Beccoming an Inspirational Speaker
- Thread starter Tengu
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bambodoggy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
It helps to know people in the corporate events world to get you a look in, failing that...maybe get a website up and running and then start phoning and mail shotting both email and snail.
If you're any good (and I see no reason why you wouldn't be) then your name will get known and passed around...the phone will start ringing and away you go
Best of luck,
Bam.
If you're any good (and I see no reason why you wouldn't be) then your name will get known and passed around...the phone will start ringing and away you go
Best of luck,
Bam.
Don't try to be inspirational or uninspirational. Just say what you have to say openly and honestly. Integrity itself is inspirational and enough to hold the attention, and if its a subject you feel passionately about then more energy will manifest spontaneously. You need not force it.
I think a lot will depend on what your story is (apologies if this is forum knowledge, I don't know it)
If it's "how I overcame adversity / disability to achieve" then you'll probably want to be aiming at schools. Word of mouth is key here so maybe approach some local schools as a freebie and build it from there. Email other schools / set up a website and start charging once you've got some testimonials or references to "sell" you.
If it's a business "how i made a fortune /my successful strategy in business" kinda deal then I have no idea.
One thing though, and I don't wish to be rude, how charismatic are you? Public speaking is tough. I'm a teacher so I have a captive audience but selling yourself to a crowd is harder.
If it's "how I overcame adversity / disability to achieve" then you'll probably want to be aiming at schools. Word of mouth is key here so maybe approach some local schools as a freebie and build it from there. Email other schools / set up a website and start charging once you've got some testimonials or references to "sell" you.
If it's a business "how i made a fortune /my successful strategy in business" kinda deal then I have no idea.
One thing though, and I don't wish to be rude, how charismatic are you? Public speaking is tough. I'm a teacher so I have a captive audience but selling yourself to a crowd is harder.
I guess you might need to target your story to groups that would be interested in / have empathy with your talk? A friend of mine was a Mountain Rescue Team Leader for many years and he now gives lectures on mountain safety & leadership. He also often gives after dinner speeches & is often asked to speak on the radio when the media wants an experts comment.
One method of beginning a lecture is to start with a hook to get the audience interested and then give them key learning points to take away. Good luck.
One method of beginning a lecture is to start with a hook to get the audience interested and then give them key learning points to take away. Good luck.
I have some experience here.
I've been complimented on my speaking to a range of audiences, from parties of school kids to sales reps to university professors. Always technical subjects.
The kids and the professors were no problem but I never felt really effective speaking to the sales people. I don't know why
There are two things in my view that you need to have to be an inspirational speaker.
You need to have confidence, so that standing up to speak in front of a thousand people doesn't bother you.
You need to have an enthusiasm, preferably so much of it that it's infectious, about your subject.
I guess I've been lucky, if that's what it is, that I've had the enthusiasm, and it's never bothered me to stand up in front of an audience - even one that's technically very competent and ready to shoot me down in flames in a second if I screw up - in fact I enjoy it and I really don't see it as a challenge.
Without those two things you can still do it, but it will be hard work and you probably won't enjoy it.
I've been complimented on my speaking to a range of audiences, from parties of school kids to sales reps to university professors. Always technical subjects.
The kids and the professors were no problem but I never felt really effective speaking to the sales people. I don't know why
There are two things in my view that you need to have to be an inspirational speaker.
You need to have confidence, so that standing up to speak in front of a thousand people doesn't bother you.
You need to have an enthusiasm, preferably so much of it that it's infectious, about your subject.
I guess I've been lucky, if that's what it is, that I've had the enthusiasm, and it's never bothered me to stand up in front of an audience - even one that's technically very competent and ready to shoot me down in flames in a second if I screw up - in fact I enjoy it and I really don't see it as a challenge.
Without those two things you can still do it, but it will be hard work and you probably won't enjoy it.
I have done a fair amount of public speaking, but mostly academic and disability rights. Nothing that would go down to well for a corporate lunch.
However some things are common to all kinds of speaking. First and foremost, do some audience research and get a feel for who you are talking to, What goes down well with one audience may well bomb with another.
Visual aids/slides help but be prepared for the technology to go wrong, in fact be prepared for just about anything to go wrong.
I have always found that humour works, but then you do have to be careful that your brand of humour is not offensive to some audiences, again that is where audience research comes in.
Above all, get used to being out in front of an audience, you will likely always be nervous, but the more often you have done it, the more confident you will become once you get going.
I myself am not impressed by many "inspirational" speakers, there is term in the disability world "inspiration porn" which essentially turns some people off. Again though that depends on the audience, if you have done truly interesting things there are bound to be people who would like to here that, not so much to be overtly inspired, but because they are interested, so don't overdo the inspiration and make it relevant to the audience so that they feel it is not beyond them.
And lastly always give your best performance regardless of whether it is an audience of 5 or 500, when you are speaking to a large audience, act as if you are just adressing a few of them gathered around a table.
However some things are common to all kinds of speaking. First and foremost, do some audience research and get a feel for who you are talking to, What goes down well with one audience may well bomb with another.
Visual aids/slides help but be prepared for the technology to go wrong, in fact be prepared for just about anything to go wrong.
I have always found that humour works, but then you do have to be careful that your brand of humour is not offensive to some audiences, again that is where audience research comes in.
Above all, get used to being out in front of an audience, you will likely always be nervous, but the more often you have done it, the more confident you will become once you get going.
I myself am not impressed by many "inspirational" speakers, there is term in the disability world "inspiration porn" which essentially turns some people off. Again though that depends on the audience, if you have done truly interesting things there are bound to be people who would like to here that, not so much to be overtly inspired, but because they are interested, so don't overdo the inspiration and make it relevant to the audience so that they feel it is not beyond them.
And lastly always give your best performance regardless of whether it is an audience of 5 or 500, when you are speaking to a large audience, act as if you are just adressing a few of them gathered around a table.
I talk for a living. Never had a problem with it. Just know your subject and tell it as it is. A study of storytelling is useful as well.
It helps if you know a lot more than you are actually talking about. That depth of knowledge means you can generally deal with any random questions that crop up as well.
It's also important to know how to break things down for your target audience. Some people want or need much less detail than others. There's no point in droning on about the geopolitical structure of Early Medieval Europe when talking to 8 year olds for example. Professors of history however..
It can feel scary, I don't think you ever really get past having a bit of stage fright, it's a natural thing which I think actually makes you sharper. I've worked audiences literally thousands of times but still get nervous for a few minutes before starting.
I think one of the best tips I was ever given was, "If you want to be interesting, be interested."
It helps if you know a lot more than you are actually talking about. That depth of knowledge means you can generally deal with any random questions that crop up as well.
It's also important to know how to break things down for your target audience. Some people want or need much less detail than others. There's no point in droning on about the geopolitical structure of Early Medieval Europe when talking to 8 year olds for example. Professors of history however..
It can feel scary, I don't think you ever really get past having a bit of stage fright, it's a natural thing which I think actually makes you sharper. I've worked audiences literally thousands of times but still get nervous for a few minutes before starting.
I think one of the best tips I was ever given was, "If you want to be interesting, be interested."
Well I have had fair amount of experience as a public speaker. (mostly charity drives and conferences, stadiums ). What ever your story is. You need to be able.to engage with you audience humour is good tool
Don't drone on about particular topic (people have a very short attention span ) they'll get bored and switch off
Always.remember that ppl are intelligent (atleast a minority are though ). Never talk down to your.audience
Don't drone on about particular topic (people have a very short attention span ) they'll get bored and switch off
Always.remember that ppl are intelligent (atleast a minority are though ). Never talk down to your.audience
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I think being a good speaker is one of the hardest things to be honest. Having a blend of good oratary style, charisma and good content isn't easy.
When I was younger I used to write the odd speech (I was a bit more political in those days); but I hated giving them. So I'd happily write for other folk. In later years part of my job was speaking to the public, sometimes in groups. At formal occasions I was a bundle of nerves. I had to have a "work face" that I put on that allowed me to deal with large numbers. I'm quite shy by nature and I needed this "face/persona" 'till I relaxed into the flow then I was fine. You have to know what you're talking about though, Some audiences will eat a speaker alive if they figure that they have more knowledge than the speaker.
Do you have a group of classmates, friends or the likes that you could practice in front of? It's good and to be honest often harder speaking to folk who know you as they already know any weaknesses (pack instinct comes to the fore in these things).
Much as YouTube is full of talking heads you could try uploading a couple of short sections of a speech to YT and see what the response is. There is a member here on BCUK that is a professional speaker and presenter and he sometimes uploads some of his work to here.
Have a look on-line and see how different folks styles work, some are great, some are terrible. Like Laurentis says humour goes a long way, and personally I find a relaxed affable style makes me want to listen, unless the situation dictates otherwise like on a debating floor.
Be interesting to hear how you get on with it though.
When I was younger I used to write the odd speech (I was a bit more political in those days); but I hated giving them. So I'd happily write for other folk. In later years part of my job was speaking to the public, sometimes in groups. At formal occasions I was a bundle of nerves. I had to have a "work face" that I put on that allowed me to deal with large numbers. I'm quite shy by nature and I needed this "face/persona" 'till I relaxed into the flow then I was fine. You have to know what you're talking about though, Some audiences will eat a speaker alive if they figure that they have more knowledge than the speaker.
Do you have a group of classmates, friends or the likes that you could practice in front of? It's good and to be honest often harder speaking to folk who know you as they already know any weaknesses (pack instinct comes to the fore in these things).
Much as YouTube is full of talking heads you could try uploading a couple of short sections of a speech to YT and see what the response is. There is a member here on BCUK that is a professional speaker and presenter and he sometimes uploads some of his work to here.
Have a look on-line and see how different folks styles work, some are great, some are terrible. Like Laurentis says humour goes a long way, and personally I find a relaxed affable style makes me want to listen, unless the situation dictates otherwise like on a debating floor.
Be interesting to hear how you get on with it though.
One trick I found helped
Was practicing in front of a mirror....
I would prep a speech/ talk on paper and then recite it in front of a mirror
The amount of time.he caught me... He must've thought I was nuts
One thing to avoid is waving one s arms around
We all use our arms/ hand when making gestures etc. However some.do it excessively and it becomes a distraction
You want ppl to concentrate on.what your saying and not watching your arms flailing around
Was practicing in front of a mirror....
I would prep a speech/ talk on paper and then recite it in front of a mirror
The amount of time.he caught me... He must've thought I was nuts
One thing to avoid is waving one s arms around
We all use our arms/ hand when making gestures etc. However some.do it excessively and it becomes a distraction
You want ppl to concentrate on.what your saying and not watching your arms flailing around
Get a friend to video you as you deliver your talk. Then watch the result critically. My wife and I were both lecturers and often worked together and had ample opportunity to critically evaluate one anothers' performance. This can be painful.
Bear in mind what the previous posters have said: it is all good advice. Speaking in public is not easy and as Wayland points out you never entirely get over stage fright: if you do you are not being self-critical enough!
Ask yourself why you want to do it. If you really hope to inspire others you have to believe in yourself and that you really have somthing to offer. If it is to make money or for an ego-trip, forget it.
Bear in mind what the previous posters have said: it is all good advice. Speaking in public is not easy and as Wayland points out you never entirely get over stage fright: if you do you are not being self-critical enough!
Ask yourself why you want to do it. If you really hope to inspire others you have to believe in yourself and that you really have somthing to offer. If it is to make money or for an ego-trip, forget it.
If you don't really know the subject steer clear of it
Research your audience as much as your topic
DO NOT make stuff up, if you don't know the answer to a question you are asked, tell them you don't know
If you are not funny, don't make jokes
BUT, most of all, do not think you will get the audience onside if you say things like 'Oooh, I get really nervous in front of a crowd' or 'I am presenting someone elses material, so you'll have to bear with me', they will just think you are after the money and slaughter you
Research your audience as much as your topic
DO NOT make stuff up, if you don't know the answer to a question you are asked, tell them you don't know
If you are not funny, don't make jokes
BUT, most of all, do not think you will get the audience onside if you say things like 'Oooh, I get really nervous in front of a crowd' or 'I am presenting someone elses material, so you'll have to bear with me', they will just think you are after the money and slaughter you
Oh, and with regard to the OP. This is going to seem really harsh, but who told you that you have an inspirational story? If it is your friends who know your backstory, you have to be brutal with yourself and ask yourself are you really inspirational? Everyone has a worthy story, why is yours more interesting, what is your usp?
Toast Masters! There should be a group not to far from you, they are all over. I went along, only for 6 months - 2 eve's a month, and it worked wonders. Cann't say I was inundated with offers of money thereafter but I got through what I had to do, and with some praise from those who were recipient. Good luck.
