write a motivational presentation

Our content is reader-supported. Things you buy through links on our site may earn us a commission

Join our newsletter

Never miss out on well-researched articles in your field of interest with our weekly newsletter.

• Project Management
• Starting a business

Get the latest Business News

How to deliver a motivational presentation.

1. Tap into your passion. It is always good to believe what you are saying, but in a motivational talk it is essential. Why is this important? How has it impacted you personally, or your team or your family? What emotions do you have that you could use to fuel your delivery? If you don’t feel much you may not be able to project enough commitment. 2. Focus on what the audience stands to gain from listening and/or taking action. It is easy to get wrapped up in what this means to you, but it is also essential to remember—and stress—what it means to the listener. Put yourself in their shoes while you are creating and while you are delivering your talk. Isn’t it really about them anyway? 3. Have a powerful opening and closing, including a call to action. You must capture their attention at the beginning if you want them to pay attention and be moved. Tell a story, ask a question, or show a very short video clip. Make listeners feel something at the beginning and end. And don’t be afraid to call them to action; what is it you want them to do? Donate money? Work harder? Run a 10K for charity? Don’t hesitate to spell it out. 4. Take advantage of storytelling and human interest aspects. We love stories, especially when the hero faces a big challenge and eventually wins the day. Make sure your story uses names, places and dialog to paint a compelling picture. Build some drama, then bam! A strong close. 5. Use quotes, video clips, music and photos to create atmosphere and emotional pull. Facts and figures are fine, but add in some color and emotion. What have others said? Show, don’t just tell what happened. Capture real faces and people’s actual words. Add some humor if you can. 6. Don’t read your slides; instead, engage the audience in a conversation. Ask them a few well-chosen questions to foster engagement. Break away from slides to add your reactions. Or consider skipping the slides altogether, and tell the story in your own words. 7. Include rational arguments and pertinent facts to balance emotional appeal. Emotions are going to be powerful in a motivational talk, but you still need logic. Don’t go crazy with facts, but choose the ones that make the most impact. Cite reputable sources for your facts. Put just a few facts on your slides. Or consider using an attractive infographic just this once. 8. Script and rehearse thoroughly. Don’t trust this one to luck! Get a small audience to rehearse with you and go over it enough times, start to finish, that you feel it is fluent (but not memorized.) If it is going to be recorded, then rehearse some more so that you feel it is truly polished and you are confident that you can speak from start to finish without a break. 9. Time it carefully so it doesn’t become a ramble. TED Talks are about 18 minutes long, or shorter, so they are generally highly polished gems. Use a timer in each of your rehearsals so you know you are keeping to your time frame. Longer isn’t better in a motivational talk. 10. Get an unbiased second opinion of your logic and persuasion. Remember that small group that was there to help you rehearse? Choose people that will challenge you. Where is your logic weak? Which stories miss the mark? Where are the big moments you want to stress, maybe slow down? Is your opening as tight and impactful as possible? Does your closing hit the mark? And how are you at answering key questions? All these should be part of your rehearsal. Don’t take this feedback personally; just keep polishing that motivational talk until it shines. Motivational talks may be more demanding, and may take more time, but a great leader learns how to deliver them well.

Consider this your stretch assignment; in the next 30 days do a motivational talk and follow these guidelines to make the most of the opportunity.

Gail Zack Anderson

How Much Does It Cost To Advertise On Google?

Is your business considering advertising on Google, but you need clarification on the costs? How much should you budget for a successful Google Ads campaign? In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the factors that influence the cost of Google Ads, provide industry-specific cost insights, and offer expert tips on budgeting, bidding, and optimizing your …

All About Advertising and Promotions

© Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Before you learn more about advertising and promotions, you should get a basic impression of what advertising is. See What’s “Advertising, Marketing, Promotion, Public Relations and Publicity, and Sales?”. Advertising is specifically part of the “outbound” marketing activities, or activities geared to communicate out to the …

Defining the Categories of Marketing

The Categories of Marketing: Advertising, Marketing, and Sales Defined Entered by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD Also, consider Related Library Topics It’s easy to become confused about categories of marketing terms: advertising, marketing, promotion, public relations and publicity, and sales. The terms are often used interchangeably. However, they refer to different — but similar activities. Some …

Managing Marketing and Public Relations Committees

Effective Management Strategies for Marketing and Public Relations Committees © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. The vast majority of content on this topic applies to for-profits and nonprofits. This book also covers this topic. Marketing Committees Committees The purpose of the Board Marketing Committee is to ensure ongoing, high-quality marketing. “Marketing” is …

Managing Reputation: Public and Media Relations

Reputation Management 101: Public and Media Relations Strategies © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Public relations activities aim to cultivate a strong, positive image of the organization among its stakeholders. Similar to effective advertising and promotions, effective public relations often depends on designing and implementing a well-designed public relations plan. The plan …

Becoming A Technical Writer-Communicator Review

I am seeing there is still a great interest in people wanting to become Technical Writers. For that reason, I am going to review some steps to become one. If you are currently employed: • write about your job and what the requirements are for that position. • write about all your daily tasks and …

Creating A Knowledge Community

A Technical Writer needs to create a Knowledge Community. How and why we need a Knowledge Community you ask? Being a Technical Writer can be difficult when trying to obtain knowledge. Whom do you consider for contacting, where do you look. How do you decide if you should gather knowledge verbally face-to-face or in meetings, …

Tips for Handling Technical Writer Stress

Everyone gets stressed out at work no matter what your job function. As a Technical Writer, you too will probably have situations at one time or other where you get stressed out as well. In order to avoid communicating less or ineffectively, take a break or slow down for a while. Here are a few …

Likeminded Communication

Trying to communicate technical information to various cultures is not as simple as others may think. For a technical communicator, it requires more than just training, because being moderately acquainted with cultural differences is just not enough. Likeminded A previous post that I had written on communicating globally, noted that ‘Individuals need to understand the …

A Technical Writer Is Different From Other Writers

‘Why?’ The role of Technical Writers possesses a lot of technical knowledge such as in software and data skills, including investigating, researching, and being a middleman between the target audience, management, technical personnel (I.e., programmers, engineers), and others. Being a Technical Writer means being able to gather, communicate, and translate essential and necessary technical information …

Involve and Engage Your Audience 20 Ways

Not long ago I worked with an energetic, creative group who, while focusing on presentation skills, wondered how to best engage their audiences. I asked them what engagement strategies they appreciated when they were in the audience. They had plenty of ideas about engagement techniques that I think any speaker could benefit from. These are …

Tips On Documenting Processes

Numerous types of processes (i.e., business processes) exist in many organizations. Processes specifically involve defining and outlining a sequence of events or systematic movements that are to be followed. These processes need to be documented and identified by the Technical Writer. Benefits Documenting processes • ensures that everyone understands the overall picture of what the …

Communicating Technical Writing Review

It is always good to do a review as some of us might have forgotten the essentials of how to create a document full of technical information for your audience. Another acronym for technical writing could be informational writing or knowledge writing or even instructional writing. Let us start at the beginning. Basics • Build …

Communicating Via Visual Designs

We don’t always realize it, but sometimes we are being told what to do visually. Take these as examples: • A zebra crosswalk on the road – we know to walk within the zebra crossing. • A sign of a bicycle – we know the lane is a bicycle path. • A light switch- we …

Special Tips for Laptop Presentations

If you are presenting, odds are you are using your laptop either to walk the listeners through content in a small group, or projected on a screen to a larger group, or online when speaking with a virtual group. It’s just how we present these days. But so many people stumble over the technology, which …

Privacy Overview

How to give a motivational speech

• James Haynes
• August 11, 2022

Table of Contents

Introduction.

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!

Free Download: 6 Proven Steps to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs in 2024​

Download our 18-page guide and start booking more paid speaking gigs today!

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?”

Want to learn how to write a motivational speech? Read on for 3 steps to make it unforgettable:

1. 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.

2. Write out your material

Professional speakers don’t just make stuff up. They don’t write a few thoughts on a notecard and then shoot from the hip for an entire presentation. They take the time to write and carefully craft their material.

Oftentimes speakers want to have Powerpoint or Keynote slides to use as notes for their presentation. This is lazy. Don’t do this. Any slides you use should be an enhancement not a replacement of your talk. If you’re just going to stand up there and read off the screen, what does the audience need you for?

Use Powerpoint to show images that make a point. Some speakers will build their talk around their slides. Start with the talk FIRST and then determine if slides are needed or necessary. Slides are generally most effective for showing images or videos that can’t be conveyed in words. For example, if you were in some death-defying crash and that’s part of your talk, it’s one thing to tell that story, but it’s incredibly more powerful if you show pictures or video of it all.

Consider writing out your material. Professional speakers don’t just write a few thoughts on a notecard and then shoot from the hip for an entire presentation. They take the time to write and carefully craft their material. There is no right way to create a talk. You don’t need to memorize your talk like a script, but manuscripting can help you to think through the entire presentation and to know exactly how it all flows together. Some speakers prefer to have an outline with several bullet points and flesh it out from there. Every speaker is different. Find a process that works for you. (For more on fleshing out your talk, check out this episode of the Speaker Lab podcast here .)

3. On stage, be an amplified version of you

The bigger the venue, the bigger you need to be on stage. The way you would communicate to a group of 10 people is very different than how you would need to communicate to a room of 10,000. Both should be an authentic version of you, but simply amplified to the setting. The bottom line is don’t try to be something you’re not on stage. Be you.

Keep it slow and steady. When you are talking really fast, it becomes difficult for the audience to follow. It’s hard to keep up and process. Plus the faster you talk, the harder it is to understand what you’re saying. So slow down and enunciate. Give the audience the chance to keep up with where you’re going.

Don’t be afraid of the silence. The silence to a speaker can feel deafening but it can be powerful. Silence shows confidence that you’re in control of the talk and the room and you’re continuing to guide them towards a common purpose. When you make a strong point, don’t rush to the next line. Stop and let it hang there. The silence is your friend.

For some reason, there’s this misconception that the audience is out to get you. Like they are rooting for you to fail. Nothing could be further from the truth. The audience wants you to do well. They don’t want it to be a train wreck. If they’re going to spend their precious time sitting in your session, they want it to be good. They are on your side. So relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy yourself.

By following these steps, you can set yourself up for success. Many external variables help make a motivational speech go well. Beyond working these steps before giving a motivational speech, you should try to put as many of those variables in your favor as possible. Don’t stay up late the night before at a reception. Don’t eat a massive pasta bowl before you go on stage. Try to avoid speaking during a slot when most of the audience will be distracted. If all the variables are stacked against you but you crush your talk, it can still come across as “meh” to the audience.

Keep in mind: Speaking is like playing jazz – you don’t have to give a talk the same way every time. You can improvise and mix it up sometimes, and you don’t need to plan out every hand gesture or movement or exact line you’ll use. Some of that is fine, but also be present enough with the audience that you can play jazz when the moment calls for it.

If you have a dream to inspire others with your message, you’ve probably considered taking your passion to the stage. Becoming a motivational speaker might sound like a charmed life in many ways. And while it does take hard work, it totally is. Want to go deeper and learn how to become a motivational speaker ? Check out our article, “How to Become a Motivational Speaker” here!

In the meantime, here are a few rapid fire FAQs about motivational speeches. Happy speaking!

What are some examples of a motivational speech?

Some of the most well-known motivational speeches have been given at graduations from a school or training. One example of a famous motivational speech is academic researcher Brené Brown’s breakout 2010 TEDx Houston talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”, which became a top 5-viewed TED Talk online.

Looking for more examples of a motivational speech? Check out this article here.

What Type Of Speaker Are You?

Click below to discover your Speaker Archetype and how to start getting booked and paid to speak!

How much money can you make as a motivational speaker?

The runway to a successful business is often slow. But many speakers make 6+ figures a year within a couple years of starting their speaking business!

What degree you need to become a motivational speaker?

It does not matter! You can have no degree or a PhD in whatever field you like and still be a great motivational speaker.

Can anyone become a motivational speaker?

Absolutely.

How long does it take to become a motivational speaker?

This may vary quite a bit, primarily based on your state in life.

• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

Blog – Creative Presentations Ideas

infoDiagram visual slide examples, PowerPoint diagrams & icons , PPT tricks & guides

How to Show Motivation in a Presentation [concept visualization]

Last Updated on September 7, 2020 by infodiagram

Do you need to explain the motivation concept? Do you know some interesting ways to capture certain facets of motivation through concept pictures? If you are uncertain, we can help! We gathered visualization ideas on how you can illustrate motivation in your presentation. 

If you want your audience to remember your message, add some motivational eye-catching graphics to make your slides look more persuasive. Let’s begin our digital journey and think about what is usually associated with the motivation concept.

Expressing the motivation concept ideas with outline style symbols

Above we suggest several icon examples from our elegant outline icons collection. In particular, our Outline PowerPoint Icons collection contains reward symbols and personal recognition graphics. Use them to make your presentation more engaged:

• trophy, win cup and medal as a motivating item by rewarding 
• carrot and stick as a metaphor for the use of a combination of reward and punishment
• ladder icon showing personal development e.g. getting to a higher position 
• hand with reward star highlighting personal recognition
• hands icon holding the diamond and win cup as helpful motivation tools by rewarding 

Design-neutral motivation concept graphics

Below there are icon examples from our style neutral flat icons collection. It features a variety of different approaches to representing motivation. Win cups, award stars, and diamond symbols often associated with motivation concepts.

• recognition symbols as stars and win cup
• male/female figure presenting a motivational speech
• a person with arrow icon illustrated a motivated person with rising morale

Unique hand-drawn motivation icons collection

If you want to be more creative and personal, use hand-drawn symbols for showing the executive summary ideas. The scribbled diamond or star icon, as well as the finish line, is perfect for showing the concept of motivation in your PPT. See the specific visuals below:

• star and diamond images as increasing motivation for the rewards and successes 
• money and dollar icons encouraging material motivation to win
• finish line as completion of the task or project 
• male/female figure holding an award star and present as a good motivation to succeed 

We hope you find some inspiration from those icon ideas to express the concept of motivation!

If you like the suggested icons, you can get them from infoDiagram library. The best way to get them is by  joining subscription access to PPT graphics here . It will allow you to download these symbols, and graphics from any presentation deck you find on the website.

More concept icons ideas

Need to show another concept in a presentation? Change, Engagement, Equality, Status you name it. Check our blog  Ultimate List of Business Concepts Visualization  to get inspired.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Effective Motivational Speech Preparation

I had a very bright high school student call me recently.  She kindly asked if she could interview me about my job as a motivational speaker for a paper she wrote.  She was a great kid on the phone, and as you can see by her email (and paper) below you’ll see that her teacher agreed.

Emily:   you’re  a rock star!  Keep it up girl and let me know if I may be of further service.

Here’s her email

Dear Brad, I am writing to you both, as you requested, to let you know about the outcome of my senior project about motivational speaking.  I wrote and presented a speech about technology to a retired men’s group, which went really well.  I wrote a paper about my research, and I mentioned both of you.  An attachment of the paper is included in this email. The most nerve-wracking part of this entire experience was presenting my topic to my panel of judges.  I had to speak to them about more than the material included in my research paper, because they read my paper prior to my presentation.  After a recap of what I learned in my research for my paper, I talked to them about why motivational speaking is effective.  An audience may or may not leave a presentation feeling inspired, but most leave feeling happier.  That’s the key.  Happiness has medical and health benefits, but it improves a person’s general daily outlook. That is how this project has affected me.  Learning about making people feel better about themselves has made me feel better about who I am.  I find that I am more confident, friendly, and optimistic now, knowing that I decide to make each day a great day.  I think that next year when I attend college, I will be studying peace and conflict resolution. Even though motivational speaking may not be a future career for me, I think that on a smaller scale, I will be able to inspire and encourage those around me, knowing how little it takes to brighten someone’s day. Thank you both so much for being so willing to help me this semester with my project.  I ended with a perfect score, but, more importantly, a better outlook.  I learned so much these last few months, largely in part from both of you.  I found that reading about my topic in books was okay, but learning about it from a personal standpoint was so much more rewarding. Thanks again for everything!, Emily

Effective Motivational Speech Preparation By Emily Livingston

What People Think of Motivational Speakers

Most people have a stereotypical idea of motivational speakers.  Automatically, people think of individuals on early morning television programs.  Whether they speak on religion, finances, or healthy living, they are perceived as people who are obnoxiously quirky and reference little factual based information.  General attitudes towards motivational speaking are those of doubt; doubt that the audience leaves feeling empowered; doubt that the speaker is credible.  So many people think that motivational speech writing is easy. Effective motivational speech writing begins with focus on the author, audience, and purpose before the presentation.

Great speech writers from centuries passed knew that this was the secret to conveying a message.  On March 4, 1801, in his Inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson said:

…though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful will be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.  Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind.  Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things (Montefiore 41).

This speech is one of the most well-known pieces in American history.  Thomas Jefferson used his own knowledge to relate to an audience about an important topic.  To feel passionate about a subject and to be able to make an audience feel that passion, too, is no easy task.  Over the last few months, the pleasure and challenge of writing a motivational speech has been the objective of the researcher.  Before diving in, learning about the foundational information necessary to write a well-developed speech was key.  Here are effective motivational speech preparation tips:

First, time must be spent examining the author.  To start, one professional suggests a brainstorm of the author’s knowledge is best (Duckworth 1).  What do they know of their own life?  What do they know of others’ lives?  What do they know that could serve as a strong topic for a speech?  What experiences have they had personally?  As one source read, ‘What shall I talk about?’ all of us have wide knowledge on lots of topics.  You can talk about anything from a hobby to a book, a foreign country to experience at home.  Just use what you know” (Howard 13-15).  Of course, picking a topic with a particular audience in mind is important.  However, as the author, one must determine the benefits of speaking on certain topics.  Authors need to consider what their objective in giving a speech will be.

The researcher, for example, had to examine his/her beneficial qualities, which could be utilized in a speech, as an author.  For the speech to be presented in the middle of November, the researcher knew that, being only 18 years old, life experiences were somewhat limited.  However, the author also knew that personal anecdotes and stories were always best when talking to groups.  Family, friends, high school, and life as an American teenager were probably the strongest topics the researcher could choose to speak about.  Maybe by talking about being a teenager from a teen’s point of view, the author would be able to give a speech illustrating how advances in technology have impacted daily teen life.

Next, the speech writer needs to consider the audience.  It is important to look at what a given audience knows and does not know.  Also, one must consider what the audience will want to take away from a speech (Cook 13).  It is wise to contemplate the types of experiences the audience has had.  What will a given group respond well to?  A group of kindergarten children would want to hear about different topics than a group of their parents.  The way that middle-class people view taxes would be different from the way that millionaires perceive them.  Authors need to be aware of their audience’s general attitudes towards certain areas of interest.  A nuclear physicist, for example, may know about kinetic energy, but an author speaking on wedding planning tips would need to be aware that the scientist would need to know the basics before anything else.  One source stresses that making sure not to grossly over or underestimate an audience is important (Duckworth 3).  Groups should be learning new information, but should not be treated as if they have no common sense.

The basics would need to be addressed for the audience when talking about technology.  Once the researcher decided to speak on teenagers and modern devices, the audience came to mind.  The group hearing the presentation would be a retired men’s group.  These men would probably know little about modern technology and may even be afraid to use some of today’s newest appliances.  Perhaps these men would want to know how technology could benefit them.  The researcher could talk to this group about ways they could try to work with technology in inexpensive ways, since this audience would probably be concerned about finances.  This group would need to feel comfortable and relaxed to be open to these new motivational speech ideas, so elements of humor may be an asset to the author. Also, to pique interest in this somewhat foreign topic, some hands-on activities may also help the men to respond well to the spoken material.

Lastly, the presenter needs to think about the purpose for his/her speech (Roman 20).  One book said, “You must think out clearly and put into words the objective which you hope to accomplish by the talk.  This can be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding steps in preparation.  Don’t be fuzzy about it” (Cook 17).  Authors need to keep in mind that they are not just speaking to a group, they want the group to feel motivated, but motivated for what? Brad Montgomery, a motivational speaker who primarily speaks with large businesses said, “You can’t just speak to motivate someone, because that will never work.  Keep in mind that you are motivating them for a reason.  Ask yourself, ‘What specifically do I want these people to take away from our time together?'”.   Trying to be too broad in purpose can lead to a disjointed and confusing speech.  Distinctively identifying a clear intent for a speech is necessary for success.

A definitive purpose was established in this case when the researcher chose to make a comparison -technology used by teens today compared to technology a few decades ago.  Then, the author could encourage use of this new technology and be prepared with inexpensive and easy way to do so.  Talking about trying new things and not being afraid to give technology a chance would be the main purpose of the speech.  Establishing this before even beginning to write is important so that the author can remained focused on the task at hand.  Too much variation straying away from this one idea can lead to chaos.

Practice Makes Perfect

Once the researcher writes the speech, practice is, perhaps, the most important step.  Revising and editing the speech is always a good idea, though reading the speech aloud to make sure that ideas are clear is critical.  Memorizing a speech is a good idea so that speakers do not seem more interested in their notes than their audience.  Speakers should remember that the audience is the most important element to focus on during a presentation.  Marsha Egan, a fulltime motivational speaker said, “Remember that what you say is not as important as what the audience takes from what you say.  Keep it simple, but hammer it home”.  Reciting a speech in front of family members, friends, or a mirror is recommended for practice.  Also, if a speaker is relaxed when giving a presentation, the audience will be at ease, too.

An important question to ask, however, is how does a speaker capture and hold an audience’s attention?  Of all communications, 75% is verbal and 25% is written.  Of this, 15% is retained, and 85% of what listeners remember comes from what they see with their eyes, not hear with their ears.  To give a good speech, one must override what one author calls “psychological earmuffs”.  Unconsciously, people develop ways to block out things deemed boring, trivial, or useless.  Speakers themselves have to first learn to listen and then find ways to make their speaking easy to listen to (Cook 5).  Knowing that distractions do occur, speakers have to be ready with a funny story or a thought-provoking question to counteract these instances.

Once again, by considering these distractions ahead of time, when examining the author, audience, and purpose, many diversions can be avoided.  By remembering to motivate someone to believe in or do something, interest can be sparked. Continue, then, by identifying the benefits of this.  Audiences want to know what they will receive by doing what a speaker encourages them to do. Research suggests that talking about daily activities and personal experiences makes audiences feel comfortable and allows speakers to connect to groups emotionally. This, ultimately, helps the presenter to convince groups that ideas are realistic and important (McKinney).  Ideas should progress in an orderly and practical way.

When writing a motivational speech, organization is not enough.  Having something interesting and worthwhile to say is essential.  One source said to “analyze the situation” (Roman and Tepper 19).  Topics should be aimed at a specific goal.  Speakers should decide to persuade, entertain, or inform, but not all three.  Audiences should not feel overwhelmed.  Locating facts and figures may be useful, but firsthand accounts will be more convincing and interesting.   Be upfront with the audience.  The speaker should tell groups what he/she is going to talk about, give them some background information, and tell them why this is important.

Having learned these three steps, the researcher has transformed into an author, and will soon turn into a speaker.  The speech to be presented to the men’s group will include a personal story about the author’s grandfather.  Also, there will be hands-on activities and audience involvement to engage the listeners.  The author plans to have pictures of technological devices for easy comparison, for example, an ipod next to a radio.  The author will continue to research suggestions for ways to try technology and will be sure to include benefits of doing so.  Once the speech is written and revisited and revised, practice will be key to a smooth presentation.  The author knows that the speech should be more a conversation than a performance.  After the speech is given, the audience will be asked to complete a brief survey for critiques and suggestions for the speaker, so that the researcher may continue to learn about preparing and presenting a successful motivational speech.

The researcher’s audience will, hopefully, have a positive opinion of motivational speakers after this presentation.  Society may feel that motivational speakers are fakes or phonies, but a lot of time and preparation goes into giving a good motivational speech.  If a presenter fails to consider the author, audience, or purpose, the speech will lack the conviction needed to catch and keep a group’s attention.  Regardless of how others see motivational speakers, most will undeniably remember words like:

“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money, it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort” (Montefiore 101), or

“For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish al forms o human poverty and all forms of human life” (Montefiore 142).  The line,

“Women need no protection that men do not need,” will not be forgotten (Montefiore161).

Prominent figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Shirley Chisem, respectively, knew that speaking to inspire others was no easy undertaking.  They were successful, and their words have lived for years after they were first spoken.

Works Cited

Cook, Glenn J. The Art of Making People Listen to You . West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing Company, Inc., 1977.

Duckworth, George E. “Rhetoric.” Microsoft Encarta . CD-ROM.  Limited edition ed. Microsoft, 2001.

Egan, Marsha. Personal interview. 19 Sep 2008.

Howard, Vernon . Talking to an Audience . New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.

McKinney, C. “Public Speaking Tips.  Public Speaking .  2007.  Advanced Public Speaking Institute.  <http://www.public-speaking.org/>.  02 Aug 2008.

Montefiore, Simon.  Speeches that Changed the World .  London:  Smith-Davies, 2005.

Montgomery, Brad.  Telephone interview.  25 Aug 2008.

Roman, Paul A. and Albert Tepper. The Oral Communicator: His Role and Function . Kansas City: Peterson and Son Publishing Co., Inc., 1989.

Popular links

• About Brad Montgomery
• Bio of one of the best keynote speakers
• Top Motivational Speaker Awards
• Testimonials about Brad
• How to Book Brad
• Motivational Topics & Programs
• Motivational Speaker
• Magician / Mentalist
• Funny Health Care Speaker
• Funny Motivational Speaker

• A List of Ty's Top Services Quality Services That Deliver Strong ROI and Significant Results
• Keynote Presentations Ty's Motivational Keynote and Breakout Presentations
• Training & Workshop Sessions A Dynamic Resource for Improving Attitude, Performance, and Results
• Untie the Knots® Consulting Have Ty and His ROI Driven Team Raise Your Individual and Organizational Bar
• Executive & Manager Coaching Communicate Your Value and Grow Your Success as a Leader
• Webinars with Ty Ty's Continual Learning Webinars
• Hire Ty NOW! Motivational Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Trainer, and Author
• Meeting Planner Resources Resources for Meeting Planners
• Keynote Presentations Ty's Keynotes & Breakout Sessions
• About Ty America's Untie the Knots® Consultant and Coach
• Request More Information We're Here to Serve YOU
• From Ty's Heart to Yours Enjoy These FREE Resources
• Articles by Ty Howard
• Ty Quotes Authentic Mini Poster and Written Messages from Ty Howard
• News on Ty Howard From the Media
• Free Downloads PDF's, MP3's, Etc.
• The Inspirational Booster Inspirational Writings by Ty
• Ty's eNewsletter Sign-Up Free Monthly in Your Email Box
• Contact Us We'd Love to Hear From YOU
• Book Ty NOW! Speaker, Consultant, Author
• Recommend Ty Tell Others About Ty Howard

Copyright © 2010 by Ty Howard.   All rights reserved.

Have you ever witnessed a professional motivational speaker wowing an audience with his/her dynamic motivational message? Did you wonder during or afterwards, how they developed such an impactful message? Would you like to be able to create and deliver the same type of dynamic and impactful motivational presentation?

If you answered, YES! YES! YES! You have the passion and enthusiasm to experience and celebrate the same successful outcomes as the great professional motivational speakers of the past and present. You just have to take action! Learn, apply, practice and master the below 5 Easy Steps to Creating a Dynamic Motivational Speech . Here’s how it’s done. 1) Identify Your Primary Motivational Speech Subject. Answer the following four questions: - What do you want to speak about in your dynamic motivational speech? - Why do you feel an audience needs to hear this motivational message? - What do you feel are four known challenges facing this audience? - If you can only address one of your four listed known challenges, which one would you go with? The known challenge that you’ve chosen to go with is now "Your Primary Motivational Speech Subject," your primary focal point. A dynamic motivational speech is a simple and clear motivational message. It’s not a speech where a speaker is trying to stuff ten pounds of potatoes into a five pound bag. From this point forward you’re going to K.I.S.S. every audience — K eep I t S imple S peaker! 2) Create a Clear and Simple Purpose for Your Dynamic Motivational Speech. What do you want the audience to do, avoid, stop doing, or better understand by the end of your dynamic motivational speech? Your answer to this question will become the "Clear and Simple Purpose for Your Dynamic Motivational Speech." My Rule of Thumb is for you to take your written answer and simplify it down to fifteen words or less. Yes, that simple! A clear and simple purpose for your dynamic motivational speech is as important as entering a correct address into a car or mobile GPS system. If you wish for your audience to arrive at the right place of thinking and acting as a result of your presentation, you must enter into your dynamic motivational speech’s GPS system a purpose that is clear, simple, and correct. 3) Develop Three Main Essential Points for Your Dynamic Motivational Speech. An Essential Point is a call to action. Every call to action starts with an action word. Here are three examples of Three Main Essential Points. Title of Sample Speech: The Heart of a Winner Main Essential Point #1: See, and Develop the Heart of a Winner Main Essential Point #2: Attach Your Heart to a Purpose Main Essential Point #3: Inspire and Teach Others to Win with Heart A few additional action word examples are "Identify," "Create," "Develop," "Make," "Use," "Know," "Reach," "Wake Up," "Avoid," "Capture," "Strive," etc. Calls to action create ongoing connection and impact with an audience. It better positions a potential motivational message from a standpoint of talking at an audience to a dynamic standpoint of connecting with and talking to an audience. Calls to action are the pistons that make your dynamic motivational speech go and grow in the hearts and minds of the audience. If you truly want to deliver a dynamic motivational speech that will have the audience loving and appreciating you in the end, never leave home without your main essential points (calls to action). 4) Attach One Personal Story to Each of Your Three Main Essential Points. The wow, impact and connection a professional motivational speaker transmits throughout an audience—always comes from his/her personal stories. Carefully and correctly chosen stories are what make or break a dynamic motivational speech. Choose the wrong personal stories and the audience can become turned-off, confused or bored. Choose the right personal stories and the audience will be inspired, motivated and empowered. Remember, every carefully chosen and constructed personal story is as important as the one you tell before or after it. Title of Sample Speech: The Heart of a Winner Main Essential Point #1: See, and Develop the Heart of a Winner                                  Story #1: A Personal Story / Example on Seeing a Winner's Heart Main Essential Point #2: Attach Your Heart to a Purpose                                  Story #2: A Personal Story / Example on Connecting to Purpose Main Essential Point #3: Inspire and Teach Others to Win with Heart                                  Story #3: A Personal Story / Example on Inspiring Others to Win - To cap off your dynamic motivational speech, restate all three of your Main Essential Points in a short, quick, recap list 'one time' before transitioning into your conclusion (the close of your dynamic motivational speech). With this format, you’re applying the old traditional and proven method of: "Tell ‘em what you’re going to Tell ‘em. Tell ‘em. Then Tell ‘em what you told them." It’s a tried and proven format. It makes sense. It’s simple. And it works! 5) Use the Ty Howard 3-1-2 Dynamic Motivational Speech Development Method to Bring Things All Together. There are three main parts of an effective speech: 1) The Opening, 2) The Body, and 3) The Conclusion. My 3-1-2 Dynamic Motivational Speech Development Method is very simple—and will have you celebrating impressive results, time and time again. I want you to write first - The Conclusion of your speech, second - The Opening of your speech, and third - The Body of your speech. "Why?" you ask. I believe in Dr. Stephen Covey’s philosophy, "One should begin with the end in mind." This concept comes from Dr. Covey’s Second Habit in his "The 7 Habits to Highly Effective People Process: Habit 2 – Begin with the End Mind." When it comes to creating and delivering a dynamic motivational speech, you should definitely know your conclusion and opening cold. Studies have shown that an audience mostly remembers the first thing and the last thing a speaker says when delivering a speech. The great benefit of knowing your conclusion cold is if for some unknown reason your speech time is shortened, you will be able to remove content from The Body of your dynamic motivational speech, and still close with a bang. Learn, apply, practice and master the above 5 Easy Steps to Creating a Dynamic Motivational Speech , and I assure you that the best motivational speech you will ever give is your next dynamic motivational speech—with clarity, purpose, connection, and a memorable bang.

About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®, Freeing Maximal Business, Performance, and Human Potential Daily

Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked "Untie the Knots® Optimal Performance Process," and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results , as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com .

Click Here to Go Back to the Articles by Ty Howard Home Page

Copyright © 2001 - 2023 by Ty Howard.  All Rights Reserved.

For Personal Use Only. Commercial use without written permission is NOT allowed.

To inquire about this article or any of Ty Howard’s products, special appearances, book signings or speaking services, contact Ty Howard by e-mail at [email protected] or visit his web site www.tyhoward.com. You may also reach his business office by telephone at (443) 982-7582.

Sign-Up for Ty's FREE Online eNewsletter

Call or email Ty's business office and your questions, comments and/or requests will be reviewed by a team member, then forwarded to Ty.

Learn more about Mr. Untie the Knots® .   Click Here

• Watch Ty Speaking
• Ty's Online Store
• Recommend Ty

"Everyone truly enjoyed your message, as well as your very funny and entertaining delivery. We wish you continued success as you share your positive mindset, philosophy and inspiration with other teams around the world."

~ Sheri S., Vice President, Research & Development

"Ty, Thank you for serving as the opening keynote speaker for our recent Annual Johns Hopkins HR Conference: Celebrating HR. Judging by the energetic response of your audience and the numerous high ratings post-conference evaluations we received, your presentation, Untie the Knots®, was well-received, relevant, and inspiring. We especially appreciated your sense of humor, comfort with the topic, very engaging and dynamic style, and obvious preparation. It was a pleasure having you on our agenda!"

~ Jeb K., The HR Conference Committee, Johns Hopkins Annual HR Conference

"Ty, I cannot say THANK YOU enough for such an amazing job you did today! Your Building an Attitude of Excellence motivational keynote presentation was exactly on point, per our discussion and requests. Our staff left the assembly feeling energized and feeling a higher sense of purpose."

~ Bobvita S., Strategic Director of Human Resources, University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business

"I cannot even count all the ways Ty’s engaging keynote session positively impacted me; I really needed a good laugh and laugh I did, but I also learned some valuable skills on how to effectively cope with and drive change at work as a senior executive."

~ Kevin E., National Annual Association Conference Audience Participant

"Great job to you and the professional development 'all employee day' committee for choosing Ty Howard! Employee morale and engagement can and will definitely improve. I am looking forward to a more productive, rewarding, and enjoyable workplace going forward!!"

~ Irene M., IT Network Specialist - Audience Participant

"Hello Ty, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I really enjoyed your motivational keynote presentation at our pre-service. We rarely get a quality presenter like you who comes with high-energy engagement, useful strategies, side-splitting laughter, relevant stories, fun while learning, and moving inspiration. You have inspired so many of my staff. I have received nothing but positive feedback. I know that you are a busy man, so I just wanted to say, 'Thank you. You are appreciated and keep up the amazing job!'"

~ Yvette R., Program Manager - Audience Participant

"Ty Howard makes personal and professional development engaging, fun, educational and inspirational! His keynote session was not clichéd and provided useful practical information and strategies for continuous improvement in effective leadership. He is a fresh approach with a great, relatable, and appropriately funny message."

~ Mike S., Credit Union Business Development Manager - Audience Participant

"Ty, I've heard nothing but rave reviews about you and your keynote presentation. You were a hit! You were highly praised for being so approachable to the guests. You came in well prepared, shared your entertaining wit and a friendly style of humor; an appropriate balance between fun and insights for an evening gala with a sit-down dinner. Thank you again for being our keynote speaker and making us all laugh, think and smile, repeatedly!"

~ Sandra H., President Elect, Women's Council of REALTORS®, Maryland

"Ty, Thank you for sharing your networking insights with our group last night. To be totally transparent, I was not expecting such helpful and meaningful advice. I've attended presentations before to learn more about networking, and left with a collection of high-level fluff that was more common sense than valuable information. Your presentation The Revolutionary Networker was motivational and perfect for our Member Appreciation and Kickoff event! As I looked around the room throughout your session, everyone was engaged and taking copious notes. Thank you again for providing us with - updated - networking tips and techniques that were actually useful."

~ Garry B., PMI-CIC Bloomington, IL - Audience Participant

InspiraGen Institute 6400 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 134 Baltimore, MD 21228 Business Office Phone: 443-982-7582

The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

Free Leadership Lessons Guide

Actionable leadership advice from HubSpot's Co-Founder, Dharmesh Shah.

• Qualities of Confident People
• Leading By Example
• Recognizing Excellence

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Motivational Speech

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind.

Whether it's a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote, these speeches are designed to change how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“I learned many great lessons from my father -- not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.

But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you'll know you have other options.

It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred — on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“Either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me.

And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

How to Give Productive Feedback, According to HubSpot Managers & Editors

How to Write a Press Release [Free Press Release Template + 2024 Examples]

25 Best Slack Alternatives for Working Effortlessly in 2024

50 Fun Corporate Team-Building Activities & Outing Ideas Everyone Will Enjoy

Press Release Distribution: Top 11 Services + 4 Mistakes to Avoid

What is Public Relations? PR Definition Explained

13 Best Portable Apps in 2023

The 20 Best Free PDF Readers of 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a PR Agency in 2023

How Marketers Collaborate Effectively Across Departments [According to HubSpot Marketing Leaders]

Lessons on leadership from HubSpot co-founder Dharmesh Shah.

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

How To Deliver A Motivational PowerPoint Presentation

One of the most common purposes of giving a presentation or speech is to give motivation to the audience. If you are planning to make a motivational  PowerPoint presentation then indeed it will take a lot of focus and a considerable amount of time. How can I use a PowerPoint presentation to motivate the audience? In this article we provide insightful and actionable recommendations to motive your audience with a PowerPoint presentation.

It is best to provide relevant examples and remain concise when giving a professional PowerPoint presentation. Further on, this will help your audience acquire the benefit from most of your experience.

Anyone who feels they have a message to share with the audience must give a motivational PowerPoint presentation. There are some important points that will get you one step closer of making a difference in the people’s lives:

Add the ‘Humor’ Ingredient

Try to ensure your attendance at various events featuring motivational presenters to learn something new. Do pay attention to the use of humor, timing and the flow. Just hear how the speakers integrate their own stories into their presentations . Indeed, you will learn a lot from their experience.

Make sure you choose to use humor appropriately and don’t offend anyone present in the room. Find the best way to use humor in your PowerPoint presentation, no matter what the subject is. Every speech needs some light moments so that audience can laugh, giggle or take a deep breath. This will make your audience feel comfortable and opens the relationship between you and a listener.

Go to the Right Direction

Before you move on with the presentation, give a single thought on what your message is going to be? Do you want to discuss about how to get through stress of everyday life? Or do you have a desire to motivate people who are making efforts to change their career? You must discover your focus first as it will get you going in the right direction. Also, try to use an appropriate PowerPoint Template with visual appealing slides, for example if you are giving a business related presentation, then you might be better off using a Business PowerPoint Template .

Tell more about the topic

Tell people a little about why you chose to speak on this topic. Make it strong by using stories from your own life. Also, you may use quotes and always remember to cite the source of the quote. Similarly if you include facts in the slides. Since, successful motivational speakers do it on a regular basis.

Get the audience’s mind moving and head nodding by engaging them in your presentation. You may use questions in your speech related to the subject. Do not forget to leave some time at the end of presentation for comments or questions.

Hence, prepare your presentation in such a way that your audience feels motivated after you present it.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign up to our newsletter

We will send you our curated collections to your email weekly. No spam, promise!

10 Reasons Motivational Speech Is Important

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Have you ever opened a Ted Talk on YouTube with the intention of simply passing time, and ended up with a surge of motivation to do something? Or have you ever attended a speech in person that inspired you to actually do something instead of simply waiting for it to get over with?

Well, if you have, then you have an idea about what a motivational speech is and how it operates.

Motivational speeches are used by many speakers. In fact, they’re one of the most common speeches that are being delivered out there. And yet, for how commonly they’re used, writing & delivering a good motivational speech–you know, one that actually motivates–is no easy task.

After reading all this, you’re probably wondering why there is such a ruckus around being a motivational speaker & what sets motivational speeches apart from other speeches.

Motivational speeches are important because they work to inspire you, enhance your creativity, reduce fear & apprehension, offers a new outlook on things, and helps you meet other people on the same boat as you.

Don’t worry, we’ve elaborated on all this below.

Motivational Speaking: Definition And Purpose

Before we delve into the importance of motivational speeches, let’s first get down to the basics & understand what the motivational speech actually means.

For motivational speeches, the definition actually corresponds with its purpose.

A motivational speech is intended to persuade or motivate the audience to take some course of action.

This definition more or less covers what is the purpose of delivering a motivational speech as well i.e to motivate people to do something.

Motivational speeches are delivered to inspire the audience, to make them think, and finally to get them to accept & follow your call to action. That is, they not only have a cognitive purpose, but also an emotional and actionable one.

How Motivational Speeches Help People

Now that you know what a motivational speech is & the reason why it’s delivered, let’s move onto the next step i.e figuring out what, exactly, is it about motivational speeches that help people.

Motivation is important for everyone. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do: you need motivation if you want to do something in your life, no matter how small the task.

Except for this, the help that Motivational Speeches provide people is also rooted in the actionable part of the definition of motivational speeches.

Motivational speeches are intended to inspire other people, yes. But it’s not solely that is inspiration drawn through powerful words that they depend on.

Although the end message is no doubt powerful, motivational speakers not only ask you to do something but also outline the steps on how to actually go about achieving things.

Motivational speakers provide their audience with important insight–which is sometimes personal–into how to actually go about achieving the things they’re asking them to achieve.

Not only this, but they also provide effective systems and examples or tried and tested methods of achieving the end goal. The most common way through which this is done is through storytelling.

Why Motivational Speeches Are Important

1. Everything Needs Motivation–Even The Smallest Things

So many people think that motivation is only something that people require to achieve the big goals in their life like that dream job or maybe winning some other race.

However, while achieving big goals is certainly one object of motivation, it’s not the only one. You need motivation even for doing small tasks in life like painting your house, reading that book, or even working out.

Think of the last time you heard someone (or yourself) say I lost motivation to go to the gym today or finish my work and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

2. Changes Your Perspective

Another key reason why motivational speeches are important is that motivational speeches change the way you approach or see certain things or topics.

Motivational speeches often offer a new perspective onto something, a different way of seeing something that people have been seeing for a long time.

This can help people transform perceived hurdles into challenges to overcome, or simply offer new insight into something.

3. Improves Task Performance

Motivation is imperative to improving your task performance. While motivation is important for actually getting off your butt and doing something, how much motivation you have will also determine the quality of the work you do.

In this sense, motivational speeches are important as they provide the audience with an outline on how to really improve their performance in life. Through the real-life examples and tips they provide, motivational speeches can greatly improve how well a person operates.

4. Gives New Ideas & Solutions

Another key reason why motivational speeches are important is that they give new ideas to the audience & provide new solutions to problems that they’ve been probably facing for a long time.

Motivational speakers can also keep you informed about all the new developments in their respective fields, and thereby keep you up to date on the easiest way to achieve what you want.

5. Provides A Burst Of Energy & Inspiration

To actually put things into action, not only do you need inspiration but also the energy to carry out that action.

Motivational speeches help you achieve both of these things. Through the surge of inspiration that they provide, and the general inspired atmosphere of motivational speeches, a speaker can make the audience feel imbued with energy and want to get on their feet.

6. Reduces Fear & Apprehension

For many people, doing something new or simply seeing things in a new perspective often evokes feelings of apprehension or sometimes even downright fear.

Motivational speeches can help reduce this fear to an extent, as the speaker will actively work to make the unknown familiar to you and to provide real-life examples that you can draw upon.

Reducing the fear or apprehension associated with a particular topic goes a long way in how successful you’re able to carry out the task.

7. Builds Confidence

Another reason why motivational speeches are so effective is that they help the audience members build a sense of confidence. Confidence is imperative if you want to take the first step forward & try out something new.

Motivational speakers provide people with some key tools that they need in order to build their confidence, like knowledge, motivation & relatable stories. 

8. Teaches You To Value Both: Sucess & Failure

Failure is inevitable if you’re truly doing something new. Think of all the biggest innovations in history, and you’ll realize just how many times the person had to fail before they were able to succeed.

And yet, failure is something that many people still view with fearful eyes. Attending motivational speeches–especially if they’re centered around similar topics–will help you greatly overcome your fear of apprehension and teach you to value both: failure & success.

9. Helps Meet People On The Same Boat As You

Attending motivational speeches is a great opportunity for networking & meeting other people who are going through the same things you are.

This allows you to broaden your network and to get to meet new people who probably want to achieve the same things as you. This can also help you achieve goals that you wouldn’t have been able to on your own.

So, for instance, if you’re attending a motivational speech for young entrepreneurs, then you can meet like-minded people who’re also on the same path as you–and maybe even figure out how to build something together.

10. Boosts Creativity

Ever left a particularly inspiring speech with your brain in brain-storm mode? Well, you’re not alone. The motivation & inspiration that strikes you during a particularly good motivational speech will work to get your brain juices flowing & enter you into a creative mindset.

This can further help you out because your creative idea might actually work to inspire you more, leading to more brainstorming…and so on. A cycle–but not a vicious one.

Tips To Write A Great Motivational Speech

1. Don’t Have Too Many Different Points

While it’s perfectly alright to divide up one main point into multiple different ones for ease of understanding, you don’t want to have multiple main points. This will end up confusing your audience, and they will most likely not have a clear idea of which direction to head in.

You want the audience to leave your speech with a clear-cut mindset about what they’re supposed to do next. Not have them scratching their heads about what to do.

2. Structure It Well

The way you structure your speech is going to have a major impact on how well you manage to connect with the audience and how much of the message they actually understand. Don’t just dive into writing your speech without structuring it first. Your speech should have a well-defined beginning, middle, and end.

That’s why it’s important to write down your speech beforehand. It will allow you to better the way your speech flows.

For more information on why it’s important to write down your speech, check out our article on 9 Reasons Why Writing A Speech Is Important.

3. Use Simple Language

Now is not the time to be hit by a bout of verbosity. Seriously. You don’t want to use big or complicated words–this might make you sound smart, but will also make your audience more confused about what you actually want them to do.

So, use simple language to explain your main idea. This doesn’t have to impact the quality of your speech in any way. Remember that you’re there to talk to ordinary people, so speak as they do.

4. Incorporate Storytelling & Real-Life Examples

This is a must for any motivational speech. Stories are an integral element of any speech, yes. But they become even more important when you’re delivering a motivational speech. This is because if you truly wish to inspire people, you must give them examples of real instances where other people have been benefitted from taking inspiration from your topic.

So, make sure to incorporate real-life stories in your speech. Want more information about how to fully explore storytelling in your speech? Head over to our article on 9 Storytelling Approaches For Your Next Speech Or Presentation.

5. Have A Really Powerful Opening & Ending

Your opening & ending are the most important components of your speech. However, they become even more important when you’re delivering a motivational speech. This is because the opening will determine how you inspire your audience right off the bat, and the kind of emotional mood they’re in for the rest of your speech.

Your ending, on the other hand, is what will remain with your audience after you’re done with your speaking–and that’s where most of the actual work is going to be done.

Importance Of A Motivational Speaker

1. helps personal development.

This is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of motivational speakers, and for good reason. Motivational speakers can–if they are actually experienced in their field of speaking–help the people listening to their speech develop themselves. 

They can help the listeners set goals–both long term as well as short term, and also aid in figuring out a strategy to achieve those goals. 

2. Helps Businesses And Companies 

Many companies and workplaces these days invite motivational speakers to talk with their members, and for good reason. 

Motivational speakers can help employees boost their productivity and infuse within them a sense of enthusiasm. They can also inspire people to improve their work and figure out how to cultivate good company culture. 

3. Educating The Public

Motivational speakers also work to educate the general public on a variety of topics that are relevant to them. Motivational speakers can rally the public to take action about a particular good cause. 

They can help people see certain important aspects that they might be overlooking, and figure out a plan of action to coordinate. 

4. Inspires Youth

Many motivational talks these days are directed towards the youth. That’s because the youth is the heart of any country, and what plays the most integral role in driving it forward. 

Motivational speakers can help inspire the youth, and to organize their collective energy in a positive way. They can also act as a source of guidance for the youth, and make them see all the different directions they can take their life in. 

5. Help People Get Together

Another reason why motivational speakers are important–and one that is often overlooked–is that motivational speakers help people get together and find a common purpose. 

Strife is common in any country, community, or even workplace. However, motivational speakers, by employing all of the factors mentioned above, can actually help people from all walks of life come together and find a common purpose.

Especially if teamwork is an area that the speaker specializes in, they can make a key difference in drawing people together. 

How To Keep Up The Motivation Rolling AFTER The Speech Ends?

So, you’ve either delivered a motivational speech or just finished hearing one. Your endorphins are rolling, you feel like you’re at the top of the world, like you can do anything and everything…

And then some time passes. And you realize well, do you really need to do it all right now …

And there goes the motivation.

How do you get around this? How do you keep up your motivation after the actual event has ended? Or how do you avoid your audience from losing out on all the motivation you’ve spent so long attempting to infuse them with?

Well, there are a few things that you can do…

1. Don’t Ask For TOO Much

A lot of motivational speakers make this mistake. They ask their audience to achieve some giant goal, say like, becoming their fittest possible self by the end of the year. However, for someone who’s never really stepped on a treadmill their entire life, this can be quite overwhelming.

While they might find the idea enchanting, that’s all it will be: an enchanting dream, out of their reach. And if they think it’s just a dream they can never achieve…well, they won’t try, will they?

So, start by asking something small. Say, like, getting them to work out for twenty minutes every three days. Or simply avoiding eating out on the weekends. Don’t overwhelm them.

2. Clearly Outline The Next Steps

If you really want your audience to do something, then CLEARLY tell them what you want them to do. Give them a list of things that they should do as soon as your talk gets over, and also outline a broad plan for what they should do after those steps have ended.

Sticking with the example mentioned above, you can tell them that if they’re going to go out for drinks this week, they should stick with just water as mix-ins. You can also provide them with information about fitness classes trials that you–or someone else nearby–are taking.

3. Stay In Touch With Them

One of the best ways to monitor your audience’s progress over time is by staying in touch with them. This way, you will directly know where they are in terms of progress. It will also allow you to gently motivate them and send them reminders about their goals–however, remember to not force or coerce them into doing something.

You can do this by sharing your contact details with the audience. You can also make them sign up for your newsletter or make them a part of your email list.

How To Be An Authentic Motivational Speaker

While delivering a motivational speech or becoming a motivational speaker sounds easy enough, it’s not so. A lot of people believe that becoming a motivational speaker is the same as delivering a speech on any other topic. However, this cannot be further from the truth.

If you truly wish to become a motivational speaker that helps people, then you need to be authentic. Your speech must draw from your own personal thoughts, emotions and ideas, yes. But more importantly, your speech must be from your own experiences . First-hand experiences are vital for any motivational speaker.

Think of it this way: if you had to pick the more authentic and trustable source from a person who’s watched a lot of youtube videos on fitness & is passionate about them vs. someone who is a personal trainer with hands-on experience with multiple clients and a passion for fitness, who would you pick?

The second one, most likely.

So, if you truly wish to become an authentic speaker, then you must let yourself first experience your area of expertise, and derive enough experience from it to make other people want to experience it too.

Examples Of Great Motivational Speeches

1. richard st. john: secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes.

Takeaway: This is one of the best ted talks in the realm of motivational speaking. One of the reasons why this talk is so great is because of how brilliantly the speech is structured. The speaker manages to condense such a big amount of information into a talk that lasts less than four minutes, and yet nowhere does it feel rushed or cramped together. You can use his structure as an inspiration to your own speech.

2. Simon T. Bailey: To Break Through, Find Your True Calli ng

Takeaway: The reason why this ted-talk is so great is because of the speaker’s outstanding delivery. He uses various strategies to emotionally connect with his audience. His body language, the way he intonates, gestures, and facial expressions all come together to create a truly amazing speech experience that is likely to motivate his audience into taking action.

3. J.K Rowling: Harvard Commencement Speech

Takeaway: Whatever your opinions about Rowling, one cannot deny that this is truly an amazing speech to study. This is because of the beautiful way in which Rowling has organized the main content of her speech, and the way she explains it all in such a simplistic way.

The theme of the topic is imagination and failure, and how these two elements are crucial to success. While at first glance there seems to be no relationship between these three words, the way she speaks makes you realize how intricately they’re connected.

Use this speech as a guideline to organize your material and how to structure your content in order for it to be simple and yet at the same time unique. For more information on what makes speakers great, check out our article on 11 Qualities Of A Great Speaker.

To sum up, motivational speeches are important for a variety of reasons. Motivational speeches are an important type of speech because they work to inspire you, enhance your creativity, reduce fear & apprehension, offers a new outlook on things, and helps you meet other people on the same boat as you. By using the tips mentioned above & taking inspiration from real-life motivational speeches, you too can become an excellent motivational speaker.

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

Talk Smart: Strategies for Efficient and Impactful Communication

Call or Text? Deciphering the Best Communication Method for Every Situation

Spontaneous Speaking Skills for Any Situation

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

Kindly drop your contact details so that we can arrange call back

Select Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria AmericanSamoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Rwanda Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe land Islands Antarctica Bolivia, Plurinational State of Brunei Darussalam Cocos (Keeling) Islands Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Cote d'Ivoire Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Guernsey Holy See (Vatican City State) Hong Kong Iran, Islamic Republic of Isle of Man Jersey Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Lao People's Democratic Republic Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Mozambique Palestinian Territory, Occupied Pitcairn Réunion Russia Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sao Tome and Principe Somalia Svalbard and Jan Mayen Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tanzania, United Republic of Timor-Leste Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Good public speaking speech topics and topics for an actuating speaker.

And a set of brand new ideas to prompt and propel your listeners to discover new views, contemporary worlds and unfamiliar opinions.

Let’s start with the behavior-altering speech topics.

In this article:

Motivational Speech Topics

The monroe’s motivated sequence pattern, comparative advantages pattern, call to action speech topics.

If you succeed to get them to act like you propose, then you happen to be expert as a motivational speaker!

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

• How to motivate the audience members to change their nutrition and diet food behavior and consume enough of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Does the iPod speech technology foreced PC users to migrate to Apple? Or work out other issues related to computers and stuff like that for alternative good public speaking speech topics.
• Five strategies to promote savings for a comfortable life when you are retired. (You know, for example, the earlier students start with a solid personal pension plan, the better their retirement situation later … )
• Five humanitarian things you can do to help other people after a hurricane, tropical cyclone or other natural disaster.

E.g. tell about a non-governmental organization (NGO) like the International Red Cross or Red Crescent Movement.

• How to motivate scouts to get a complicated job done as a team?
• Free coffee service at work helps to increase the productivity and loyalty of employees.
• How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking 🙂 – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.
• Methods for coaching and training a cheerleader team, and show how you motivate them to win competitions.
• Scientific discoveries that make living with color blindness easier.
• What the heck, just go after your dreams and your own pursuit of happiness!

Good public speaking speech topics for the cause of changing opinions on hot topics, or amazing undiscovered ideas that could give insight in not very well-known themes and subjects:

• Measuring national well-being is measuring national happiness.
• Conscious living results in personal growth.
• Managing people means leading, motivating, inspiring, and encouraging workers by applying motivational and other persuasive speech topics in chats in between the official functioning interviews that are held often each half a year.
• Why and how to re-program your own memory structures with wise vizualisation techniques and avoid expectation failure.
• Be pro-active in all you want to achieve, it pays off in the end.
• Having to do things that we do not enjoy doing is called discipline.
• Why people are never satisfied with what they have.
• Happiness can be measured.
• Making fun in life is more important than working.
• Personal experience is more valuable than knowledge gained at school.
• Time is much more worth than money.
• Waiting is the hardest part of life.
• Why nasty radio, television and internet programs should be banned.
• Congress shall not abridge the freedom of speech, under no circumstances. (Retrieved from the constitutional fundamental political principles)
• Convince your public that playing golf after someone’s retirement is not a complete waste of time.
• How to motivate students to see the relevance of researching education resources for good public speaking speech topics.
• Teens who play violent games do worse in school than teens who do not.
• Botox injections make women look unnatural with an artificial facial expression.
• Do not take illegal steroids in sports activities, they are dangerous!
• The One Minute praising method is the ultimate answer on the How to Motivate Your Employees question.
• Video games encourage teamwork and cooperation when played with others.
• Football stadiums are modern equivalents of Ancient Roman amphitheatres.

Not found what you like? Try my other list:

• Local veterinarians should make health care control visits for the animals in pet shops. Because sometimes you have no idea what you notice in such animal so-called welfare stores – not to mention the smell 🙂
• Why an implanted microchip is the most reliable identification purpose system for the recovery of your companion animals. Put between one of the shoulder blades that are just beneath the surface.
• Architects and urban planners should be more aware of the values of a rich wildlife population in urban areas – e.g. squirrels, skunks, raccoons.
• Global environmental issues can only be solved by discussing an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach.
• The planet’s ecosystem is the base of the human race.
• The effects of wind turbines, or so-called wind farms, on the weather, bird population and local communities. And do not forget to explicate the effects on human health of the loud noise the sometime make. And the impact on the landscape views.
• How to earn and implement an ISO 14001 certification on Environmental Management, and why it is important.
• How climate change affects society; federal, state and cities.
• What are the costs of an earthquake, a tsunami, a volcanic eruption or a hurricane hurricanes or a wild fire? Evacuation, rescueworkers, rebuilding, et cetera.
• If the sea level rises by over 1 feet, what are the consequences? What about 2 feet? 3 perhaps? Those are variation public speaking persuasive speech topics. And: what if our temperature rises with 1 degree, 2, or even 3?
• The quality of our water supplies is threatened by many pollutants, causing water-related diseases.
• Why you, as a speechwriting student, need to learn about earth sciences in class, including biology, chemistry and physics.
• Ocean acidification on marine organisms intensifies and there is a relation with the CO2 increase in our atmosphere.

Motivated Sequence Patterns

These patterns are often applied by famous speakers. If you follow the order precisely nothing can go wrong.

A very useful to elaborate on motivational speech topics. When professor Alan Monroe designed this sequence in the thirties of the previous century he uses elements of the psychology of persuasion.

Step #1 – Attention Get the attention of your public. State the importance of your specific angle of approach. List the main benefits to arouse interest.

Step #2 – Need State the need for change. Show why it should concern them. Relate the issue or problem to the values, attitudes, interests and needs of the listeners.

Step #3 – Satisfaction Satisfy their needs. Provide the details and interesting facts. Show how your solution works.

Step #4 – Visualization Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of the message. Illustrate them with examples, anecdotes, comparisons, statistics, definitions and visual aids. Show successful implementation in other organizations. Tell your public what’s in it for them.

Step #5 – Call to Action Call to action. Show them what to do to implement your plan.

This looks like the one above and is often used for business presentations. The big difference occurs in the  satisfy  and  visualization  steps. In those steps you have to compare and contrast two or more plans, solutions or alternatives.

Show your listeners which one is the best. E.g.: Compare and contrast two cellphones and tell which one is the first-class one for your job or personal life and why.

You have just one goal: to instigate your audience to act or to agree. Write down what you want them to do, and how you are going to persuade them that you are right. Phrase your goal in a declarative statement, in a way that will motivate.

There are two ways:

1. The first way is the use of the imperative mood in relation to activities, issues or problems at college, in your work environment, or in your community. Examples:

Become involved in …, Buy …, Change …, Choose …, Do …, Donate …, Establish …, Join …, Make …, Pay …, Quit …, Sell …, Sign …, Study …, Support …, Take …, Volunteer …, Vote …

2. Another way to create good verbal addresses is to relate these general themes below to personal, educational or professional activities, issues or problems:

Breakthroughs – Career Development – Challenge – Change – Coaching – Commitment – Communication – Competence – Competitiveness – Confidence – Decision Making – Discipline – Effective Meetings – Ensure Safety – Ergonomics – Focused Thinking – Future – Involvement – Inspiration – Integrity – Interpersonal Skills – Leadership – Negotiation Tactics – Personal Effectiveness – Personal Growth – Personal Improvement – Personal Productivity – Personal Wellness – Responsibility – Self Respect – Set Realistic Goals – Stress – Teambuilding – Teamwork – Trends – Values – Work Ethics

Call to action speech topics are equal to (specimen):

• Sharing emotions,
• Initiating a debate on a hot topic,
• Promoting your book or other craftsman project,
• Forcing a change in daily habits,
• Motivating them to achieve something in life,
• Persuading your listeners to vote for you in some kind of an election campaign.

For example:

• Protest Against Nuclear Testing.
• Sign up For My Newsletter.
• Make Every Workday Feel Like a Lazy Sunday.
• Remember The Oath You Took For Your Country.
• Sponsor Our Center for Community Innovation.
• Improve Your Concentration Skills With Mind and Mental Exercises.
• Provide Good Conditions For Teambuilding and Cooperating.
• Just Think Positive!
• Always Affirm Your Business Deals in Writing.
• Set at Least One Career Goal a Year.
• Relax, and Your Presentation Will Be Better.
• Enjoy Walking the Great Wall of China.
• Release Your Life With Energy Psychology and Meridian Energy Therapies.
• Do Not Hesitate, Make a Decision About Your Future.
• Prioritize Your Daily Goals.
• Volunteer in Thailand For Tsunami Reconstruction Jobs.

These are random Toastmasters International examples. Watch the so-called  action words and verbs , I have written them in italic style. As you perhaps have noticed, the list of phrases and terms is open to your sole discretion …

Other action terms could be:

change, profit, produce, nominate, sale, master, save, vote, help, reward, reveal, map out, manage, organize, invent, modernize, et cetera.

You see, almost every active verb can be the base of an appealing motivational call to action speech topics. Be creative and find yourself a way in discovering other words

120 History Speech Topics [and Cultural Artifact Speech]

200+ Good Impromptu Speech Topics

5 thoughts on “34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech”

My topic is “your ability”. In this topic we can tell listeners about their ability by giving some examples and thoughts and can motivate them to do a work / task in which they are able and interested . This speech motivate them to identify their ability and to become a successful person.

All people in society need motivation. It plays a very good role in the success of the people.I am agree with this article.

Surviving h.I.v. I’ve been positive for 28 years

The Face Behind The Mask

Your article is great but I would like to point out that I don’t understand where you would get an African tribe that would be hard to convince that there has been a man on the moon. Why would that be a challenge??? I quote you below: “How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.”

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

• Preferences

Motivation Letter Writing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Something went wrong! Please try again and reload the page.

Motivation Letter Writing

Writing letter of motivation has always been a complicated task, especially for those, who do it without professional help. this presentations offers only most effective tips on how to write perfect letter of motivation. – powerpoint ppt presentation.

• one key element that makes a difference in your application
• research on the university you are applying to before you start writing.
• Look for information necessary to create your letter fit for their program,
• this will give you an idea of what your letter should contain
• Make an outline of your main points to discuss in your letter of motivation.
• This technique will help you get organized and prevent you to forget important matters to discuss in the paper later.
• And as you go long, you can build around those key points and enrich the content.
• The first sentence is the most vital portion of the paragraphs because it gets the reader's attention.
• Create a strong opening paragraph of five sentences.
• Create a better MBA motivation essay with us.
• be sure to include your professional goals.
• Why you find interest in the subject of study.
• What inclined you to choose that field
• What influenced you to take up this course
• Also write any related experiences and discuss future plans after you have received your degree.
• Your mortgage motivation letter must have clear past and future goals.
• include a brief discussion of your achievements that are essential to your application.
• It is also a plus, if you include extra-curricular achievements.
• You loan motivation letter will stand out if you demonstrate your achievements/skills rather than enumerating them.
• Remember to always start your internship motivation with your positive points.
• weak points will be asked on interviews, so dont mention them in your motivation letter MBA.
• Focalize on your strengths and talk about yourself in a positive perspective.
• Giving too much information is a big NO in your motivational letter for MBA.
• Some statements involve emotional are very intimate, so you should avoid this.
• Going into details about your personal life not only exposes you
• but it will give dullness to your paper and your readers would show lack of interest.
• Give your readers some insight into you as an individual in your letter of motivation MBA.
• So it is your time to showcase you uniqueness as a person in your family, community or society.
• Write why this program is necessary for your professional growth, and how great is the need.
• It is a simple act of kindness, to thank them for their time reading your letter.
• Get the best real estate motivation letter through our website.
• It may seem daunting to write a letter of motivation to some.
• But that is why we area here.
• We offer you services that will surely satisfy your needs.
• Let us be of assistance in your success.
• WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
• letterofmotivation.net

PowerShow.com is a leading presentation sharing website. It has millions of presentations already uploaded and available with 1,000s more being uploaded by its users every day. Whatever your area of interest, here you’ll be able to find and view presentations you’ll love and possibly download. And, best of all, it is completely free and easy to use.

You might even have a presentation you’d like to share with others. If so, just upload it to PowerShow.com. We’ll convert it to an HTML5 slideshow that includes all the media types you’ve already added: audio, video, music, pictures, animations and transition effects. Then you can share it with your target audience as well as PowerShow.com’s millions of monthly visitors. And, again, it’s all free.

About the Developers

PowerShow.com is brought to you by  CrystalGraphics , the award-winning developer and market-leading publisher of rich-media enhancement products for presentations. Our product offerings include millions of PowerPoint templates, diagrams, animated 3D characters and more.