Motivational speaker

Tony Robbins at seminar

A motivational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. Such speakers may attempt to challenge or transform their audiences. The speech itself is popularly known as a pep talk.

Motivational speakers can deliver speeches at schools, colleges, places of worship, companies, corporations, government agencies, conferences, trade shows, summits, community organizations, and similar environments.

Early Speakers

One of the earliest known motivational speakers and credited for what was considered his revolutionary work was Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. He wrote works such as "Nature" and gave a speech called "The American Scholar" in the 1930s. Even though his early written work didn't make many headlines, his lectures and speeches caused a frenzy amongst his audience. He developed ideas that could influence the way that people felt and he could make people realize anything and there was a deeply meaningful purpose that they could fulfill. Emerson explored the ideas of individuality, freedom, and the relationship people have between their souls and the world. He was the mentor and inspiration to other intellectuals in his field such as Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman.

Techniques and Theories

The two main theories for why motivational speakers may need to be externally searched out if to fill the need of content theory or the process theories.

The content theories were created by different philosophers, such as Abraham Maslow, Clayton Alderfer, Frederick Herzberg, and David McClelland. They focus on the inner workings and think of an individual and what will energize, stop behaviors, and keep it sustainable for long term needs. These theories awknowledge that every individual is unique and has different needs in order to motivate them.

The process theories focus on the explanation and analysis of different people and what will energize, stop behaviors, and keep it sustainable for long term needs. Brought into perspective by Victor Vroom, B.F Skinner, Ruth Kanfer, and Albert Bandura, it address the needs of learning and expectancy and realizes that individuals will make choices based on reward and compensation.

Speakers try and show their audience about the positive outcomes that can happen in life and focus on the possible opportunities rather than the limits that people set themselves to. Using positively connated words rather than negative ones and gives charasmatic verbal and non-verbal social cues. Using their posture, eye contact, body language, facial expressions, and by dressing appropriately they can engage with the audience in a non-verbal way. They can change the tone of their voice, speech pattern, accent, and pitch to emphasize and show emotion behind what they are saying.

Skills Needed

There are different sets of standards that managers or companies may consider when determining if the speaker was a useful and productive skill to provide. The hiring person wants someone who can amplify the environment and culture on every level whether it be business or personal. Wanting to drive change from within to be able to show commitment, development, and progression in a positive direction.

The main factors thought to be needed to be a successful motivational speakers are interpersonal, technical, and consulting process skills. They need to be able to

estimate the requirements and needs of their audience and provide a relatability factor so people believe that they were once in their position.