Motivational Speaker Training
Motivational speaker training is critical if you want to impact large groups and get paid to do it. Competency on the platform comes from a combination of outside instruction and firsthand experience. Learn from the best, but also figure out what makes you unique. If you're willing to ask questions, make mistakes and just get up and do it, you can train to be an effective motivational speaker.
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Train in Your Area of Expertise
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The best motivational speakers have trained in a specialty. It's important to develop your area of expertise, such as resilience, leadership or peak performance. Figure out what you know most about or are most interested in and seek additional training in this area. Read every book and article you can on the topic. Take classes. Write about it. The goal is to know more about the topic than anyone in your audience. Become a specialized expert first, and it'll be easier to develop content for your presentation.
Train in the Art of Public Speaking
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Master public-speaking techniques. There are countless courses and books on this topic. Look for a class that actually gets you up in front of a group. Part of good training is good feedback. Don't limit yourself to speech classes. Consider courses in acting and improvisation, as these skills are essential to motivational speaking. See if your city has a local chapter of Toastmasters International. There are also many speech coaches advertising on the Internet. Be sure to check references and carefully scrutinize anyone you're considering.
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Train in the Business of Public Speaking
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Becoming a master at speaking is futile if you can't get yourself booked. Take time to build your business and set up shop. In addition to your website, you'll also need a dedicated phone line, fax, business cards, contracts, an accounting system and everything else that goes with establishing a financial venture. Join a professional organization like the National Speakers Association or the American Society for Training and Development. You should also develop your "elevator speech." This is a brief verbal description of what you do that is so concise you could pitch it to someone you meet in an elevator.
Train in Creating Web Content
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Establish a strong web presence. Meeting planners look on the web for motivational speakers. Audience members follow up on speakers' websites to learn more about their topics. Motivational speakers are in the business of sharing information. Your website is your base. Honing your website development skills will save you considerable money and make you more accessible to your audience. Check out the websites of established motivational speakers such as Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Scott Greenberg and any others you know to get a sense of how they represent themselves and the kind of content they provide.
Train With a Mentor
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Shorten your learning curve by shadowing an established motivational speaker. Offer to intern in the speaker's office or to assist him on the road. Someone who's already doing this can provide a wealth of information. Ask her how she started, the mistakes she made and the things she wished she'd done earlier. Watch the speaker on stage and look for effective speaking techniques. Under no circumstances should you adopt another speaker's material or mimic his style. Understanding what he does, however, may help you develop your unique approach.
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Resources
- Photo Credit interview image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
