This is the "how to get along professionally" competency. It relates to the knowledge and skills needed to communicate with individuals and groups with whom speakers often interact. This Competency helps speakers and their staffs deal professionally with several types of industry associates, other speakers, those who hire speakers and those who support speakers with products and services.

Networking with Other Speakers
Having a relationship with other professional speakers can result in:

• Learning the speaking profession from multiple points of view; Learning how to network and how to form different working relationships with other speakers that could include partnerships, joint ventures, project collaboration, joint authorship, licensing agreements, lead sharing, joint marketing and advertising, subcontracting presentations, faculty groups and master-mind groups;
• Learning the professional, ethical and legal basis for interacting with other professional speakers; and
• Learning more about their areas of interest by meeting speakers who speak on the same subjects or serve the same industries.

Program Planners
There are various types of program planners with different needs

Agents and Bureaus
Want to get more speaking engagements? Is using a speakers' agent or bureau the "right" approach?

Speaking Internationally
The expanding global community is increasing the opportunities for speakers to travel and speak internationally. This part of a speaker's business can be both successful and enjoyable.

Professionals Serving Speakers
Speakers depend on several related professionals and industries to master their profession. Vendors and other service providers support professional speakers by helping them improve their presentations/performances, marketing, promotion and product development/sales.

The Media
Establishing successful contacts with the media can make the difference in reaching regional, national and international prominence for speakers.