A motivational speech is an emotional speech aimed at urging and stimulating a group to pursue goals and succeed in their personal and professional lives. It combines real life stories and situations to persuade the audience to change their behavior or agree with a certain position. Effective motivational speeches use an imperative mood and action-oriented phrases. Speakers must research social and pragmatic factors about the audience and choose a standard structure like Monroe's five-stage motivational sequence or a comparative advantages pattern to organize the speech and clearly convey its message.

1. The MotivationalThe Motivational
SpeechSpeech

2. Definition:Definition:
A motivational speech is a highly emotionalA motivational speech is a highly emotional
speech that serves to urge and stimulatespeech that serves to urge and stimulate
a group to pursue significant goals,a group to pursue significant goals,
choose proper strategy, correct mistakes,choose proper strategy, correct mistakes,
etc. Additionally, a motivational speechetc. Additionally, a motivational speech
arms the audience with tools andarms the audience with tools and
awareness they should possess toawareness they should possess to
succeed in their personal lives and in thesucceed in their personal lives and in the
modern world.modern world.

3. CharacteristicsCharacteristics
A motivational speech can combine componentsA motivational speech can combine components
such as real life situations and memorablesuch as real life situations and memorable
stories. A motivational speech is a variety of astories. A motivational speech is a variety of a
persuasive speech and it is pragmaticallypersuasive speech and it is pragmatically
oriented: a recipient of a motivational speechoriented: a recipient of a motivational speech
should experience a certain impact, i.e. changeshould experience a certain impact, i.e. change
his/her behavior, act in a certain way, or agreehis/her behavior, act in a certain way, or agree
with something. To this end, an imperativewith something. To this end, an imperative
mood should be used in motivationalmood should be used in motivational
speeches. Energetic phrases starting with "do",speeches. Energetic phrases starting with "do",
"donate", "join", "create", "buy" are most likely"donate", "join", "create", "buy" are most likely
to reinforce the effect of a motivational speech.to reinforce the effect of a motivational speech.

4. Preparatory ResearchPreparatory Research
A motivational speaker should realize whatA motivational speaker should realize what
positions or actions he or she is going topositions or actions he or she is going to
popularize. Thorough preparatory research ispopularize. Thorough preparatory research is
required to take into account numerousrequired to take into account numerous
factors that can influence the process offactors that can influence the process of
listening and further decision-making.listening and further decision-making.
1)1) Social factors: status, education, values of theSocial factors: status, education, values of the
audienceaudience
2)2) Pragmatic factors: requirements, needs andPragmatic factors: requirements, needs and
interests of the audience.interests of the audience.

5. OrganizingOrganizing
A standard motivational speech can beA standard motivational speech can be
based upon several patterns.based upon several patterns.
These are:These are:
1)1) Monroe's motivational sequenceMonroe's motivational sequence
2)2) Comparative advantages patternComparative advantages pattern

6. Monroe’s MotivationalMonroe’s Motivational
SequenceSequence
 Monroe's motivational sequence is a five-Monroe's motivational sequence is a five-
stage scheme of proving the necessity ofstage scheme of proving the necessity of
some changes, actions, etc.some changes, actions, etc.
 Many students use this outline forMany students use this outline for
motivational speech topics since Alanmotivational speech topics since Alan
Monroe invented it 70 years ago.Monroe invented it 70 years ago.

7. Stage One - AttentionStage One - Attention
 Get the attention of your public. State theGet the attention of your public. State the
importance of your specific angle ofimportance of your specific angle of
approach. List the main benefits toapproach. List the main benefits to
arouse interest.arouse interest.

8. Stage Two - NeedStage Two - Need
 State the need for change. Show why itState the need for change. Show why it
should concern them. Relate the issue orshould concern them. Relate the issue or
problem to the values, attitudes, interestsproblem to the values, attitudes, interests
and needs of the listeners.and needs of the listeners.

9. Stage Three -Stage Three -
SatisfactionSatisfaction
 Satisfy their needs. Provide the detailsSatisfy their needs. Provide the details
and interesting facts of your plan. Showand interesting facts of your plan. Show
how your solution works.how your solution works.

10. Stage Four -Stage Four -
VisualizationVisualization
 Visualize the benefits. That is the heart ofVisualize the benefits. That is the heart of
your motivational speech topic. Illustrateyour motivational speech topic. Illustrate
them with examples, anecdotes,them with examples, anecdotes,
comparisons, statistics, definitions andcomparisons, statistics, definitions and
visual aids. This is where your visual aidvisual aids. This is where your visual aid
should come in. Tell your public what's inshould come in. Tell your public what's in
it for them!it for them!

11. Stage Five – Action!Stage Five – Action!
 This is your call to action. Show themThis is your call to action. Show them
what to do to implement your plan.what to do to implement your plan.

12. ComparativeComparative
Advantage PatternAdvantage Pattern
 A comparative advantage pattern is closelyA comparative advantage pattern is closely
related to the Monroe's motivational sequence,related to the Monroe's motivational sequence,
but is mainly used when there arebut is mainly used when there are severalseveral
alternatives from which to choosealternatives from which to choose. This. This
pattern looks like the one for motivatedpattern looks like the one for motivated
sequence speech topics and is often used forsequence speech topics and is often used for
business presentations. The big differencebusiness presentations. The big difference
occurs in the satisfy and visualization steps. Inoccurs in the satisfy and visualization steps. In
those steps you have to compare and contrastthose steps you have to compare and contrast
two or more plans, solutions or alternatives.two or more plans, solutions or alternatives.
Show your listeners which one is the best.Show your listeners which one is the best.

13. ComparativeComparative
Advantage PatternAdvantage Pattern
ExampleExample
 Example motivational speech topic:Example motivational speech topic:
Compare and contrast two cellphonesCompare and contrast two cellphones
and tell which one is the best one forand tell which one is the best one for
your job or personal life and why.your job or personal life and why.

14. TopicsTopics
 Below you'll see a list of general categoriesBelow you'll see a list of general categories
that can be narrowed to a topic for athat can be narrowed to a topic for a
motivational speech. Use your imagination andmotivational speech. Use your imagination and
elaborate on these topics. These examples areelaborate on these topics. These examples are
meant to motivate you to create motivationalmeant to motivate you to create motivational
speech topics yourself! To help you in the rightspeech topics yourself! To help you in the right
direction:direction:
 What do you want to achieve?What do you want to achieve?
 What behavior are you trying to change?What behavior are you trying to change?
 What level of agreement do you at least wantWhat level of agreement do you at least want
to accomplish?to accomplish?


15. Consider theseConsider these
openings foropenings for
motivational topicsmotivational topics
 Pay ...Pay ...
 Quit ...Quit ...
 Sell ...Sell ...
 Sign ...Sign ...
 Study ...Study ...
 Support ...Support ...
 Take ...Take ...
 Volunteer ...Volunteer ...
 Vote ...Vote ...

16. Or these . . .Or these . . .
 Become involved in ...Become involved in ...
 Buy ...Buy ...
 Change ...Change ...
 Choose ...Choose ...
 Do ...Do ...
 Donate ...Donate ...
 Establish ...Establish ...
 Join ...Join ...
 Make ...Make ...

17. General Themes ForGeneral Themes For
Motivational Speech TopicsMotivational Speech Topics
 An other way to create motivationalAn other way to create motivational
speech topics is to relate these generalspeech topics is to relate these general
themes below to personal, educational orthemes below to personal, educational or
professional activities, issues orprofessional activities, issues or
problems.problems.

18. Consider these . . .Consider these . . .
 Breakthroughs - Career Development - Challenge -Breakthroughs - Career Development - Challenge -
Change - Coaching - Commitment - Communication -Change - Coaching - Commitment - Communication -
Competence - Competitiveness - Confidence -Competence - Competitiveness - Confidence -
Decision Making - Discipline - Effective Meetings -Decision Making - Discipline - Effective Meetings -
Ensure Safety - Ergonomics - Focused Thinking -Ensure Safety - Ergonomics - Focused Thinking -
Future - Involvement - Inspiration - Integrity -Future - Involvement - Inspiration - Integrity -
Interpersonal Skills - Leadership - Negotiation Tactics -Interpersonal Skills - Leadership - Negotiation Tactics -
Personal Effectiveness - Personal Growth - PersonalPersonal Effectiveness - Personal Growth - Personal
Improvement - Personal Productivity - PersonalImprovement - Personal Productivity - Personal
Wellness - Responsibility - Self Respect - Set RealisticWellness - Responsibility - Self Respect - Set Realistic
Goals - Stress - Teambuilding - Teamwork - Trends -Goals - Stress - Teambuilding - Teamwork - Trends -
Values - Work EthicsValues - Work Ethics