How can you incorporate mindfulness in your motivational speeches for better employee engagement?

Asking a question is a powerful way to do this. Tomorrow I'm delivering a leadership keynote and one of the questions I'm going to start with is asking them to bring to mind a leader they respect and admire, someone who's had a positive impact on them. We're going to do a quick, fun activity to invite people share their responses, so we can learn from each other and make the topic real and relevant for each person.

Bringing the audience fully into the present moment is a powerful way to begin. Ask everyone to close their eyes, take a deep breath in, let it out slowly, and truly BE in the space with you and everyone else - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Encourage them to let go of everything else going on in their minds, like being frustrated about the traffic they got stuck in that morning or the grocery list they’re mentally preparing, and connect with the present moment.

Give me Your 3 mins, don't skip... Start and Plan your Monday the day before in 5 minutes. Have a proper Idea and prepare a Check list. This Will make you an Early bird while others start slow... Understand Their Needs and Wants. Some people Need Money while others Want Career growth. So motivate and pitch accordingly. Ask them what they are Good and Bad at. Why they are Good at is the only thing they can earn and make more money... Also if we are able to understand our weakness and improve that... Growth and success is Assured...

The first thing I keep in mind is the top takeaway I want the audience to gain for trusting me with one of their most valuable commodities of time. I try to get that down to a one word mindful intention if I can, and I've even put it on a postcard or sticky note in my pocket in the past. As a corporate mindful coach and trainer, I also practice what I teach daily so that I'm fully present which tends to make it much easier for others to do the same. I make eye contact as much as possible and invite the audience to do some simple mindful mobility-focused movements when appropriate. Then I try to engage with them often while reading the room to adjust accordingly.

One of the most grounding messages I received during public speaking training is to think of yourself as a ‘vessel’ for your message or purpose. It’s not about you. It’s about what you’re here to do. It’s about how you make people feel. It’s about what you help others to see. Keeping this in mind will help you to put your ego in check, which helps to calm your nerves and ensures that you’re focused on your audience and purpose. Be a vessel!

I always start my day with breathwork (pranayama's and krya). Pranayama's is the first thing to release tensions in both the body and the mind. Folowed by an energising breathing technique and finished with a technique called sudarshan krya. The sudarshan krya is to clean the mind from it's negative impressions and create a clearer vision. Prior to the speach I prefer to meditate to create a better connection from within wich enhances my speech. And just a few seconds before entering the room or stage I apply hum sound to clear the throat.

I believe in integrity n authenticity when you start your speech or any communication using these two things you expresses your trueself.It reflects a positive energy in the whole envoironment and everyone wants to involve n engage with you.Just speak your truth to the audience and see the magic of mindfulness.

Along with presenting your best self in the process, the next big key is preparation. Don't wait until the speech day to change a bad habit, or to buy a new outfit, or to work on breathing and speaking exercises. The little things you do on a daily basis truly will show up big, whether positive or negative, when you speak. So practice breathing and speaking exercises, at a minimum, two weeks before (I recommend you practice them regardless). If you are a person of faith, then integrate your faith in your speaking process. When at the event, I've found it's incredibly helpful to speak personally with several audience members before your speech. Just be you. Aim to listen to their stories. This will help ease your nerves and calm you down.

Before a speech, anxiety can be overwhelming. The 4-7-8 exercise calms your nerves and centers your mind. Inhale for a count of 4, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. This controlled breathing steadies your thoughts, lowers your heart rate, and reduces the fight-or-flight response. It's a profound way to manage stress and anxiety while sharpening your focus, enabling you to deliver your speech clearly and precisely. Being mindful and in control of your breath enhances your self-assuredness, allowing you to step onto the stage with a sense of composure and assurance. Incorporating the 4-7-8 breathing exercise into your pre-speech routine is a potent way to elevate your mindfulness and transform your speaking experience.

The next big principle to know is that others remember you by how you make them feel. Stories are a very powerful way to do this. Tell the story in your own unique way. Don't just read a story.. convey it as if the story was happening in the moment. A great speaker will connect with the audience, no matter the content, when the speaker is genuine, transparent, and not afraid of emotions. If there's humor, show your own humor. If there is sadness, show your sadness. If the audience is bored or tense, I'll tell a story just to break the ice even if it's not related. Most people us their electronics to be entertained... they want to watch a story. Again, all of this must come from your authentic way of telling a story.

After sharing a story with a personal experience it becomes easier for employees to participate in an authentic way. Because they have seen you vulnerability.

Participation is necessary! According Malcom Knowles’ Assumptions of Adult Learning, adults need to connect new content with previous experiences. Great presenters take time to incorporate these experiences into a keynote or workshop. I’ve found that a helpful way to do this with mindfulness is starting with an activity like “Drawing Breath” where participants physically draw their breath with a pen. It allows for some great followup conversation and internalization of the topic. This is supported by Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle.

Participation is huge. Unless it's a somber occasion like a memorial service, I usually involve the audience. There is a big psychological concept here many people miss. Engaging a group requires more discipline from the speaker than speaking one-on-one. The psychological concept is groups create their own dynamic. The speaker should engage the group, but the reigns should be held tight to steer the discussion in the right direction. However, if the needs of the group outweigh the speaker's agenda, the speaker should quicky shift the agenda if necessary. The speaker's purpose is to help the audience, not the other way around. And when engaging the audience, don't shame or make fun of others. If a correction is needed, do it kindly.

One of the easiest and most impactful methods I've had success with is using micro-goals to accomplish mini-wins that inspire confidence and increase motivation. These help avoid setbacks and create a positive ripple effect to keep going. By also sharing the common obstacles they'll face along with the easiest ways to overcome them, it helps eliminate unwelcome surprises that can sabotage momentum.

I find that incorporating mindfulness into motivational speeches is not just another trend; it's about genuinely connecting with our audiences. I feel that the most impactful speakers are those who not only capture the attention of their audience but also engage them emotionally and mentally. I also find that the practice of mindfulness is about being present, and a great way to ensure that our audiences are engaged is to be present in the moment with our listeners.

It's a joy to have the privilege to inspire others! The "call to action" depends upon the situation and needs of the audience. However, the bottom line is go straight to what the audience needs. This is why preparation is key along with audience discussion. Be flexible to change the take-away points based on what the audience has told you prior. Keep the take-away points 5 or less. 3 is ideal because the brain can easily remember things grouped in 3. Take-away points should be very applicable, doable, and measurable. Keep your words simple. Ask the audience if they understand and if they have more questions. Make time to speak with the audience on the side after the event. Your role as a speaker is to help as much as possible.

I always include mindfulness practice. I use card games to get them to tap into their intuition. I play a game where they have to guess the card I'm holding purely based on gut instinct. This immediately forces them to become very mindful and since it's a game there is a powerful motivator behind becoming mindful

A great keynote will help your audience get to a more mindful place. Your topic does not need to be about mindfulness and you do not need to incorporate "mindful" exercises to accomplish this. If you do your job, your audience will be in better touch with their thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment, while gaining enhanced focus and a clear path to greater success.