Twelve Things to Look For When Choosing a Great INSET Speaker

With over thirty years’ experience across six continents and tens of thousands of happy punters, we know a thing or two about leading an INSET day or CPD session.

So, here’s our view on the top twelve[1]things to look for when it comes to choosing your perfect INSET speaker.

1. Have you or someone you trust seen them in action?

Having a large following on social media and a fancy website does not a great INSET speaker make.

We learned early on that word of mouth is the best marketing tool there is and, for schools, it’s the best decision-making tool too.

Get along to conferences and events and check out the ones you like the look of.

2. Is making contact with them to check availability a straightforward and even enjoyable process?

If a speaker is any good, they’ll probably be busy.

That doesn’t mean you need to spend ages chasing them around for a reply.

Some will have someone to handle such things for them and that will help.

(At Independent Thinking we handle enquires for over 50 great INSET speakers and will get you an answer within a day or so, usually much quicker. Even on a Sunday night!)

3. Do they know their stuff?

Anyone can copy and paste material they’ve gleaned from elsewhere and turn it into a shiny PowerPoint presentation.

The important thing here is what original thinking do they bring?

What have they pioneered?

What have they created?

How is the world of education different as a result of their work, not what they’ve read[2].

4. Do they want to know your context?

Sometimes we're asked by a Head who has seen us speak, ‘Can you come in and do that thing you did that inspired as all at the conference?’.

Of course, we can do that, but what a good INSET speaker really enjoys is finding out more about the context of the school and adapting their presentation to that[3].

If you feel you are being offered something ‘off the shelf’ you probably are and that’s where it should probably remain.

5. Do they say, ‘No, that’s not really my area of expertise. Try this person instead’?

You’ve seen a speaker you really like who you think would go down a storm with your colleagues, but this year’s push is on a topic that is, let’s say, adjacent to their expertise.

A great INSET speaker will have one area they call their own.

Some may genuinely have more than one (many of our Associates can hold their own on a number of topics in which they have experience and wisdom to share).

But an honest speaker will say a firm but sympathetic ‘no’ if you are asking them to present on something in which they are not a specialist, for their sake as well as yours.

6. Do they offer a money-back guarantee?

We’ve been up front about our ‘satisfaction or you pay nothing guarantee’ since day one.

It’s called ‘risk reversal’.

If for any reason a speaker doesn’t live up to their billing, you don’t pay.

The risk, therefore, is on the speaker to shine on the day, not on the school to worry about wasting their money.

Back in the early days we were once offered 50% of the agreed fee as the session had not quite gone as expected (for a variety of reasons).

We declined.

It keeps us all on our toes.

7. Do they get nervous?

According to Sir Anthony Hopkins, ‘Nerves are the respect you pay your audience’.

Even the very best speakers will have a restless night before an INSET day as they lie in their Premier Inn eating takeaway pizza with only the box set of Family Guy for company.

That said, the best speakers like the best actors, hide their nerves well.

But do ask them.

8. Do they make you feel good the moment they walk through the door?

Nerves aside, a speaker who arrives flustered, disorganised and suddenly asks you to photocopy a handout for 150 teachers is not good for anyone’s blood pressure.

Ensure the lines of communication are open in the build-up to the INSET day, including mobile phone contact the evening before if appropriate.

(Premier Inn remember.)

And if they are more about the selfie for their socials than connecting with their hosts, well…

9. Do they adapt as they go along?

A great INSET speaker will adapt his or her presentation to the demands and reactions of the audience in real time.

Some of the best presentations are more like improvised jazz than a concerto.

A number of our Associates will ask the audience about the things that are most on their mind at the beginning of the session and then work to address them as they go along.

If things aren’t on track, tell the speaker so in the break and let them adapt accordingly.

And when things are going well, tell them that too!

10. Does the audience laugh, think, talk, reflect on practice and all have something to go and try afterwards?

We’ve written elsewhere about the importance of laughter for learning.

And not just laughter – neuroscience tells us how memory is inextricably associated with our emotional brain[4].

Dry INSET is like dry teaching is like a Rich Tea with nothing to dunk it in.

The best speakers engage an audience at a human level – even a difficult audience – regardless of the material they are imparting.

11. Will they keep the lines of communication open after the event?

Sometimes you are happy to ‘take it from here’ after an INSET day or CPD event, but the offer to follow up with support, help and advice going forward is always welcome.

If you get a feel the speaker is parachuting in to take the money and run, then maybe you should be the one running.

12. Are they practitioners as well as speakers?

One last thing, try this – ask your speaker whether they would be up for coming in tomorrow to model the ideas they were sharing with the staff with real live children?

Great INSET speakers will jump at the chance.

(Many of our speakers are always keen to model their work in a classroom full of children with a live audience of teachers.) 

The less great ones will nervously be looking for their car keys.

We hope that’s been useful when it comes to helping you choose a great INSET speaker for a training day or CPD event.

If we can help further, just drop us a line or call us on 01267 211432 for free, no-obligation chat.

We might be biased but with over thirty years’ experience in thousands of schools of all types and phases right across the UK and internationally too, you can trust us to provide great INSET speakers who will help you get it right and guarantee a wonderful day for all concerned.

Despite the nerves... [ITL]