Book Michael Smyth for a speaking engagement

Are you looking for a conference speaker that won’t send the audience to sleep?

I know, a lawyer would normally be the last person on your list to give a speech, seminar or workshop. Acts of Parliament, clauses and sub clauses...(yawn) ...I’m falling asleep as I write this. But not all lawyers are the same.

What causes audiences to sit up and listen?

Have you ever noticed how business owners flock to business seminars or buy the latest business book hoping to get that business nugget that will transform their business into a raging success, yet, virtually no one goes to legal seminars? That is because business seminars are about making money and legal seminars are about boring compliance issues. But what if a presentation from a lawyer told you how to make your business more profitable? Now there is a novelty.

But it is not a novelty at all

One of the most famous business books of all time is Jim Collins “Good to Great”, where he sets out nine principles for transforming your business into a great business. One of those principles is that you have to get the right people on the bus (i.e. your business) and the wrong people off the bus. That’s where New Zealand business owners become frustrated because the perception is that New Zealand employment legislation says you can’t. Fact or fiction?

I debunk the myth

Business owners leave my presentations empowered to regain control of their businesses from disengaged employees. No longer do they tolerate poor performance in the workplace. Instead they understand the need to get the wrong people off the bus and feel confident about doing so without having to worry about defending a Personal Grievance. Yes, law can be boring, but not when it is mixed with entertainment. Business owners will laugh at real stories of disengaged employees taking advantage of their employers and learn not to make the same mistakes themselves.

What will the audience learn?

I can speak for any length of time, from 20 minutes to 1 day and the length of the speaking engagement will dictate what I can cover. You only have to read Employed But Not Engaged to give you an idea of the breadth of topics I can cover. The important thing however, is making the presentation relevant to the audience, so every presentation will be tweaked to ensure that happens.

Why not hear for yourself

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Listen to some clips of me speaking and get an idea of what to expect. The clips are very short but if you need larger ones just email me.

Using analogies to make a point
Using case studies to begin

Why event organisers engage me to speak

The reason event organisers have engaged me to speak is because of my underlying aim: to make sure that the audience goes away with a better understanding of the topic than before they entered the room. I don’t do that by bombarding the audience with boring facts but by taking the time to explain things in a way in which most lawyers wouldn’t even think of.

Here’s what one event organiser had to say about my speaking:

A lawyer would not normally have been my first port of call.
“We hadn’t had speakers before I became a committee member so I needed to find someone who would not only reflect well on me as the organiser of the event but who would also be informative and interesting. A lawyer wouldn’t normally be my first port of call – you typically think of lawyers as dry and poor speakers. However, I’ve heard Michael speak before and I liked the way he could “hold” an audience with his presence. I wasn’t disappointed. He opened with an entertaining case study which immediately captured the room. He managed to keep the audience with him whilst providing information relevant to our industry. The audience went away with information which highlighted issues which they hadn’t previously been aware of. Michael was very accommodating in the run up to the event and everything went smoothly on the night – I would definitely use Michael again”.
- Yolanda Alba,
Committee member Landscape Industry Association of New Zealand.

Would you like to say something like this regarding your event and impress your audience?

Because, It’s not just about the audience

That’s right, it’s not just about the audience, its also about the person organising the event. I will work closely with you to deliver content that you want your audience to hear. Don’t be afraid to ask if you want something specific. Also, I don’t want to be the one giving you sleepless nights before the event so I will keep in touch to make sure everything goes right.

How much?

That really depends on what you are looking for. Since one size doesn’t fit all, it’s best to email or call me for a quote.

Are there any other questions?

Not only do my audiences get a chance to ask questions but so do you, so, if you have any other further questions about my speaking either use the contact form on this website or call me. If you simply want to enquire of my availability or book then the same methods will work.

Regards,

Michael Smyth LLb.
ApproachableLawyer.Com

P.S. If you have read this file then I have succeeded in not sending you to sleep!