The impact of gender when it comes to speaking has always been a debatable topic.
Are women or men more proficient speakers? In general the answer is no.
Topic being discussed and the manner it needs to be delivered determine if a specific gender of inspirational speaker will work better.
There are many benefits and disadvantage to choosing a speaker based on gender.
Some genders are just more knowledgeable on specific topics and this knowledge makes them more fitting for the presentation.
For example, a presentation on hormone changes in pregnant women for the benefit of a general audience would be more appropriate for a woman because they can relate to members of the audience.
The topic and listener demographics determine what inspirational speakers will work best.
A woman motivational speaker can also work well in environment where men are normally the expert.
They must be an expert in the subject so they can speak on a level that is understood and respected.
You wouldn't want to hire a woman motivational speaker for a technical convention that focuses on new trends unless she was technical savvy and had the necessary experience.
Audience members would know that she is not a reliable source of information.
An over confident male speaker may not be as motivating is specific situations as well.
If they spend the whole time boasting about their accomplishments and not focusing on the topic to be discussed, the audience will become irritated and not take in valuable information.
These types of inspirational speakers also have the attitude that everyone should be attempting large challenges to be successful and have a great life.
They do not always fit when listeners are the average working man or woman who has to juggle kids, work, bills, and daily life in a limited amount of time.
These audience members don't want to hear about how they need to be doing more.
What they need is a sympathetic speaker that understands exactly where they are coming from.
Audiences like this respond better to men and women that are family oriented.
An inspirational speaker needs to be able to impress the audience in a matter that does not offend them.
Working moms and family oriented audience members are not impressed by the speakers amazing and unfeasible accomplishments.
They would rather hear about how the speaker has come out of their struggles to better provide for their family.
Many women hear this boasting at home anyway and would prefer not to hear it at a seminar or other event.
Men are the same way and if a woman speaker spends the entire presentation using a nagging manner, they are going to very little interest in the inspirational idea being pitched.
This is why taking time to think about the audience and how the information should be conveyed is so very important.
A great speaker can bomb on a presentation if they do not fit the purpose and cannot relate.
Take this information into consideration before hiring your next speaker.
You may find that the wrong gender is being used causing the point to be lost in the speakers style and demeanor.