A Blog Designed to Help You Become a Better Speaker
The Psychology of a Great Speech: How to Move Your Audience to Action
As motivational speakers, our ultimate goal is not just to entertain or inform — it's to inspire action. Whether you're helping an audience navigate uncertainty, embrace change, or overcome personal obstacles, the power of your message lies in its ability to move people into action.
But how do we, as speakers, tap into the psychology of our audience to create lasting impact? The answer lies in understanding the emotional and cognitive responses that drive human behavior.
1. Appeal to Emotion, Not Just Logic
The human brain is wired to respond to emotions before logic. While facts, figures, and logical arguments are important, they don’t move people the way emotions do. Research in neuroscience tells us that people are more likely to take action based on how they feel in the moment, rather than what they think.
As a speaker, your goal should be to create an emotional connection. You want your audience to feel something — whether it's excitement, empathy, or inspiration. When you e...
Why Didn't I Get the Speaking Gig???
You got the rejection email. You were in the running, and THEN they went with someone else. Not only did they go with someone else, but you know that someone else—and you’re a better speaker.
So why did they hire that person instead of you?
Coming from the acting world, I can tell you there are a few reasons you may not have considered as a speaker.
1. Your Marketing Assets Aren’t Good
You can be an amazing speaker, but if you have a boring headshot where you look like everyone else, a so-so demo reel, and an uninteresting talk title, they’ll glaze right over you.
In acting, the headshot is everything. There has to be something that stands out—usually the expression, the eyes, or the colors. The same is true for your photo. If you have the typical boring gray or blue background headshot with your arms crossed in a suit… snooze.
You need something—whether it’s a standout demo reel, humor in your email, or a talk title that makes people do a double take—to get them to look at y...
