Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Ideological message and your own niche
• Part 2 of 4: Presentation and Content of Speech
• Part 3 of 4: Promotion
• Part 4 of 4: Effective Techniques

When we hear about motivational speakers, we often imagine self-help gurus teaching us not to suppress our inner child and to visualize the path to success. However, motivational speakers can give speeches on any topic. What matters is your enthusiasm for the subject of discussion. If you want to become a motivational speaker, then define your niche, develop your public speaking skills, and promote your speaking ability.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Ideological message and your own niche

1. 1 Read, watch and listen to other motivational speakers. Check out the work of other motivational speakers and try to understand which ones resonate with your views. While watching, pay special attention to the content of the speech and the manner in which a particular speaker is presented.
   • Watch Motivational Speakers on YouTube.
   • Read books, articles, and blogs by motivational speakers.
   • Listen to podcasts about motivational speaking.
2. 2 Write down all your ideas for materials. Try to describe the message you are trying to convey in your talks. What topic do you want to focus on? Career? Relationship? Spirituality? What area to choose within such a topic? Entrepreneurship or Literature? Marriage? Parenting? Christianity? Buddhism?
   • Write down any ideas that come to your mind, and add regularly to your notes.

   Advice: keep a diary of ideas that you can develop into something more. Remember to always carry your journal with you and write down ideas on the go.

   
   
3. 3 Pick a niche in your chosen topic. The choice will largely depend on your experience and qualifications, so think about what you can share with others. How are your words and ideas different from the words of other people? What special experience and knowledge sets you apart from other speakers?
   • For example, say you've recently started interior design and want to inspire others to do the same.
   • Perhaps you have successfully published your book in a short period of time and want to pass on this rewarding experience to others.

Part 2 of 4: Presentation and Content of Speech

1. 1 Sign up for a public speaking course. Check out the programs from different educational institutions or find courses in your city to develop and practice important skills. If everything goes well, you will have the opportunity to give your own speech and get the opinion of the audience.
   • You can also look for other opportunities to perform in front of the audience. Offer to give a speech at a friend's or relative's wedding, attend open microphone nights at various venues, or host your own weekly streams and podcasts.
2. 2 Design your speech so that it has an engaging beginning, middle, and ending. It will be easier for your listeners to perceive competent and structured speech. Present your speech as a story and decide in which order to present the information. In the beginning, you need to attract attention with an incredible fact or an interesting incident.
   • For example, if you want to give a speech about how to overcome difficulties in life, then first talk about your difficulty and describe the context of the situation.
   • Then talk about how the difficulty affected you, how it changed your life.
   • End with a detailed explanation of the method that enabled you to overcome the difficulty.
3. 3 Reread the speech several times and correct any mistakes before speaking. When the text is ready, carefully re-read the speech and make the necessary corrections. Explain any confusing points, rewrite confusing sentences, and don't be afraid to delete any unnecessary passages.
   • Plan ahead so you have enough time to fix before your first show. Strive to revise your speech at least three times.

   Advice: you can time the rehearsal to be sure to invest in the allotted framework. For example, if you are only given 30 minutes to speak, then try to keep within 20 minutes so that you can catch up and not drag out the event.

   
   

Part 3 of 4: Promotion

1. 1 Create a website with information about yourself and your mission. Having your own website with information about you, your mission and ways of communication is simply necessary to promote and search for offers. Create a convenient business website or seek help from an experienced professional. After that, tell the site address to everyone you know.
2. 2 Blog, create videos, or publish the book. Share your ideas with the world to build a reputation and promote yourself as a speaker. Try writing a book or video about your own experience or an issue that you plan to discuss in one of your speeches. Start a personal blog about your career. Post multiple posts per week.
   • For example, if you want to give motivational speeches about entrepreneurship, then try writing a practical guide or a series of topical blog posts.
   • If you want to motivate people to work on relationships, you can create a series of videos with tips or answers to the most common questions.
3. 3 Tell people that you are interested in public speaking offers. Word of mouth is a great way of self-promotion for a speaker. Tell friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances that you are on this career path. Hand over business cards with contact information to all your new and old acquaintances.
   • Dating activities are a great way to make yourself known and find your first job through word of mouth. Explore the various activities nearby where you can meet different people.
4. 4 Contact local organizations and offer your services. If local organizations require motivational speakers, please contact them and offer your services. Think about which organizations might be interested in the topics of your talks. Focus your efforts on such organizations.
   • For example, if you have overcome drug addiction and want to become an example for others, you can go to local rehab centers or clinics.
   • If you found it difficult to study at school due to dyslexia or dysgraphia, but you found a way to cope with the problem and achieve success, then try offering your services to schools and other educational institutions.
5. 5 Apply for conferences, conventions and other events. Speakers are needed at a wide variety of events. Pay attention to suitable conferences, conventions and other events in your area and apply on time.
   • There may be high competition and offers to speak for free at events, but this experience will help you to establish yourself and find a paid job.

   Advice: If you know the contact details of the person who is responsible for finding speakers for the event, please contact them directly. Send him a summary of your speech of 3-4 sentences, and call in a few days if no one contacts you.

   
   

Part 4 of 4: Effective Techniques

1. 1 Perform in a suitable suit or dress. A businesslike look allows you to make a good first impression on the audience and build trust even before the show starts! Choose the right suit or dress, and don't forget about hairstyle, makeup (women), mustache and beard grooming (men), and shoes to complement the look.
2. 2 Stand in one place during the performance, do not pacing or fussing. Of course, you can move from time to time, but each movement must have a specific purpose. Stop talking when you move to another place. In the new place, stand firmly on your feet, straighten your shoulders and watch your posture.
   • Do not wobble back and forth while performing. This action gives the impression of insecurity and can be distracting to viewers.
3. 3 Maintain contact with the audience so that they do not lose interest. Imagine that you are just telling a story to your friend. If there are difficult or incomprehensible moments in the speech, always explain them to the listeners in simple and accessible words.
   • Always praise the audience for fitness, achievement, and other aspects you know.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Lynn kirkham

   Public Speaking Coach Lynn Kirkham is a professional speaker and founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area education company that teaches public speaking. Thanks to her, thousands of professionals have learned how to speak on a variety of "stages" - from interviews or meetings to TEDx and large online conferences. For the past four years, Lynn has been the Official TEDx Speaker Coach for Berkeley and has worked with executives from Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware and others.

   Lynn kirkham
   Public speaking coach

   Keep your audience interested by making your presentation important to them. Ask yourself what matters to your audience and link your talk to that information. You will have contact with your audience as you talk about what they are interested in.

4. 4 Take turns making eye contact with different people as you speak. Find a friendly face in the audience and look the person in the eye for a few seconds. Then continue your search and stop at someone else. Constantly change the object of attention throughout the performance to establish contact with the audience.
   • Don't look up, down, or into the distance. You risk giving the impression of a worried speaker and losing credibility.
5. 5 Use your hands periodically to express yourself. While the constant flapping of the hands during the performance distracts the audience, appropriate periodic gestures lend expressiveness to the speech. Raise one or both hands every few minutes to emphasize an idea or thesis. The rest of the time, the arms should be relaxed and freely positioned along the body.
   • You don't have to cross your arms, squeeze them into a lock, or hide them in your pockets. These defensive postures will betray your excitement.
   • No need to touch various objects in your hands, such as a microphone, a bottle of water or a mobile phone, so as not to distract the audience.
   • If you need to hold the microphone, hold it in one hand and do not move it.
6. 6 Speak loudly enough for the back row viewers to hear you. If there is no microphone in your presentation, speak louder. At first it may seem to you that you have switched to shouting, but if you do not speak loudly enough, then some of the audience, most likely, will not hear you.
   • Take deep breaths and use your diaphragm so that your voice rises from your belly and not from your throat or chest.
7. 7 Review recordings of your performances to improve your skills. Ask a family member or friend to tape your talk. Review the entry later and pay particular attention to the aspects that need improvement. Ask your friends, family, and your tutor for their opinion on your performance.
   • For example, if you often say "hmm" or clear your throat, then try to break those habits.

   Advice: recordings of performances will also help you in your job search. It is not uncommon for potential clients to ask speakers to provide recordings of their speeches.