If you are a professional speaker, you might be wondering if you should join the National Speakers Association (NSA).
On this page we will provide a full review of the NSA where we will cover:
- What is the NSA?
- What do they do?
- What are the benefits?
- How can you get the most from your membership
What is the NSA?
The National Speakers Association (NSA) is a professional organization dedicated to supporting and empowering professional speakers in their career growth. Their mission is to build and maintain a network of speakers who support each other’s development by sharing their time, expertise, and knowledge.
Founded by Cavett Robert, the NSA believes in the strength of spirit and growth of the speaking profession through members unconditionally giving of themselves to one another. This principle, known as “The Spirit of Cavett,” honors their founder’s example of helping each other learn, grow, and prosper.
Similar to a speakers bureau, the NSA provides its members with various resources and support to help them position themselves as experts and secure paid speaking engagements. In 1986, the organization established eight professional competencies based on the work of Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE, at a time when competency-based education was rare. These competencies, along with the NSA Code of Professional Ethics, set standards to foster excellence within the speaking profession and benefit all professional speakers.
The eight competencies are designed to help professional speakers master their craft, propel their business, and ensure that the NSA offers relevant programming. The organization is committed to providing its members with the tools they need to maximize their success in the industry and stay on top of cutting-edge trends.
In addition to supporting its members’ professional growth, the NSA also aims to foster positive change for people and organizations. They strive to enable audience members to improve, prosper, and succeed while practicing inclusion and learning from diverse viewpoints.
What does the NSA do?
The National Speakers Association (NSA) serves two main functions: helping speakers grow and manage their careers, and implementing a set of standards to ensure the integrity of the speaking industry remains at a high level.
1. Growing Your Career
The NSA subscribes to eight core competencies that they believe will help you succeed as a professional speaker:
A. Environmental Trends & Impact
The skills to remain aware of the current business landscape, audience profiles & needs, and best practices to drive effective communication and platform skills. This includes the ability to research, translate, and synthesize environmental trends, such as economic, technological, and geographical trends, as well as emerging capabilities to grow a business and effectively communicate current, relevant content.
B. Professionalism
The ability to effectively build essential trust with stakeholders, including respectfully and honestly communicating with various types of industry associates—other speakers, those who hire speakers, and those who support speakers with products and services. This involves demonstrating ethical behavior, performance, and delivery style that is congruent with the professional image among the public, clients, and peers.
C. Content Development
The capability to select, research, develop, and protect valid and original work. This includes demonstrating critical thinking, integrating diverse viewpoints, and deploying techniques to stay on the cutting-edge of topic selection and development.
D. Product Development
An understanding of adult learning concepts and the ability to convert speaking and training topics into marketable products, such as consulting, books, podcasts, blogs, videos, and eLearning.
E. Platform Mechanics
The ability to setup or stage the environment, including preparing the room, backdrop or stage, using appropriate props, and using appropriate equipment for a successful presentation or performance.
F. Performance Mastery
The art of speaking and the use of powerful and persuasive communication to ignite change through various platforms, including speech, workshops, virtual presentations, podcasts, and so on.
This involves the knowledge and skills of presenting or performing to effectively communicate with and engage the audience, whether in-person or virtual, including word choice, structure, timing, voice inflection, movement, storytelling, and interactivity.
G. Business Development
Comprehensive sales and marketing skills and techniques to generate speaking engagements and expand the impact of messages through product sales. This includes skills to build a brand, develop marketing and sales funnels, conduct lead generation, build effective marketing collateral, leverage communication platforms including social media, implement the 4Ps (product, price, place, promotion), effectively negotiate, and develop contracts.
H. Operations
The ability to develop and implement a robust strategy to effectively manage the business side of speaking activities, including an understanding of business models, risk mitigation, due diligence, technology roadmap, financial literacy and planning, managing the lifecycle of the business, adhering to laws and regulations, and plans to operate the business.
2. Setting Industry Standards
The NSA maintains strict industry standards to ensure the integrity of the speaking industry remains at a high level. The purpose of their Code of Professional Ethics is to establish and maintain their brand, reputation, and public confidence in the professionalism, dedication, and integrity of not only the individual members of NSA but also of the Association itself.
The characteristics of honesty, leadership, and stewardship are integral to the success of both NSA and the individual professional speaker.
All members of NSA subscribe to this Code of Professional Ethics as a condition of membership, with the firm belief that each member will strive to uphold the values, reputation, and legacy of NSA. By doing so, members recognize the necessity to preserve and encourage fair and equitable practices among all who are engaged in professional speaking.
Benefits of Joining the NSA
One of the most significant advantages of joining the NSA is the opportunity to connect with a diverse network of professional speakers. The organization boasts a membership that includes many high profile keynote speakers some of whom are earning impressive six to seven-figure incomes from their speaking careers.
For those aspiring to grow their own professional speaking business, joining the NSA means gaining immediate access to a community of experienced mentors and peers who can offer guidance, support, and valuable insights.
Members often report that being part of this vibrant community not only provides a source of inspiration but also fosters a sense of accountability, which can be crucial for maintaining motivation and achieving long-term success in the speaking industry.
Some of the other benefits include:
1. Access to a High-Level Network: Many NSA members are successful professional speakers earning six to seven figures. Joining the organization provides immediate access to this network, offering guidance, inspiration, and accountability for career growth.
2. Online and Local Communities: The NSA maintains an online community and local chapters, allowing members to connect with and learn from speakers in their area.
3. Learning From the Best: Webinars featuring successful speakers provide valuable insights on building a thriving speaking career.
4. Online Learning Resources: Members gain access to the “Digital Vault,” which offers essential information for business growth.
5. Networking Conferences: NSA conferences include keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and idea-sharing opportunities, equipping participants with the knowledge, wisdom, resources, and tools to build better businesses and become better speakers.
6. Speed Networking: Monthly sessions allow members to get their business questions answered by industry experts.
7. Speaking Skills Improvement: The NSA offers various methods to enhance speaking skills, including unique services like critiqued speaking sessions.
8. Local Chapter Access: Membership provides access to local chapters, facilitating networking with members in the same area.
9. Discounts on Business Tools: The NSA has partnered with companies like Zoom and Constant Contact to offer members discounted rates on essential business tools.
By joining the NSA, professional speakers can tap into a supportive community, expand their knowledge and skills, accelerate their career growth, and access valuable resources to build successful speaking businesses.
Contact the NSA
Web: nsaspeaker.org
Facebook: facebook.com/nsaspeaker/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 480.968.2552
Address: 323 Washington Avenue North Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55401