The Motivational The Motivational SpeechSpeech

Definition:Definition:

A motivational speech is a highly emotional A motivational speech is a highly emotional speech that serves to urge and stimulate speech that serves to urge and stimulate a group to pursue significant goals, a group to pursue significant goals, choose proper strategy, correct mistakes, choose proper strategy, correct mistakes, etc. Additionally, a motivational speech etc. Additionally, a motivational speech arms the audience with tools and arms the audience with tools and awareness they should possess to awareness they should possess to succeed in their personal lives and in the succeed in their personal lives and in the modern world.modern world.

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsA motivational speech can combine components such A motivational speech can combine components such

as real life situations and memorable stories. A as real life situations and memorable stories. A motivational speech is a variety of a persuasive motivational speech is a variety of a persuasive speech and it is pragmatically oriented: a recipient speech and it is pragmatically oriented: a recipient of a motivational speech should experience a of a motivational speech should experience a certain impact, i.e. change his/her behavior, act in a certain impact, i.e. change his/her behavior, act in a certain way, or agree with something. To this end, certain way, or agree with something. To this end, an imperative mood should be used in motivational an imperative mood should be used in motivational speeches. Energetic phrases starting with "do", speeches. Energetic phrases starting with "do", "donate", "join", "create", "buy" are most likely to "donate", "join", "create", "buy" are most likely to reinforce the effect of a motivational speech. reinforce the effect of a motivational speech.

Preparatory ResearchPreparatory Research

A motivational speaker should realize what A motivational speaker should realize what positions or actions he or she is going to positions or actions he or she is going to popularize. Thorough preparatory research is popularize. Thorough preparatory research is required to take into account numerous required to take into account numerous factors that can influence the process of factors that can influence the process of listening and further decision-making. listening and further decision-making.

1)1) Social factors: status, education, values of the Social factors: status, education, values of the audienceaudience

2)2) Pragmatic factors: requirements, needs and Pragmatic factors: requirements, needs and interests of the audience.interests of the audience.

Organizing Organizing

A standard motivational speech can be A standard motivational speech can be based upon several patterns.based upon several patterns.

These are:These are:

1)1) Monroe's motivational sequenceMonroe's motivational sequence

2)2) Comparative advantages pattern Comparative advantages pattern

Monroe’s Motivational Monroe’s Motivational SequenceSequence

Monroe's motivational sequence is a five-Monroe's motivational sequence is a five-stage scheme of proving the necessity of stage scheme of proving the necessity of some changes, actions, etc. some changes, actions, etc.

Many students use this outline for Many students use this outline for motivational speech topics since Alan motivational speech topics since Alan Monroe invented it 70 years ago. Monroe invented it 70 years ago.

Stage One - AttentionStage One - Attention

Get the attention of your public. State the Get the attention of your public. State the importance of your specific angle of importance of your specific angle of approach. List the main benefits to approach. List the main benefits to arouse interest. arouse interest.

Stage Two - NeedStage Two - Need

State the need for change. Show why it State the need for change. Show why it should concern them. Relate the issue or should concern them. Relate the issue or problem to the values, attitudes, interests problem to the values, attitudes, interests and needs of the listeners. and needs of the listeners.

Stage Three - Stage Three - SatisfactionSatisfaction

Satisfy their needs. Provide the details Satisfy their needs. Provide the details and interesting facts of your plan. Show and interesting facts of your plan. Show how your solution works. how your solution works.

Stage Four - VisualizationStage Four - Visualization

Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of your motivational speech topic. Illustrate your motivational speech topic. Illustrate them with examples, anecdotes, them with examples, anecdotes, comparisons, statistics, definitions and comparisons, statistics, definitions and visual aids. This is where your visual aid visual aids. This is where your visual aid should come in. Tell your public what's in should come in. Tell your public what's in it for them! it for them!

Stage Five – Action!Stage Five – Action!

This is your call to action. Show them This is your call to action. Show them what to do to implement your plan. what to do to implement your plan.

Comparative Advantage Comparative Advantage PatternPattern

A comparative advantage pattern is closely A comparative advantage pattern is closely related to the Monroe's motivational sequence, related to the Monroe's motivational sequence, but is mainly used when there are but is mainly used when there are several several alternatives from which to choosealternatives from which to choose. This . This pattern looks like the one for motivated pattern looks like the one for motivated sequence speech topics and is often used for sequence speech topics and is often used for business presentations. The big difference business presentations. The big difference occurs in the satisfy and visualization steps. In occurs in the satisfy and visualization steps. In those steps you have to compare and contrast those steps you have to compare and contrast two or more plans, solutions or alternatives. two or more plans, solutions or alternatives. Show your listeners which one is the best. Show your listeners which one is the best.

Comparative Advantage Comparative Advantage Pattern ExamplePattern Example

Example motivational speech topic: Example motivational speech topic: Compare and contrast two cellphones Compare and contrast two cellphones and tell which one is the best one for and tell which one is the best one for your job or personal life and why. your job or personal life and why.

TopicsTopics

Below you'll see a list of general categories that Below you'll see a list of general categories that can be narrowed to a topic for a motivational can be narrowed to a topic for a motivational speech. Use your imagination and elaborate on speech. Use your imagination and elaborate on these topics. These examples are meant to these topics. These examples are meant to motivate you to create motivational speech topics motivate you to create motivational speech topics yourself! To help you in the right direction: yourself! To help you in the right direction:

What do you want to achieve? What do you want to achieve? What behavior are you trying to change? What behavior are you trying to change? What level of agreement do you at least want to What level of agreement do you at least want to

accomplish? accomplish?

Consider these openings Consider these openings for motivational topicsfor motivational topics

Pay ...Pay ... Quit ...Quit ... Sell ...Sell ... Sign ...Sign ... Study ...Study ... Support ...Support ... Take ...Take ... Volunteer ...Volunteer ... Vote ... Vote ...

Or these . . .Or these . . .

Become involved in ...Become involved in ... Buy ...Buy ... Change ...Change ... Choose ...Choose ... Do ...Do ... Donate ...Donate ... Establish ...Establish ... Join ...Join ... Make ...Make ...

General Themes For General Themes For Motivational Speech TopicsMotivational Speech Topics

An other way to create motivational An other way to create motivational speech topics is to relate these general speech topics is to relate these general themes below to personal, educational or themes below to personal, educational or professional activities, issues or professional activities, issues or problems. problems.

Consider these . . .Consider these . . .

Breakthroughs - Career Development - Challenge - Breakthroughs - Career Development - Challenge - Change - Coaching - Commitment - Communication - Change - Coaching - Commitment - Communication - Competence - Competitiveness - Confidence - Competence - Competitiveness - Confidence - Decision Making - Discipline - Effective Meetings - Decision Making - Discipline - Effective Meetings - Ensure Safety - Ergonomics - Focused Thinking - Ensure Safety - Ergonomics - Focused Thinking - Future - Involvement - Inspiration - Integrity - Future - Involvement - Inspiration - Integrity - Interpersonal Skills - Leadership - Negotiation Tactics - Interpersonal Skills - Leadership - Negotiation Tactics - Personal Effectiveness - Personal Growth - Personal Personal Effectiveness - Personal Growth - Personal Improvement - Personal Productivity - Personal Improvement - Personal Productivity - Personal Wellness - Responsibility - Self Respect - Set Realistic Wellness - Responsibility - Self Respect - Set Realistic Goals - Stress - Teambuilding - Teamwork - Trends - Goals - Stress - Teambuilding - Teamwork - Trends - Values - Work Ethics Values - Work Ethics