Motivation is hard to come by. It’s also transient in most cases. When adverse circumstances show up, it’s hard to keep your motivation at a high level. Watching motivational movies definitely helps, and there are some that do stay in mind. “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Hidden Figures,” “Whiplash,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “A Beautiful Mind,” etc are just some of the movies that come to mind, but there are obviously a lot more movies out there that depict how to fight the odds. A great motivational speaker does something like that too, but purely through the medium of speech.
Oratory’s Role in History
That’s
remarkable, come to think of it. But oratory has historically proven to be the
greatest motivator. Winston Churchill’s call to decisive action through his
radio speeches motivated an entire generation of Brits to put up the brave
fight against the Nazi onslaught. Hitler himself managed to rally an entire nation
behind him with fiery speeches. The great Greek philosophers of the past put
forth their ideas through speeches, and war leaders throughout antiquity have
been rallying their armies for superhuman fetes through fiery motivational
addresses. The motivational speaker inspires people not to conquer nations or cross
the Atlantic Ocean, but rather to face the daily challenges of life and attain
higher goals, be that at work, home, school or the hospital.
Magicians of the Mind
Motivational
speakers are usually hired by companies to motivate their staff to further
their goalposts and perform at a greater level. That only comes by uncovering their
hidden potential. The responsibility of the motivational speaker is therefore
significant. Through anecdotes, stories and thought-provoking fact
presentation, speakers drive home the point that there is a lot more they can
achieve in life, and in their work. The speaker also ensures that the
principles, ideas and logical reasoning he/she presents are convincingly put
forward, so they stay in the mind of their audience for years even in adverse
circumstances. Motivational speakers are therefore magicians of the mind.
Getting to Be an In-demand Motivational Speaker
To be a
motivational speaker, you first need to be confident in your abilities. Are you
sure you can motivate your audience to great deeds? Do you have tried and
tested principles you can impart to your audience so they can use and
experience the results for themselves? You need confidence in your abilities and in
the ideas and principles you convey so you can inspire confidence in those who
hear you.
- Observing Other Speakers
It also helps to listen to other speakers and find out what
anecdotes and principles they present. Can you bring anything new to the table?
Are there new ideas or concepts you can present? Also,
observe how those speakers move about on stage while they speak. Body language
matters. Whatever you do, make sure you exude confidence.
- Practicing
Practice giving a motivational speech. The more you practice, the
more you can improve your skills. Performance matters, since how the audience
and organizers feel about you will determine whether you’ll be called for
further assignments. Word spreads fast, and success can give you opportunities
in other organizations also.
- Building Your Online Presence
Ensure that you make yourself visible online through blogs and a social
media presence. Post motivational stuff, including videos and thought-provoking
quotes, and you’ll be building up your profile for prospective clients to
contact you when they’re in need of some serious motivation for their staff or
students.