the answer is not working harder and longer hours.
"If you're being inefficient 40 per cent of the time, you'll work another 10 hours and it actually becomes counterproductive."
Mulholland worked as a doctor in Taranaki and has been on the speaking circuit full-time for five years. He works at addressing people's thought patterns, which can inhibit their ability to perform.
He says the type of professional speaking he does takes time to get right and he's always improving.
"I think if you're going to be a speaker as a career, you've got to get in and actually provide some long-lasting tools to add value that people can use."
Often he will poll the audience beforehand to determine what their needs are. "It's important to do a lot of homework before you speak."
Mulholland often does more than just a one-off keynote presentation. He also does follow-up training courses and workshops.
"As a speaker, you've got to entertain people at a conference. People book you to entertain them but they also book you for a message."
Recently he has been called upon to address salespeople, insurance brokers and financial planners.
"Organisations are wanting to look at why their sales staff are not engaged. The economy has changed but there are different opportunities.
"So, it's looking at a way of using technology. It's a way of going back to your original client base. It's about looking at alternate strategies."
Mulholland says his talks allow people to better cope with things that crop up so that they are less stressed and grumpy.
"It's all around changing your attitude and your behaviour at work and your behaviour at home."
Mulholland is a top pick at New Zealand's largest speakers' bureau, Celebrity Speakers. Managing director Louise Ryburn says the company has around 1000 speakers on its books - from magicians to sports stars - and has seen a surge in demand.
"We have clients who come to us with all kinds of different briefs. It could be anything from them simply wanting a comedian right through to a high-level strategy speaker to help them through a major change in their company."
Clients often don't necessarily know who they want to speak at their function, but they want someone who fits their company culture and demographic. Ryburn says only 10 per cent of customers have a particular person in mind. Organisations might want a specific public figure to come and speak, but it's not always realistic.
"They want them for the profile. They don't understand that that person might be quite shy and can't stand up in front of 500 people."
Not all speakers are household names. And in tight economic times, it might just take a new face to help increase employee engagement.
"They really need inspiration and motivation for their staff because people are really down and out, can't pay their bills, can't make ends meet."
Companies might simply be looking for a comic to lift the mood.
"If it's a dinner speaker, they provide light relief. They've had a hard day of business planning and then they can put their feet up and let go.
"More teambuilding speakers often unite the team."
Athletes and television personalities command top dollar for public appearances, but Ryburn says New Zealand speakers are still fairly reasonable.
"Prices aren't that high in New Zealand when you compare it to Australia and the States. Once you work it out on a per-head basis, it becomes very affordable."
But prices vary widely and fluctuate with the trends.
"When the Olympics were on, people wanted someone who was an Olympian. At the moment it's all to do with [the economy]."
Sometimes an outside person can provide some reassurance and reinforce management's messages.
"An economic speaker can come in and say `Look, it's going to get better'. Usually they want someone who's going to give a positive outlook. It's to educate them on what's happening and the future trends that are likely to happen."
Contact David Maida at: www.DavidMaida.com
