Why do we give speeches?
When I ask this question in workshops I hear various answers. These responses aren’t right or wrong, but they can help you understand why some speeches are more memorable than others.
The reason most speeches are quickly forgotten is they don’t touch people emotionally or appeal to their interests.
There are three specific myths that keep speakers from leaving a lasting impact:
Speaking Myth #1 — Speak to Educate the Audience
Nope.
There is more information available in the palm of your audience’s hands than you’ll ever be able to provide. With the tap of their finger on a smartphone, they have access to a worldwide library of all information ever gathered.
Some of it is actually true.
What they want from you is your perspective on your topic. They want to hear stories about how you overcame struggles similar to theirs and succeeded.
They also desire to know how you overcame your challenges. Motivational speeches without actionable insights aren’t enough. People want a roadmap to success.
Speaking Myth #2 — Speak to Tell Them About What I and My Company Do
Absolutely not.
Here’s a hard truth about audiences….
They don’t care about you, your education, or your credentials. The audience has a problem and you were asked to speak to give them insights into how to solve it.
If you think this is harsh, let’s turn the tables for a moment. When you’re sitting in an audience, how much attention and concern do you have about speakers’ backgrounds or the history of their companies?
Aren’t you more focused on what you can get out of their presentations and how they might make your life a little better?
Share insights with a unique perspective to help them overcome their challenges. Then they’ll have an interest in and consider you a potential source to help solve their problems.
Speaking Myth #3 — Speak to Entertain
Not exactly.
This may sound nitpicky, but there’s a difference between speaking to entertain and being an entertaining speaker.
Speaking to entertain typically means you make people laugh and give them relief from them their troubles.
But, those speeches are usually quickly forgotten. Audiences may remember they laughed during the speech but can’t remember a word the speaker said.
This is okay if that is the reason an organization asks you to speak.
And it’s also becoming rare.
People have too many other options to be entertained on their computers, TVs, and smartphones. Organizations don’t hire speakers and give them big checks only to make people laugh. They want fresh perspectives on how to solve their biggest problems.
Entertaining speakers make people laugh, but at the end of the laughter, they provide serious points and valuable insights. They offer fresh perspectives which can help audiences overcome their challenges.
Create speeches that offer insights to overcome problems, and deliver them in an entertaining manner, and people will line up to hear you speak.
BONUS Insight
One of the most valuable lessons I learned early in my speaking career is…
The purpose of public speaking is to give people hope.
Hall of Famer Speaker Rory Vaden says, “Your speech is an ad for what is possible.”
Our role as speakers is to help audience members create a movie in their minds.
The movie they’re currently playing may not be positive. It could be filled with worry about their current challenges.
If we can help them create a new one that shows them living a better life than the one they’re currently living, having overcome their problems, we’ve fulfilled our mission.
We’ve left them with hope.
Recommended Resource
Seeing Your Own Brilliance is Difficult. Why Do It Alone?
The biggest challenge to becoming a confident, influential and persuasive speaker is you often cannot see the power of your message or your ability because you’re blind to them.
You’ve lived your life and you can’t see how your experiences may benefit others.
Even world-class speakers have coaches to help them see the gold in their speeches and stories.
If you’d like to talk with Michael about how to become a better speaker, schedule a 15-minute call to determine how he can help you.
Schedule your no-cost & no-obligation ZOOM call:
Michael’s mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - it’s a learnable skill. Once he discovered this ‘secret’ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the world’s best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
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