How to Give a Motivational Speech

You’ve probably come across those videos. The ones where the dynamic life coach takes the stage, captivating the audience with their expressive gestures. Everyone is left in awe as they rise to give a standing ovation. 

Let’s take a sneak peek behind the scenes, as this type of response is not magic. It’s based on psychology.

Motivational speakers know how to ingeniously blend charisma, humor, heartfelt stories and solid facts. They skillfully combine emotions and logic that appeal to the senses and the intellect. 

A motivational speaker is part visionary and part master of persuasion – employing tried and true techniques that make people laugh or shed a tear or two.

By using this approach, they inspire people to pursue their potential, and do so with increased self-confidence.

Building a Connection through Relatability

Therefore, as a speaker, your ultimate goal is to inspire others. Before you can ignite that spark within others though, it’s critical to establish a connection first. Therefore, you need to understand your audience.

Relatability is key here. Share your personal stories of struggles and moments of self doubt. Let people know that you weren’t always the magnetic communicator seen on the stage today.

Once upon a time you were like everyone else. 

Filled with doubts and insecurities. 

Experiences like these create a bond between you and the people around you – something that allows you to help others face specific challenges.

Inject Some Humor in Your Dialogue

Inject some humor into your approach. Playfully make fun of yourself in a theatrical manner. Poke heartened fun at the everyday annoyances and absurdities we all encounter. Laughter is a language that brings people together –  transcending any barriers in communication.

For example, it does not hurt to have some motivational and humorous quotes in your arsenal of phrases.

Here are a few examples:

• “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll still get run over if you do nothing and sit.”
• “Always give 100%, unless, of course, you’re donating blood.”

Learn More About Your Audience

Above all, communicate in a way that resonates with your audience. Take the time to understand their language and the industry where they work. Mention individuals, places and shared struggles. Use anecdotes and analogies from their working culture and environment. Again, your message will have a greater impact when delivered in a way in which your audience relates.

Connect with your audience, share what you know and have learned. Once more, make them laugh and address them as though they were friends. 

That’s because you have demonstrated that you understand where they are coming from. You have walked in their shoes, faced challenges like their own struggles, and have emerged stronger as a result. Who could be better suited to lead them as a companion?

Crafting Engaging Stories 

To captivate an audience effectively, motivational speakers use stories as powerful sources of inspiration. They understand that people connect deeply with stories rather than mere statistics. 

Therefore, they invest the time in perfecting real life tales that truly strike a chord.

We’ve all come across these accounts – 

• Tales of triumph over adversity;
• The discovery of fortunes through perseverance; or
• Lives transformed by a single moment of clarity. 

While the specific details may vary, the underlying message remains constant; “If I can do it, so can you!”

Practice Makes Perfect

It takes more than just a captivating story. The storyteller must skillfully narrate it as well. 

This involves:

• Building anticipation;
• Employing timed pauses;
• Varying the tone and pace to keep things engaging; 
• Painting pictures with words; and. 
• Describing sights, sounds and scents. 

You need to ensure that the audience doesn’t just hear the story but truly experiences it.

Keep Things Relaxed

Exceptional speakers also maintain an informal and relaxed approach, as if they were having a friendly chat over coffee. They sprinkle in humor and self deprecating wit so everyone feels like the laughter is shared. Using words like “we” and “us” fosters a connection and a sense of community.

Keep Things Honest and Authentic

Ultimately, authenticity is key. Audiences have an ability to detect insincerity from miles away. Therefore, a motivational speaker believes in their message. They just don’t preach the truth. They have and genuinely experienced what they’re sharing.

Leaving the Best Message for the End

To leave the audience feeling uplifted, the motivational speaker saves their most inspiring and motivating message for the end. After sharing words of wisdom and encouraging action, it is time for that memorable uplifting message – a lesson that instills a sense of empowerment.

For example, if your giving a speech on getting CPR training, you can share a story where CPR saved a life and made a very big difference in what could have been a tragic outcome. 

This is where, after you have told your story, you can leave the audience with parting words – words that will instill them to act and sign up for CPR training in their community.

This message is meant to show people what can happen if they have faith and believe in themselves.

The Power of Believing in Yourself

A motivational speaker conveys the power of belief in two key ways – leading the audience to visualize success and to use this image to take action.

Visualizing Success

Using descriptions and metaphors, a motivational speaker paints a clear picture of how success and achievement look. By helping them see what they can accomplish, they ignite motivation and that all-important stamp of approval.

Taking Action Toward a Specific Goal

Having raised people’s hopes and boosted their confidence, the speaker calls upon the audience to take some type of action–no matter how small–to reach their aspirations. When people take action, they can transform a belief into a reality. 

You don’t have to enchant others to help people realize a goal. You can use your own thoughts and experiences to assist them in finding the right path to take.

Indeed,you don’t have to be a magician to motivate people. You just have to be well-traveled in life.

Author: Donna Ryan