You're addressing a diverse audience at work. How do you tailor your motivational message for maximum impact?

Begin with a universal theme and tie it to diverse experiences. Acknowledge the myopia that makes it difficult to see beyond your own nose - include a self-deprecating anecdote - but invite others to identify with you. So, for example, if the talk is to be about building community, talk about joining a new family, first meeting the skeptical in-laws; lean into the discomfort of what seems like a very high-stakes event, and include a blunder. Emphasize the shock and embarrassment and the fear that this has been a deal-breaker, but follow quickly with who reached out to help, or about the next time, and how it was less awful. Everyone has a family history, everyone has felt like an outsider. Turn it to the present and the audience.

I think that authenticity is key because the true benefit of diversity is acknowledging that individual perspectives combine to help all of us see a more comprehensive view of any situation or challenge. I am careful to tailor my message by bring my genuine, unique self to the table and encourage my audience to join me as we journey together.

Speak in the context of vision and end goal based on the why. Diversity is not important, the message overall has to be foundational and obtainable the group will easily connect with progressive goals meant to offer more opportunities...

Understand the different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in the room. Tailor your examples and language to be inclusive and relatable to everyone.

Start with energy and enthusiasm that can engage everyone. Your tone should reflect the diversity in the room—be warm, open, and respectful of all viewpoints.

Los discursos vacíos no inspiran a nadie; la audiencia quiere sentir que no solo estás motivándolos, sino que entiendes sus desafíos como si fueran los tuyos. No adornes el mensaje con optimismo irreal. Habla de fracasos, errores y la crudeza de la realidad corporativa, pero hazlo desde una perspectiva que empodere y motive a cambiar, no solo a escuchar pasivamente.

Use a variety of stories that connect with different segments of your audience. Whether it’s personal anecdotes, success stories from others, or industry examples, make sure they reflect the diversity of experiences in the room.

No maquilles las narrativas para que suenen perfectas; la perfección no conecta, la vulnerabilidad sí. Muestra la parte cruda de los ejemplos, habla de los fracasos antes de los éxitos y de cómo esos obstáculos moldean el verdadero aprendizaje. Haz que cada historia sea un espejo en el que cualquiera pueda verse y, más importante aún, creer que ellos también pueden lograrlo sin esconder las cicatrices del proceso.

Create space for everyone to contribute. Ask open-ended questions, invite different opinions, and make sure everyone feels heard and valued.

Audience engagement is an absolute must in any setting. Before we can motivate, we must first establish our credibility. One quick way to engage audiences while building trust is to ask for a show of hands on a variety of topics. I use this as an ice-breaker, which has the added advantage of providing real-time audience analysis. Everyone likes to feel valued, and asking questions of interest to those in your audience is a way of validating their views. When possible, I work humor into questions to establish an emotional connection to my audience.

Las preguntas retóricas son solo un recurso si no das espacio real para que los oyentes aporten. Haz que la interacción sea tangible: desafía a los presentes a cuestionar en vivo, a compartir sus propias soluciones o incluso a contradecirte. Esta confrontación no es una amenaza; es el pulso que mantendrá a la audiencia despierta y comprometida, demostrando que sus voces son tan importantes como la tuya.

Present actionable advice or solutions that cater to the various challenges your audience might face. The key is to ensure that everyone leaves with something relevant to them.

El enfoque debe estar en tácticas concretas y personalizables que ataquen los problemas desde la raíz, no en teorías bonitas sin aplicación práctica. No tengas miedo de incomodar hablando de lo que realmente duele y ofreciendo caminos claros para cambiarlo. Empodera a tu audiencia para que no solo escuche, sino que actúe con la sensación de que algo puede mejorar en su día a día.

One statement I make to every audience is that we learn best by learning from each other. One of my core beliefs is that every person in every audience has life experiences that can be used to educate everyone else around them. Another factor to consider here is that making sure that everyone feels welcome to participate in the learning experience will improve your exchange of information. Creating a welcoming environment is an absolute must.

I often use a musical analogy that unison notes lack the complexity and depth of a chord. I explain that we can only achieve chordal structure by having distinctions between the individual notes. That is the essence of diversity. The notes have to be different. They have to be themselves and not like the other notes in order to produce their unique contribution to the blending of the individual tones into a wall of sound. One note is not more important than the others and each note plays a part in the construction of the product. That, to me, is a celebration of real diversity.

Mostrar casos de éxito diversos es esencial, pero lo es aún más destacar las barreras que esas personas enfrentaron y cómo las superaron. Haz sentir que cada perspectiva cuenta, y que la riqueza de la diversidad es más que un discurso bien intencionado: es una estrategia de crecimiento tangible. Reconocer la complejidad de cada individuo genera lealtad y un sentido de pertenencia que ningún bonus puede comprar.