Are you a member of your industry association? A couple of years ago, I (re) joined the National Speaker’s Association. We didn’t have a local chapter where I live in Austin for many years, but then some of my friends and colleagues restarted the chapter here. It took me several years to get involved. That was a mistake.
I joined (and I’m so glad I did!) primarily because they offer a certification I wanted as a productivity speaker and trainer, called the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. This certification is “the speaking profession’s highest earned international measure of professional platform competence.”
Earning the CSP designation is an involved process, but when I looked at the qualifications, I realized I had them. The requirements include making hundreds of presentations, receiving excellent ratings on performance evaluations, and taking part in ongoing education. It’s based on four key competencies: eloquence, expertise, enterprise and ethics. And the submission process is lengthy.
But I’m proud to say I went through it last year, and was awarded the certification officially this past July at the industry’s annual conference, called Influence. (I was pretty excited. 😊)
This honor from the NSA recognizes my track record as an award-winning productivity speaker and trainer for clients including Dell, Old Navy, the U.S. Army, L’Oréal, the American Heart Association and Kaiser Permanente. I help my audiences learn how to take back control over their work and personal lives by using attention management: the ability to consciously direct your attention in any given moment, to be more proactive than reactive, and to maintain control rather than inadvertently relinquish it.
Participating in the National Speaker’s Association has offered me so may resources for professional development, I know I’ve improved my skills just by being involved. It’s also challenged me to continue to “raise my game.” I’m proud to be among the global industry members and especially the small percentage of members (about 12% at last count) who have also received this designation. If you’re not a member of your industry association, I recommend it.
If you’re looking for a productivity speaker as you plan an upcoming event, or you think your team has challenges with attention management and productivity, I welcome you to set up a free, no-pressure consultation with me to see if I’m the right fit for your needs. I’ll make sure you come away with strategies that will make your event more effective, whether or not we decide my services as a productivity speaker and trainer are right for you.
I also have some articles that can be useful resources for you:
- Shopping for Corporate Training? Don’t Make These Four Mistakes
- 4 Mistakes to Avoid at Your Corporate Offsite Meeting
- 3 Steps to Improve Your Annual Meeting
- Tips for Hiring a Corporate Trainer
I also invite you to read reviews and case studies of some of my past work and the impact it’s had on my clients. I’d love for you to be among them.
Thanks for celebrating my Certified Speaking Professional designation with me!
