Welcome to Association Forum's Speaker Resource Center
We’ve pulled a few resources together to help you prepare for your speaking engagement at Association Forum or elsewhere.
Interested in submitting a session idea?
Please complete this form.
Association Forum staff programs content for its members year-round and will refer to ideas submitted through this form as needs arise. If there is a fit, a Forum staff member will contact you to discuss in further detail.
Already a confirmed speaker?
Here are some resources to help you prepare.
Develop an effective session
Developing a session can feel overwhelming. Here are some things to think through as you put together your session.
Session Goal – Identify a clear goal for your presentation. What core issue or challenge is this session addressing or attempting to resolve?
· Stay at a strategic level as much as possible, avoid getting too tactical
· Basic/tactical level is acceptable if you are exploring a new concept/topic but intermediate/advanced is expected for a majority of Forum content.
Content Focus – Consider if this topic needs to be narrowed or broadened to be effective.
· If the topic itself is not new, how would you approach presenting this in a unique and thought-provoking way that meets the needs of Forum participants NOW?
· Ensure content is not “salesy”. If you are a supplier, consider bringing in a client to co-present.
· Are the key take aways scalable for associations of different sizes and budgets? Include tips for scalability.
· Research shows that sharing learnings through story helps ensure that content sticks. Plan to share a few stories to illustrate the key take aways.
Session Format – What type of engaging delivery format would work well?
· Long table, deconstructed panel, fish bowl, group activities etc. What are ways to engage the audience in active learning that are particularly relevant for this topic?
· How many speakers/points of view do you need for a well-rounded session? Avoid bringing in too many speakers or the key points may get muddled and session interactivity will be difficult.
*Pro tip - For every fifteen minutes of presentation, plan an activity to engage the audience and reinforce main themes you are covering.
Write Effective Session Copy
Session Titles- Your goal is no different than writing a headline for an article or an email subject line: What will get the reader to keep reading? Clever is good, but authenticity is key. It also should entice people to read the description but include enough information so if they don’t read the description they’ll know the topic.
Guideline:
· 10 words or less
Session Descriptions - Focus on WIIFM - participants want to know: what’s in it for me? Session descriptions should address how the session will benefit individual attendees and/or their organizations. Make the case for why this topic is important, urgent, and helpful. Include information about the session format and interactivity so they know what to expect from the experience.
Guidelines:
· Four to five short sentences
· 75 – 100 words
Learning Objectives – These are specific key take aways from the session. They refer to what the participant will be able to recall after attending the session. They should be reinforced throughout the session and are a good way to ensure you keep your presentation focused.
Guidelines:
· Begin with an action verb in present tense
· Must be measurable - do not use “know” or “understand”
· No more than one learning objective per 15-20 minutes of session time.
*Pro tip - Many participants read titled, then learner outcomes, and finally the description if those two content pieces intrigue them. Keep this in mind when crafting your copy.
PowerPoint Tips:
· Bring a backup copy of your presentation to the session
· Embed graphics and video to share your story visually
· Less is more when it comes to text on slides
· Include your contact information on your last slide
Recommended Number of Slides:
· 45 min presentation = 15 slides max
· 60 min presentation = 20 slides max
· 75 min presentation = 25 slides max
· 90 min presentation = 30 slides max
Feedback
Feel free to share your thoughts with our team education@associationforum.org and we will be sure to review all feedback! Also contact us if you have additional resources that you’ve found helpful and we may add it to the list below!