You can’t really lead a team in any walk of life without knowing how to deliver a rousing motivational speech.
Motivational speeches are one of those magical performances that are more than a message. They are a physiological stimulations, which draw teams closer and makes them more determined to achieve their collective objectives.
Of course, motivational speeches have to be delivered perfectly to hit the right nerves. It is a perfect mix of scripted talking points and an individual’s charismatic performance art. Here are a few tips to remember while you prepare to deliver a rousing call-to-action:
Brutal honesty
Speeches only motivate when they are credible. And they are only credible when, at the outset itself, the speaker bares his intention to be frank and forthright. The easiest way to do this is be self deprecating in small measure; just enough for people to acknowledge your forthright nature, without painting yourself in a poor light.
Evoke, not provoke
Motivations are about proactivity and positive inclinations. When delivering a motivational speech, make sure you touch on the emotional aspect of achievements. Normally, the factors that inspire extraordinary performances are not material, but a little more esoteric than we can imagine.
Make no promises
A motivational speech doesn’t need to turn into a sales pitch. Once it does, the credibility starts to drain away from your words. Your audience can see through the desperate claims and exaggerated promises, which makes them wary of serving a personal agenda. Instead, appraise your charges of what awaits them, should they achieve their objectives. And lay out what exactly they must do to get there.
Give them a perspective on failure
One of the key job of a motivational speaker is to treat their team’s fear of failure. The only way to do that is to speak out about it. Hold an open discussion too, to voice values and morals that you would like your team to hold onto, in case they fail. Not only will it free them mentally and spiritually to perform their best, they will also be better equipped to pick themselves up after a setback.
Keep the emotions out of it
Though you might be trying to tap into the more abstract sides of your audience’s personality, it is wise to keep motivational speeches as platonic as possible. Letting emotions in can lead to a loss of focus and confused messages. A lucid talk will mean people hearing the messages a little more clearly and internalising it better.
Just 5 steps and you will see your audience feeling the surge of positive reinforcements. You don’t even need to say something original, as long as it is delivered in an earnest and focused manner.