pocketspeak4e

Speeches of Inspiration

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A speech of inspiration seeks to uplift members of the audience and to help them see things in a positive light. Sermons, commencement addresses, “pep talks,” and nomination speeches are all inspirational in nature. Effective speeches of inspiration touch on deep feelings in the audience. Through emotional force, they urge us toward purer motives and harder effort and remind us of a common good.

Appeal to audience members’ emotions. Three means of evoking emotion are touching upon shared values, vivid description, and storytelling (see Chapter 24). Techniques of language such as repetition, alliteration, and parallelism can also help transport the audience from the mundane to a loftier level (see Chapter 16).
Use real-life stories. Few things move us as much as real-life examples and stories, such as that of an ordinary person whose struggles result in triumph over adversity and the realization of a dream.
Be dynamic. If it fits your personality, use a dynamic speaking style to inspire through delivery. Combining an energetic style with a powerful message can be one of the most successful strategies for inspirational speaking.
Make your goal clear. Inspirational speeches run the risk of being vague, leaving the audience unsure what the message was. Whatever you are trying to motivate your listeners to do, let them know.
Consider a distinctive organizing device. Many successful inspirational speakers use devices such as acronyms or steps to help the audience to remember the message. For example, a football coach speaking at a practice session might organize an inspirational speech around the word WIN. His main points might be “Work,” “Intensity,” and “No excuses,” forming the acronym WIN.
Close with a dramatic ending. Use a dramatic ending to inspire your audience to feel or act. Recall from Chapter 15 the various methods of concluding a speech, including quotations, stories, rhetorical questions, and a call to action.

Tailor Your Message to the Audience and Occasion

Always plan your special occasion speech with audience expectations firmly in mind. People listening to a eulogy, for example, will be very sensitive to what they perceive to be inappropriate humor or lack of respect. Those attending a dedication ceremony for a war memorial will expect the speaker to offer words of inspiration. When a speaker violates audience expectations in situations like these, audience reaction will usually be pronounced.