So you want to learn how to give a motivational speech. Maybe it’s for a motivational speech for work, or maybe it’s for a school project. You have an idea of what you want to speak about, but how do you actually create your talk? How do you give a motivational speech? And what makes a talk “good”?
In this post, you can read answers to all of those questions. You’ll learn tips to go through the process to create a great motivational speech from idea to completion. And you’ll learn how to write and give an inspiring motivational speech. Need examples of a motivational speech? Some examples will be at the end of this post!
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Giving a motivational speech can be an incredibly powerful way to inspire, uplift, and galvanize an audience However, writing an effective motivational speech requires thoughtfulness, planning, and an understanding of what truly motivates people In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the key steps for crafting a memorable and impactful motivational speech.
Determine Your Purpose
Before you begin writing, you need to get clear on the specific purpose of your speech. Consider the following
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What is the desired outcome you want the audience to leave with? Increased confidence? A call to action? simply feeling uplifted?
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Who is your target audience? What do you know about their hopes, dreams, challenges? What messages will resonate most deeply with them?
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What is the context of the event or occasion? Is there something specific you want to acknowledge or tie into?
Really clarifying your purpose from the start will help you craft a speech that is tailored and impactful.
Know Your Audience
Once you determine your purpose, the next key step is getting to know your audience. When you understand who they are and what matters to them, you can craft a message that speaks directly to their experiences.
Consider things like:
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Demographics like age, background, gender identity, profession
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Interests, passions, values, struggles
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Prior knowledge or experience with the topic
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What inspirational approach will appeal to them? Logical? Emotional? Spiritual? Motivational quotes? Stories?
The more you can understand your audience, the better you can tailor the speech to their needs. If possible, speak directly with some audience members in advance.
Start with a Hook
The opening of your speech is crucial for grabbing the audience’s attention right away. Consider using:
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A startling statistic or fact
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A pertinent quote
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A story or anecdote
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A question that resonates
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A vivid description
You want your hook to surprise them, inspire curiosity, and make them eager to hear more. Take some time crafting a creative hook that immediately pulls them in.
Include Narratives
Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for motivational speaking. Human beings are wired to connect through stories. Include personal anecdotes from your own life or parables that illustrate the lessons you want to impart.
Stories create empathy, allowing the audience to see themselves in your experience. They also make your speech more memorable and engaging. Help the audience relate by sharing your own challenges and triumphs.
Include a Call to Action
A motivational speech should inspire change, growth, and action. Be clear on the action you want the audience to take after hearing your words. Do you want them to change their perspective? Pursue a long-held dream? Have a difficult conversation?
Including a concrete call to action gives your speech purpose and allows the audience to carry the motivation forward into real life application. Make sure your call to action connects directly to your original purpose.
Conclude Your Speech
The conclusion is your last chance to drive your message home and inspire the audience. Key tips for an impactful conclusion include:
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Summarize and reinforce your main ideas and takeaways
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End on an uplifting, inspirational note with a clear call to action
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Callback to your opening hook to bring the speech full circle
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Share one final inspirational story or quote
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Offer appreciation and encouragement
The conclusion should unify your main themes and send them off feeling motivated.
Review Your Speech
After completing an initial draft, set aside your work then revisit the speech with fresh eyes. Ask:
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Is my purpose clear? Will the audience walk away inspired?
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Does the content resonate with my audience?
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Is the flow logical and easy to follow?
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Does it incorporate enough stories and examples?
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Is the language energizing, uplifting, and free of jargon?
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Is it an appropriate length to hold their attention?
Thoroughly reviewing your motivational speech will help refine the content and maximize impact. Don’t be afraid to solicit feedback from others as well.
Final Tips for an Inspiring Speech:
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Channel your own passion and enthusiasm. Your conviction will spread to the audience.
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Make liberal use of visual aids like slides, props, or videos to add interest.
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Emphasize key points with your voice, gestures, and energy level.
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Establish eye contact, smile, and radiate positivity.
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Have water nearby in case your mouth gets dry.
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Pace yourself and take natural breaths to avoid rushing.
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Articulate and project your voice so everyone can hear clearly.
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Avoid reading straight from a script. Use bullet points instead.
Giving a truly inspired motivational speech requires preparation and practice. But by following these steps, you can write a speech that energizes audiences and sparks real change. The tips above will help you craft an engaging, purpose-driven motivational speech that resonates deeply. Have confidence in the power of your words and your ability to uplift others.
Begin with the end in mind and tell a story
Have you ever been left at the end of a speech wondering, “What was the point of this talk?” Don’t do that to your audience. When creating your talk, determine the destination that you want to take them to. Once you pick a point, then you can work backwards and reverse engineer how to get your audience to that place.
The best way to do the point of your talk is to find where your audience’s needs converge with your passions. Think about what problems you like to solve and what topics you want to talk about and look out into the world. Who is asking for solutions to those problems? Become the expert on that audience and commit yourself to meeting their needs. (for more on finding your big idea, check out this episode of The Speaker Lab podcast)
Okay, so now you have your topic, the idea you want to communicate. Now what? One of the best ways to create a memorable, relatable talk is by integrating first-person stories. You don’t have to have lost a limb or scaled Mount Everest. Keep an eye out in your everyday life for little moments that can contribute to your message. Write them down and integrate them into your talk. As you get more speaking gigs, you will very quickly learn which stories are a hit and which are total flops…which is all part of the process!
Humans relate to stories. We connect to stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Inspirational stories. We love stories. So tell them. Lots of them. Stories will keep your audience engaged and are also easier for you to memorize. Telling stories that you lived and experienced generally makes the story better for you and the audience. For the audience, they can often times find themselves in your story. For you as the speaker, it’s much easier (and more powerful) to tell a story that you lived versus one you read in a book.
What is a motivational speech?
A motivational speech is simply a talk meant to get your audience to see or do something. Many of the practices that you can do to prepare for a motivational speech apply to any other type of talk!
The best motivational speakers on the planet only have one or two talks they do and those talks are insanely good. Start by developing just one, really amazing talk that resonates deeply with your intended audience. The best marketing for your motivational speaking business is a great talk, so it is worth it to put in the hours for this part. Yes, even if your first speaking gig is a free talk at a community center.
Keep in mind: Your audience is always going to be asking two questions: “so what?” and “now what?” So what means, what does this have to do with me? Now what is what you want the audience to do as a result of your talk. Give them action steps to implement what you taught them. If they hear you speak but literally don’t do anything differently, what’s the point?
Giving a motivational speech is almost like mapping for a road trip. If you are going to go on a road trip, it’s easier to have a paper map or Google Maps to tell you where you’re going. But if you just get in the car and you start driving, and people are in the car asking you where we’re going, you’re in trouble! But by organizing and structuring your talk, you can lead the audience to your conclusions. And you can effectively answer those two questions: “so what?” and “now what?”
How To Write a Motivational Speech | How to Be a Tedx Speaker
How do you write a motivational speech?
So, the first step for writing a motivational speech is to have a clear and concise message. You might compare it to the thesis statement of an essay. It’s one sentence that defines the entirety of everything else that’s to come. If you can focus on that one, central theme, you can direct every ensuing point back to that main motivational idea.
What are some ways to stay motivated?
One can stay motivated by setting small goals and review them regularly. Find an ideal who you can follow and make friendship with positive people around you.
Why should you write a motivational speech?
Motivational speeches encourage and inspire others by sharing a powerful message. Motivational speakers can find success in effectively communicating their message in an inspirational way. You can learn how to write a motivational speech to help you progress in your career, by encouraging others around you.
What is an example of a motivational speech?
Below is an example of a motivational speech. It includes a hook, a narrative, a call to action and a concluding statement: “Have you ever wondered what it would be like if stress was no longer a factor people faced at work?
