Sure it can hurt your self-esteem when teaching evaluations are turned in and several students comment that “the most valuable part of the course” was the guest speakers! Somehow, executives who visit our classes are viewed as having more expertise then we have. I guess its only human nature; just like elementary school kids who believe what a teacher tells them more than what their parents say. I can’t tell you how many times my sons have said I was dead wrong when I helped with their math homework (despite my 3 degrees in math related fields).
But it is true that guest speakers, when carefully selected, checked out, and given a 45 -50 minutes schedule, can enhance a class. One of my colleagues at Rollins College has said he has no time for guests in his class. “There is just too much material to cover,” he says. I disagree.
Over the years I developed a cadre of 6 -8 excellent guest lecturers. One is the Frito-Lay VP-Operations for Florida (who always brings a huge box of chips – the students devour them as if they have never eaten before). One is from Darden (who generously gives out $5 gift cards to Red Lobster and/or Olive Garden). Another is former CEO of Tupperware, who tells the story of a $90 million OM decision that went very bad. My favorite speaker while teaching at Rollins was the late Philip Crosby, the well-known author and quality guru. He never missed a semester and lectured to scores of my classes. It turns out that even famous people are more than honored to come and lecture in a college.
Get to know your speakers first, ask to see any Power Points they intend to use for your quick review/input, and thank them every semester with a gift that has the college name on it.
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