Speaking tips for your attorneys: complaints that rarely appear on evaluation forms.

• Author: Rokus, Erica M.
• Position: Interview

WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING PRESENTATIONS AT SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES, YOUR ATTORNEYS MAY THINK THEY DON'T NEED MUCH ADVICE. After all, they have been through law school, and many have also received tips and training through the marketing department and the companies that sponsor seminars and conferences.

Attorneys can also point to the positive evaluations they have received from previous speaking engagements. But many attorneys don't know that some program attendees hold back on those speaker evaluation forms, only to direct their strongest criticisms to the seminar coordinators or conference planners. Criticism may be so strong that attendees may ask for refunds or request that the planners refrain from using a specific speaker for future programs.

By sharing the following tips with your attorneys, you can help ensure they are not among the speakers who require refunds or who get quietly blackballed. By opening up the dialogue, you can help your attorneys develop stronger presentation techniques and more effective, appropriate client contacts.

Tip #1 Always arrive at a speaking engagement 10-15 minutes prior to the designated start time.

Coming in late for a speaking engagement shows disrespect for the audience, the other speakers who are on time and the event coordinator. Your attorneys should show attendees they have made this a top priority and eliminate the panic chain reaction from the registration clerk to the host of the program as they try to track down speakers who are late.

Tip #2 Keep industry jokes and negative comments regarding individuals, businesses or entities out of presentations.

This includes politics! Attorneys should remain neutral in their positions on hot-button issues that are discussed during the presentation; even better, they should show strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Once they cross the line and take a stand on one side of an issue, they can safely assume they have lost half the audience and half the potential client contacts.

Tip #3 Attendees appreciate a speaker who is familiar with their own material.

Attorneys should never read from PowerPoint slides or manuscripts. If another member of the firm prepares the materials, make sure attorneys practice the presentation so they understand the flow of the materials. This will also help to eliminate the overuse of "ums" and "ahs," which can be distracting and leave a sloppy impression. In addition, coach attorneys to maintain eye contact, since this gives...