The real decision isn’t the booking. It’s the explanation.

Most people think the decision to book a speaker happens when a contract is signed.

It doesn’t.

The real decision happens earlier, when someone tries to explain you to someone else.

The moment that decides everything

Every booking passes through a moment of translation.

An organiser has to summarise you to a decision-maker who hasn’t seen you speak. A team member has to justify the recommendation to a room that’s already busy. A budget holder has to understand your value quickly, without context.

That explanation determines whether the conversation continues or quietly ends.

Why explanation beats enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is fragile. Explanation is durable.

People can feel excited about a speaker and still struggle to explain why they should be booked. When that happens, excitement fades and momentum slows.

Clear explanations travel. Vague ones stop at the first question.

What organisers are really listening for

Organisers aren’t listening for everything you can do.

They’re listening for what can be repeated simply, confidently, and without distortion.

The easier it is to explain your relevance, the less resistance there is in the room. The harder it is, the more the conversation turns cautious.

When explanation creates friction

If someone needs extra words to justify you, the decision starts to feel risky.

They hesitate. They compare. They delay.

Not because you’re wrong for the role, but because the explanation isn’t tight enough to carry the weight of the decision.

The difference between being interesting and being chosen

Being interesting invites discussion. Being explainable invites decisions.

When your value can be expressed clearly in a few sentences, the decision feels settled rather than debated.

That’s when bookings move forward without pushback.

A quieter way to think about bookings

Instead of asking, “How do I impress more?” Ask, “How easily can I be explained?”

The clearer the explanation, the less effort it takes for others to advocate for you.

And advocacy, not visibility, is what drives most decisions.

Final thought

The booking isn’t the decision. It’s the outcome.

The decision is made in the explanation that happens before you’re ever involved.

If you want that explanation to work in your favour, start there.