professional awareness - national speakers...

NSASpeakersAcademy

ProfessionalAwareness

© 2012 National Speakers Association 1

Module 2: Professional Awareness

The National Speakers AssociationYou are participating in a unified Speakers Academy curriculum designed to createstandards of learning how to survive, thrive, grow and effectively contribute to thespeaking industry. This may be your first exposure to the industry or one of manytouch points you’ve experienced. In addition to this curriculum, however, you havemany, many benefits afforded to you once you become a member of the NationalSpeakers Association — and we'll explore some of them in this module. This moduleis designed to help you become even more aware of NSA, the speaking industry,and what it means professionally to be an active part of such an excitingenvironment.

While no one expects you to know everything about the association, there are timeswhen phrases and words are used, or references are made, that you're unfamiliarwith. This module will help, as will your research when you go on a bit of ascavenger hunt. Using the Internet and your colleagues and your leader asresources, what can you find out about the following items?

NSA’s founding story and MISSION:

NSA’s organizational structure and current leaders:

How are they elected?

Your chapter’s organizational structure and current leaders?

Membership categories and how you can participate?

The four guiding competencies that guide NSA members (also known as the four E’s)?

National headquarters and staff: Who is our CEO?

NSA’s Website is:WWW.NSASPEAKER.ORG

2 © 2012 National Speakers Association


What are the benefits of NSA membership?

What are the benefits of NSA chapter membership?

What is a PEG? To which one might you belong?

What are the upcoming NSA national and local events that you might attend?

What is a CSP?

What is a CPAE?

What is the Cavett Award?

What is the PSBF?



Association Acronym LandYou may have noticed that there's no shortage of acronyms in this industry. Someare related to NSA designations, while others are associations that support NSAefforts and members. Look for information on the below acronyms, and make noteof how these organizations can benefit you.

MPI:

IASB:

GSN:

ISPI:

ASAE:

ASTD:

SHRM:

Of course, acronyms and speaking don’t just occur in English. What are some of the international speaking associations that serve other countries and make up theGlobal Speakers Network?



Have you looked up “What is a Speakers Bureau?” on Wikipedia?

Speakers Bureaus and Agents

It is not only the associations through which you can connect, network, and learn more aboutbecoming an active member of the speaking industry. There are also organizations thatspecialize in booking speakers and representing them once they are established.

What is a speakers bureau?

What are the bureaus in your area?

Should you reach out to them?

Do you need an agent?

How Do You Stay Current? It is one thing to listen in to the hallway conversations at the National Convention for NSA in July, and believe that this is keeping you current. It is quite another todetermine your regular resources for research that will keep you ahead of the curveand operating in that expert status. What resources do you go to for your industryand your topic, so that you’re aware of what is happening around you and in your profession?

What magazines do you read to stay current?

What social media channels, blogs, groups or pages do you refer to for current information?

What white papers, research, and industry trade publications might you investigate?

How do you stay on top of your topic’s developments or your clients’ industries?





How Do You Behave? One of the keys to a new alignment with a group or association is figuring out theirculture. How do they behave? What is expected of you when you’re a part of theassociation? Does that fit with who you are? To better understand that, there areboth written and unwritten rules that govern our association and the professionalconduct one demonstrates when a part of it.

• I have reviewed the NSA Professional Code of Ethics:http://www.nsaspeaker.org/about/spirit-of-nsa/code-of-ethics

• I am aware of the need to use my best judgment when approached bysomeone selling to speakers

• I have considered insurance protection for cases in which clients believe I have said something wrong or harmful

• I have discussed the professional conduct of a “public figure” with myacademy leader

• I am “walking my talk” and upholding the image I wish to market

What are the social norms of those in the speaking industry?

What is the first impression other professionals have of you?

First ImpressionsPart of managing your own professional awareness is being not only aware of thosearound you and your industry, but how you portray yourself. What are the elementsthat make up your first impression? Are there any areas in which you might want torealign or focus some attention?

� � Does my business card look professional?

� Do my letterhead and email auto signature look professional?

� � Is my one-sheet effective and true to what I do?

�� Does my website get me booked?

� � Do I have high-quality demo footage that gets me booked?

� Do I look the part I am marketing?

� Do I have the credentials I need to support my efforts?

What do you think your clients feel when you have a professional look, image and presentation?

What might that result in?

Is it better to be “professional” or be “YOU”?





Professional Awareness Homework

Congratulations on the completion of your PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS Module. Your journey may have begun today or some time ago. Homework will help you maintain the momentum.

My homework from this session is:

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wareness HomeworkCongratulations on the completion of your PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS Module. Your journey may have begun today or some time ago. Homework will help you

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Congratulations on the completion of your PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS Module. Your journey may have begun today or some time ago. Homework will help you

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