As a motivational speaker, you want to inspire and empower your audience with your message. But how can you choose topics that are relevant, engaging, and respectful of the diversity and inclusion of your listeners? Here are some tips to help you find inclusive and diverse speaking topics for motivational speeches.
Before you decide on a topic, you need to research your audience and understand their needs, interests, challenges, and goals. You can use surveys, interviews, social media, or online reviews to gather feedback and insights. You can also ask the event organizer or host for more information about the audience demographics, expectations, and preferences. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your topic and delivery to their specific context and perspective.
WARNING! This is not how speaking works. You do not find inclusive and diverse speaking topics and speak about them. You have SOMETHING TO SAY and you speak about that. You say it... with gusto with passion with sincerity and if you have done the required audience research (which isn't much more than having a conversation with the event organiser) You may... soften rephrase remove some content. As an example. I am Australian. We joke about beer. If I am speaking to a Muslim audience. I remove all references to alcohol. It's not hard. It's just respectful.
Once you have a clear picture of your audience, you can choose a theme that aligns with your purpose and message. A theme is a broad idea or concept that connects your topic to your audience's values, emotions, and aspirations. For example, some common themes for motivational speeches are: overcoming adversity, achieving success, finding purpose, or making a difference. A theme will help you narrow down your topic and focus on the main points you want to convey.
A niche is a specific area or aspect of your theme that you can explore in depth and offer unique insights or solutions. A niche will help you stand out from other speakers and avoid repeating generic or cliché advice. To find a niche, you can use your own experience, expertise, or passion as a source of inspiration. You can also look for gaps, trends, or controversies in your field or industry that you can address or challenge. A niche will help you create a compelling and original topic that showcases your value and credibility.
When you choose a topic, you need to be aware of the potential stereotypes and biases that you or your audience might have. Stereotypes are oversimplified or inaccurate assumptions about a group of people based on their identity, culture, or background. Biases are preferences or prejudices that influence your judgment or perception of others. To avoid stereotypes and biases, you need to use inclusive and respectful language, acknowledge and appreciate diversity, and avoid making generalizations or assumptions. You also need to check your facts and sources and provide evidence and examples to support your claims.
You have to be careful to not over sensor yourself since almost everything these days can be interpreted as sensitive. Use rational thinking to eliminate the obvious and take calculated risks so you feel safe to speak in any environment
Before you finalize your topic, you need to seek feedback and input from others who can offer different perspectives and opinions. You can ask your peers, mentors, or experts in your field or industry for their suggestions, critiques, or recommendations. You can also reach out to people who belong to the groups or communities that you want to address or represent in your topic. Seeking feedback and input will help you refine your topic and ensure that it is relevant, appropriate, and respectful.
Finally, you need to test and refine your topic by practicing your speech and measuring its impact and effectiveness. You can use a small group of people who match your target audience as a sample or pilot. You can also use online tools or platforms to record and share your speech and collect feedback and analytics. Testing and refining your topic will help you identify and improve the strengths and weaknesses of your speech and ensure that it meets your goals and objectives.