What Is A Motivational Speaker?

I often think that many people have the wrong idea about what a motivational speaker is and what a motivational speaker is not. 

First off, I don't think a motivational speaker can motivate anyone to do anything. For the most part motivation comes from within, and every person has their own idea of what motivates them.

With that being said, I do believe that being in the right environment can be very motivating. For instance, if you work in an office where everyone is miserable, the management doesn't care about their employees, and the company lacks integrity, it would be difficult to find anyone who is truly motivated to achieve greatness within the company.

On the other hand, if you work in an environment where most people have positive attitudes, the management is in tune with the needs of its employees, and the company is accomplishing great things with a code of ethics that is intact, it would be much easier to find motivated workers.

If motivation comes from within, then what is the role of a motivational speaker?

The real goal is to inspire change, to share a different way of thinking about things, and to invigorate their audience. 

Some will accomplish that goal by sharing uplifting stories of trials and tribulations connecting the message with how it relates to each individual in the audience, and others may use interactive demonstrations that involve the audience members showing them how to break through limiting beliefs.  

Many speakers are hired to rally the troops, energize a room, set the tone for meetings, deliver an organization's message, communicate company strategy, and much more. The best speakers will do all this in a way that is memorable and entertaining. 

A motivational speaker is usually an expert in a specific subject and has a passion for sharing that knowledge to inspire others.

(About The Author: Lou Serrano is a professional magician and motivational speaker. His signature program, The M.A.G.I.C. Formula For Success, has been been presented to corporations and associations throughout the country. Lou is available for hire and travels from Los Angeles.)