Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Motivational Speaker?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a motivational speaker doesn’t just need speech skills. He/she needs ideas and the ability to put them in words – words that can motivate and bring out the best in the audience. That’s the general premise.

Everyone Needs Motivation, but Their Specific Needs Vary

Specifically, the task of a motivational speaker could vary based on what the needs of the audience are. You could be called by high level companies, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, colleges, schools or even hospitals. You could be addressing businessmen, senior or junior-level employees, government staff, inmates, students, doctors and medical staff, or even patients. 

The only thing that unites them all is their need for motivation, but their specific requirements vary. You need to be able to cater to those specific needs. That means you need to be well read, be willing to extensively research the specific requirements of the audience, and have a desire to accommodate new ideas. You should also have a thirst for knowledge. You must ensure that you have the right and fresh ideas to put into effect to motivate the audience you’re paid to address.

Confident Presentation and Positive Mannerisms

But it isn’t fresh ideas alone that you need to have. You need to be able to present them in a manner that conveys positivity. Presentation is everything for a motivational speaker. You need to embody the right body language, and every bit of it matters – the way you move your hands, how you present an anecdote, how you move about on the stage as you speak, and even your facial expressions and the manner in which you look at your audience. 

All these can make a big difference to not just the effectiveness of your presentation but also the organizers’ assessment of you, which does play a part in whether you’re called for future assignments. Most importantly, the motivational speaker shouldn’t appear to lack motivation! Everything you say and do must exude confidence.      

Observe the Masters at Work

So how do you know you have the right ideas and the style to be a successful motivational speaker? It would be helpful to observe other motivational speakers. Watch their body language and listen to their speeches, observing how they present ideas. We don’t mean to say you need to copy their style. You need to have your own unique style but it can help you to observe how the pros do it, especially when you’ve not hit the big league. 

Start With Blogging

You can start with motivational blogging. You can experiment with your ideas through your blogs. Share them on social media. Check the reactions of the audience, and if they’re favorable you can incorporate them into your speeches. If the reactions aren’t particularly positive, you may need to think outside the box or borrow ideas from other speakers out there, or even get ideas from audience reactions. 

Celebrity motivational speaker Peter Theodorou has experimented with various styles and has displayed the flexibility to address the specific needs of varied audiences. That’s what makes him a much sought-after speaker.

What Are The Makings of a Successful Motivational Speaker?

 

Motivation can do wonders. It proves that the mind is stronger than the body. People are capable of rising above the odds just by being motivated enough. We see differently abled people doing physical activities none of us could dream of. We observe people rising from very humble, poverty-stricken environments to become millionaires and celebrities. Middle-aged individuals scale tall mountain peaks, and extremely shy individuals become politicians, public speakers and heads of state. 

What Do Motivational Speakers Do? 

If there’s one thing that characterizes all such people, it is the fact that they were motivated to do great things. And motivational speakers look to impart that motivation, that fire within, to their audiences. 

Motivational speakers are often called to address company employees, students in educational institutions, participants in religious gatherings and others who wish to get more from life. What the motivational speaker does is transform the perspectives of the audience and challenge them to greater tasks and goals in life.

Connecting to the Audience Emotionally

To produce the desired results in the audience, there is an emotional quotient involved plus some analytical thinking and problem solving. So while the speaker must present the facts and some logical reasoning, he/she must be able to appeal to the emotional side of the audience as well. Or they wouldn’t feel connected to what the speaker says.

Entertain With Anecdotes or Stories

Always make sure you have an interesting story to tell. It not only has to entertain, but also convey a point. It should make them think, not just while you say it, but long after the speech has ended. It should be motivating them for the rest of their lives. Every time they remember it, it should motivate them for greater things.

Empathizing With Audience Needs

Again, you also need to empathize with the needs of your audience. Adequate research will help you understand what your audience struggles with the most. Once you’re able to empathize with those struggles, you immediately build a bond with them, a bond that is hard to shake off.

Be Confident and Show Confidence

As a motivational speaker, you should not only be confident in your abilities but let your confidence be seen by others. Only if your confidence is seen by your audience can you convince them to break the barriers and follow your principles.

Don’t Cut Down on Preparation

No amount of preparation is too much. Organizers who hire you expect a positive change in their audience and the ability to rise above the occasion. So make sure you do your hard work and take time to prepare your speech, the anecdotes you’re about to present, the theme of the speech, the call to action, etc. Remember, your reputation hinges on it. 

   

Satisfying all these requirements is renowned motivational speaker Peter Theodorou, whose presentation and speeches have transformed employees and even communities. These have made him one of the most sought after speakers out there.