As a motivational speaker, you want to inspire, persuade, and engage your audience with your message. But how do you avoid the most common pitfalls that can undermine your credibility, clarity, and impact? Here are six tips to help you craft a message that resonates and motivates.
Before you start writing or speaking, you need to understand who you are talking to and what they care about. What are their needs, goals, challenges, and interests? How can you relate to them and address their concerns? How can you tailor your message to their level of knowledge, language, and culture? Knowing your audience will help you choose the right tone, style, and content for your message.
What is the main point or goal of your message? What do you want your audience to think, feel, or do after hearing you? Having a clear purpose will help you structure your message, focus on the most relevant and important information, and avoid rambling or digressing. It will also help you create a strong opening and closing that capture your audience's attention and reinforce your message.
One of the best ways to make your message memorable, relatable, and persuasive is to use stories and examples. Stories and examples can illustrate your points, show your credibility, appeal to emotions, and connect with your audience. They can also make your message more vivid, concrete, and engaging. However, you need to make sure that your stories and examples are relevant, concise, and appropriate for your audience and purpose.
Jargon and clichés can confuse, bore, or alienate your audience. Jargon is the technical or specialized language of a particular field or group that may not be understood by others. Clichés are overused or trite expressions that have lost their original meaning or impact. Instead of using jargon and clichés, use simple, clear, and precise language that your audience can easily follow and appreciate. Explain any terms or concepts that may not be familiar to your audience and use metaphors or analogies to make them more accessible.
Your audience will not only listen to what you say, but also how you say it. Your voice, body language, and facial expressions can convey your confidence, enthusiasm, and sincerity. Be authentic and passionate about your message and show your personality and emotions. Don't try to imitate or copy someone else's style or tone. Be yourself and speak from your heart. Your audience will sense your authenticity and passion and respond to it.
No matter how good your message is, you can always improve it by getting feedback and practicing. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, refine your message, and address any issues or questions. Practice can help you polish your delivery, improve your timing, and overcome any nervousness or anxiety. Seek feedback from people who can give you honest and constructive criticism and practice in front of a mirror, a recorder, or a small group of friends or colleagues.
Crafting a message can be fraught with common mistakes. First, failing to consider your audience's perspective is a major blunder. Tailoring your message to their needs and preferences is crucial. Another error is lack of clarity, where vague or convoluted language confuses rather than conveys. Additionally, excessive verbosity can make a message overwhelming; brevity is often more effective. Ignoring grammar and spelling can undermine credibility. Lastly, failing to proofread for tone and context can lead to misunderstandings. Successful communication requires thoughtful consideration of your audience, clarity, conciseness, and careful attention to language and context to avoid these pitfalls and convey your message effectively.
None of the above tips mean anything if you don’t know your “why”. Why are you writing this message? Why does anyone need to hear this? Why is it important? Know your why before anything else.