Whether it be spurring fresh idea creation from staff, compelling the on-boarding of new concepts to a diverse team, boosting morale within an organization, or energizing peers, the power of motivational speaking is undeniable. Whatever the specific task, the main idea behind motivational speaking is to offer listeners encouragement toward an action(s) and the supportive info they need to understand the how, why, when, where, and who of that action. So, what makes a great motivational speaker? Let’s look at a few tips to help any motivational speaker become a success.
Tip 1: Sometimes less is more
Many speakers make the deafening mistake of thinking more volume equals more attention. The fact is that a lot of listeners get irritated if they feel they’re being shouted at by a speaker. They become less receptive, or they may even tune the speaker out. Instead of using a louder volume for emphasis and effect, try using silence. Pause for a buildup of anticipation around what you’re saying.
Tip 2: Become master of your articulation
Nothing is worse than a speaker stumbling over the points or looking down to read straight from a script. Once you’ve composed your speech, practice it in the mirror. Do your mannerisms and nonverbal cues match your words? Now, move on to recording it. Are your points and speech patterns clear, intelligible, and concise? Practice the speech until the delivery is smooth and fluid and the message is sharp.
Tip 3: Use your voice as your paintbrush
Breathing and posture exercises will even out your voice and make it sound stronger and more confident. Your voice is writing a story, which means that a speech’s tempo/pace is critical. Too fast, and your confused audience gets lost. Too slow, and your bored audience gets lost. Speaking at a rapid pace sacrifices dictation. Pay close attention that you enunciate each word in its entirety. Take a natural breath every five to seven words. Be careful that intonations at the end of affirmative sentences don’t accidentally lead the audience to think you’re asking a question verses offering a statement. Again, recording yourself can help identify issues with your speech pattern and help you master your delivery.
Tip 4: It’s not about you
While personal anecdotes can make you relatable to your audience and offer examples for understanding, be careful that the speech’s main idea stays centered around what you’re offering to the listener. In other words, if your motivational speech sounds like an award acceptance speech, then you’re missing the mark and offering little point of value to the listener. Motivational speaking isn’t about telling an audience what they should do, either. It’s all about encouraging recognition of what they want to do.
Tip 5: Be prepared to improvise
Maybe, the power goes out. Perhaps, the sound system is down. What happens if your allotted speaking time changes? You could even face a heckler in the audience testing your “facts.” The important part is that you don’t let any obstacle stop you. If you trip, use the ingrained knowledge of why you’re there (your exclusive and unique ability to tell this particular story to this particular audience) to keep going. Don’t go in unprepared. Know your facts and stats about any subject you cover, but, above all, remember that the audience is there to hear your authentic truth – whatever that may be and however long you have to tell it.
In closing, there isn’t a magic formula to becoming the best motivational speaker. What works for one audience won’t necessarily work for another. However, keeping the above tips in your front pocket as you craft and deliver your message will take you far down the path to success.