What Should You Speak About at a Conference? Start With Your Daily Work

You might be sitting on several conference presentation topics without realizing it.

Think about the questions colleagues ask you, the problems you're regularly called to solve, and the processes you've helped improve.

Your professional experience contains material that other people could learn from.

Start With What You Know

Before searching for presentation topics, answer these three questions:

1. What do people consistently ask me for help with? Maybe you're a social worker who frequently helps colleagues navigate difficult client conversations.

2. What problem have I learned to solve? Perhaps you've helped improve patient intake, staff training, community engagement, or program delivery.

3. What could I teach someone in 20 minutes? Consider one specific lesson you could explain using practical examples.

Turn Your Experience Into a Topic

Once you've identified an area of expertise, narrow it down.

For example, "Mental Health" is broad.

"Three Strategies for Supporting Students During Mental Health Crises" gives the audience a clearer understanding of what they'll learn.

Your topic should reflect your expertise and address a specific audience need.

Here's your assignment: Write down three recurring questions people ask you professionally. Identify the one you could build into a short presentation.

Want more practical guidance on preparing for conference speaking opportunities? Join my free speaker-preparation email list (https://www.theempireeffectagency.com/the-room-key).

Let's discuss: What's one professional topic you could confidently teach for 20 minutes? Share it in the comments below. 👇🏾