How can you deliver a motivational speech that resonates with a large audience?

Understanding your audience is foundational to effective communication. By delving into their demographics, interests, and values, you can craft a message that truly resonates. It's not just about speaking; it's about connecting on a deeper level. Only by understanding their aspirations, challenges, and cultural nuances can you ensure that your motivational speech is impactful and evokes the desired response. Tailoring your content to the audience's needs and expectations is the key to a memorable and influential presentation.

Create allies before the speech. I would introduce myself to attendees at the airport or the hotel lobby. I would ask, "Are you here for X conference?" Once they say yes, I start connecting or doing my research. I would also attend the dinner or event the night before. By the time I hit the stage, I know many names. I would get off the stage and go to my new friends and say something like, "Suzie, last night during our conversation you said..." Sometimes it's a compliment about their positive attitude or whatever. One more tip: I stand at the entrance once they open the door and the music is blasting. I would start giving high-fives to attendees. They think I'm a host. Also, I sit among them until I'm introduced. Simply put, own the room.

Who are you presenting to? Story telling is critical and a personal tale is best, everyone loves a story filled with hardship, blood, sweat and tears, fear, growth, humour and especially learnings !

Put yourself into the audiences' shoes and think like them, what do they want to hear and what are the problem that they are facing. Then construct the speech that will resonate with their problem and solution that they can use. Be empathetic to their situation and don't push your belief to them, instead draw the solutions based on their capability/current situation. Don't be out of touch and ask them to do things that is not applicable to your audience.

What to do when speaking for an audience of 6000 I just sat in on a session with Michael Arnot and Marty Wilson reviewing their MDRT Nashville Event. DO: ✅The speakers who did best entertained the crowd… but know that people in the audience are struggling so make sure you help them. DON’T: 👉🏼Don’t apply with an all singing all dancing speaker video reel. Show them / tell them one story. They want to see that you can engage the audience. Show them one of your greatest hits. Get to the point immediately. 👉🏼Don’t over-rehearse and deliver a Broadway performance. 👉🏼Don’t be too clever with story structure and callbacks and complex words because this is a multi-lingual audience and there are multiple translations going on.

In my opinion most speakers become too obsessed about their own mission, their own purpose, so their mission never connects with the audience. It's so often I've witnessed speakers delivering an emotional story about what inspired them to stand up to the climate emergency, but they forgot to turn that into an emotional appeal to the audience. My purpose is always to help the audience on their journey towards change. One simple question to ask yourself to avoid being too navel-gazing: Who can you help people become?

If you don't know why you're on the stage speaking, neither will your audience. Clarity of purpose is key. I will ask myself: If nothing else, what is one thing I want people to walk away with and remember? What do I want them to do because of hearing me talk? And most importantly, how do I want them to feel? Starting with the end in mind makes structuring and delivering a compelling motivational talk much easier and, as a result, more compelling for the audience.

Having a good purpose for speaking is the key to great speeches. If you don't have a meaning behind your speech try to connect that greater meaning to your words. Let the audience understand why you are standing here!

I would see this is a two step approach. We all should know and feel our purpose. It will give us the foundation for speaking credibly and with passion. For the talk more concretely, we need to develop our message. It needs to be extremely clear and concise as mentioned above. More importantly it needs to matter - or you will have to make it matter - to the audience. And that is where storytelling comes in. Most people have empathy. So if you can bring your message alive through a story, you will capture their attention and imagination.

Determining the objective of your presentation is akin to establishing a navigational course for a ship voyaging across the vast ocean. I recognize that having a clear purpose serves as a guiding force for steering every undertaking from disorder to achievement. Your speech should encompass a central idea that serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path for your listeners, leading them towards the desired action or outcome. It should effectively communicate a compelling proposition that deeply resonates with individuals, addressing the question of 'why' your message holds significance in the context of their professional or personal development.

Understanding that the brain is constantly scanning for danger and trying to conserve energy can help structure your talk. People generally remember the beginning (Primacy) and the ending (Recency), so starting with "shock" or "awe" grabs their attention. Or if you already have rapport, sliding straight into "why" works. Why will listening to you be worth their while? What's in it for them? Why are you, the speaker, here? Once the audience understands that, they can then relax into receptive mode. Employing a structure like Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey helps people see themselves in the stories, and understanding people's learning styles can also help by drawing your audience in and zooming out again. That way, your messages land.

Scare the hell out of the audience. Let me explain.. get their attention with the best shockingly realistic and inevitable truth about what the talk is all about and be with the audience when this happens. Get down into the audience and experience it with them. Don’t be a speaker who stands on the stage and looks down at the audience with the “I’m the shit, and you are not” attitude. So…structure your speech with an eye-opening opener, then keep their attention with powerful pertinent information true to the purpose of the speech. Finish with referring back to the beginning, asking them if they remember what happened. Use this circular theme to explain why it happened that way, and provide intricate details about it all.

I typically prefer variations of this structure. 1. Hit them with a naked truth. 2. Make them the protagonist and together look towards a common enemy. 3. Be the good hearted shepherd and show them the path. 4. Explain why the path worked for you and others. Assure them that the path works.

Intro, body, conclusion works for essays but it’s simplistic for talks. Refine one overall claim, then 2-3 supporting claims. The key is to make each claim by a story

Well-structured speech is like a movie dictation. More than the speaker, the listener should be mesmerised. On stage, the speaker must act as a story teller, and the speech structure must create excitement among the audience, "what come next?".

Sharing one’s personal lived experience through an intersectional lens or cultural perspective provides context authenticity. In motivational talk, people never forget how you made them feel, so by telling them your story with a possible call for action can inspire your audience personally in their own life journey.

In every speech I deliver, I share a personal story of how what is being shared came from my own personal experience. This gives them a stronger sense of my authenticity and credibility around the topic being presented. Typically, my stories will spark laughter, consensus or even tears. Looking out at the audience and seeing an emotional response is such a clear indicator of connection to me and the content that is being shared.

More importantly than focusing on the right language/triggers - let yourself genuinely feel the emotions you want to communicate, and show those emotions to the audience. After 15 years as a speaker (and 10 before that as a student and audience member) I can hands down say that my favorite speakers at any conference tend to be those who are good at this, and it doesn't matter if it's their first time on a stage or if they've been doing it their entire life.

To grab an audiences attention tell stories. For example, here two ways to tell the same story: “The labor department announced 100,000 people filed for unemployment last quarter…” Or... “Mike Smith worked for the same automotive factory in Lima, Ohio for over 25 years. He bought a house, an RV, and sent three kids to college. This week is he is one of the 100,000 people who filed for unemployment because his factory closed and moved the work overseas” People feel connected and can relate to the second example. It will get them to lean in and tug at their emotions.

Don’t be afraid to invoke strong emotions, an aspect also known as “pathos”. Negative emotions like fear or anger can be used based on your audience (e.g., in the case of medical speeches, speakers often speak about the fear of death and anger towards a system that failed). You can use emotions for 2 aspects: 1. Engaging the audience during your speech (e.g., using changing emotions), and 2. Leaving a lasting impression (e.g., using strong relatable emotions).

Speaking infront of a large group is an opportunity to deliver your message to a wider audience. -Greet everyone with gratitude -Choose a topic of value and substance -Address some important icons and relate your examples to them -Try to keep eye contact with everyone looking right, left and center. -Be yourself, genuine and professional -Focus on giving the positive vibe, good vibe and engage with audience Be confident and believe in your skills being fearless and believing in your speech. Lastly, connect with the attendees at the end and thank the organizers for the invitation.

Being authentic in a motivational speech involves conveying your genuine self and values. Here are 5 tips to help you achieve authenticity in your delivery: 1. Know Yourself: Understand your own values, beliefs, and experiences and reflect on your journey and the lessons you've learned along the way. 2. Connect Emotionally: Share personal anecdotes or stories that have shaped your values. 3. Be Vulnerable: Don't be afraid to show vulnerability. Sharing both successes and challenges can make you more relatable and human. 4. Speak from the Heart: Let your passion and enthusiasm shine through. 5. Align with Your Values: Ensure that the core message of your speech aligns with your values. Share your own tips with me.

BE YOURSELF. Start there. Authenticity paves the way to effective delivery and reception of the audience. They went there to see YOU give the talk, so give them all of it, and the other stuff is just icing on the cake.

Share your failures. People know all about your successes - that's why you have a platform to speak from. But they don't necessarily know your struggles- the sleepless nights, the choices that went wrong, the doors slammed in your face. You are as much a product of your failures as your successes: they've shaped and moulded and strengthened you and that's what inspires and motivates people deeply.

Being authentic means being Frank, Open and Real. I don't pretend to be somebody else as I openly share my personal stories - the good, the bad and the ugly. Being authentic also means not having a separate agenda - just be intentional in my sharing, to serve the audience and for them to make a decision for themselves. Being authentic, most importantly to me, is to own what I speak, share and teach. To walk the talk and to hold myself accountable to my highest truth.

I believe that it is key to understand your audience. A general sense of their perspective and how they respond to certain topics can be a good way to start. I remember once hearing that we always listen to things but it is the topic that is emotionally connected to us in some way that resonates with us. In simple words, any speech burned together with emotion sticks in our brain and a softly challenging but generally uplifting mode of delivery can motivate the audience that you are trying to address.

Para praticar e refinar um discurso motivacional para um grande público, seguir estes passos pode ajudar muito: 1. Conheça seu público-alvo 2. Defina o propósito 3. Estrutura clara 4. Pratique a articulação 5. Use exemplos e histórias 6. Obtenha feedback 7. Ajuste com base no feedback 8. Grave-se 9. Treine com diferentes públicos 10. Mantenha a autenticidade Lembre-se de que a prática constante, o feedback construtivo e a adaptação contínua são essenciais para aprimorar suas habilidades de fala em público e criar discursos motivacionais impactantes. Já apliquei vários passos no meu trabalho e palestras. Obtive excelentes resultados.

I employ my Rehearse, Review, Refine, Repeat formula. This iterative process is the cornerstone of my preparation, ensuring that each keynote is honed to its finest point. Rehearsal is where the alchemy of transformation begins, turning raw content into a seamless delivery. Reviewing—particularly through recording and rewriting—provides an essential perspective, allowing for the refinement that elevates a speech from good to extraordinary. With every repetition, my confidence and mastery of the material grow, ensuring that I'm prepared for any eventuality, from technical glitches to unexpected audience interactions. When I step onto the stage, I'm delivering a finely-tuned performance that resonates with every individual in the room.

They say "practice makes perfect" but "perfect" speeches feel canned. For me practice helps refine the art and science of your presentation. It also builds confidence that I will naturally know "what to do" while I'm on the stage. For the science, when I practice delivering the words out loud, I hear where I stumble or say things awkwardly and can adjust. I know where I'm likely to ramble and can tighten up my message. For the art, I think of gestures, body language, facial expressions, and movement across the stage as choreography. How do I move to enhance my message - are my words and my body/face/hands aligned? Practice for progress, not perfection. We want to be human after all.

Practising is key for your delivery and smart addition of tiny cues for your own self in the speech to trigger the flow and points if in case you forgot or miss some. Practising your attention and eye contact with the audience is also key to have a good rapport with the audience.Many brilliant speakers miss this point.Your facial expressions, eye contact and more is all very visible and presents you to the audience while your mouth does the speech delivery.This is very important too.

Don’t tell. Show. Using story. Storytelling is not only like poetry to the ears. It’s a way to relate meaning in the most powerful way. Why? Because we humans are naturally meaning making machines. And it’s like the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the physical act of sounds being received and processed. Listening is the meaning associated with those sounds. We think in meanings. We hear words. But we interpret their meanings. That’s why analogies work well. Storytelling is an eloquent means to ensure meaning is powerfully received. Asking a simple but powerful question as an opening line then telling a story the punchline of which makes it obvious why the question was asked, then conveying a lesson is what I recommend.

Engage your audience: A pivotal aspect of motivational speaking is to engage your audience. Ask questions from your audience, seek affirmation of your viewpoints, and build up the tempo by slowly raising the stakes about your topic to engross them in the conversation. They should become so connected in the moment that you make them feel like every word you are saying has an impact on their daily lives. That you have, in essence, become a part of them.

The bigger space you're speaking in, the more exaggerated you'll want to make your gestures. Speaking in a small conference room to 10 people where the audience is all facing you is quite different than commanding a stage at an event like a TEDx Talk. Just like theatre performers will use stage makeup to correct for the strong lighting and faraway seats, it's a good idea to break out of our daily gesture set to one that is more descriptive and larger than life. You'll want to make sure folks in the back row can see and feel the impact of your gestures too!

1. CONTEXT One thing I've found helpful is stating the context in the opening line itself through an appropriate quote or rhetoric question. 2. CLARITY Have a clear picture of how you develop your talk and choose relevant images or videos. 3.COHESION Structure your segments...Hook, Body- 3 main points, Conclusion. 4. CONNECT Next illustrate your point with an example from your life. Ask questions that engage the audience and makes them reflect on their own experience. Follow with story of 'Hero's journey' from victim mode to champion. 5. CONCLUSION Mention 5 things that worked for you in your transformative journey. 6.CALL TO ACTION Leave the audience with something to chew upon...another quote with a specific action they can take.

Facts tell, stories sell. People will always be able to resonate with an authentic life experience no matter. Share your story with your audience.