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6 Leadership Speech Examples

Leadership speeches have the power to inspire, motivate, and galvanize people into action.

Whether you’re addressing your team, your organization, or a wider audience, your words as a leader carry weight and have the potential to create real change.

Leadership Speech Examples

In this article, we’ll explore six powerful leadership speech examples of varying lengths, each crafted for different occasions.

You’ll find short speeches perfect for quick team huddles, medium-length speeches ideal for company meetings, and longer-form speeches suitable for conferences and major events.

Let’s jump in and see what makes each of these speeches so impactful.

Short Leadership Speech (300 words)

Good morning, everyone.

In the fast-paced world of business, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and lose sight of the bigger picture. But I want to take a moment today to remind us all of the incredible power we have as a team.

Every one of you brings unique skills, perspectives, and experiences to the table. When we harness that diversity and work together towards a common goal, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

I’ve seen firsthand the incredible things this team is capable of when we support each other, challenge each other, and push ourselves to be better. Whether it’s hitting a tough deadline, solving a complex problem, or going above and beyond for a client, you consistently rise to the occasion.

But great teams don’t just happen by accident. They require trust, communication, and a willingness to put the needs of the group above individual interests. They require each person to bring their A-game, every single day.

So as we head into the challenges and opportunities ahead, I want you to keep in mind the power of this team. Keep in mind that you are part of something bigger than yourself. And keep in mind that together, we can face anything that comes our way.

Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. Let’s go out there and show the world what we’re made of.

— END OF SPEECH —

Commentary: This short motivational speech is perfect for a team huddle or kick-off meeting. It reminds the audience of their collective strength, acknowledges their hard work, and inspires them to tackle upcoming challenges with unity and determination.

Medium-Length Leadership Speech (500 words)

Good afternoon, everyone.

I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for being here, thank you for your hard work, and thank you for your commitment to our mission. Every one of you plays a crucial role in our success, and I am incredibly grateful for all that you do.

Today, I want to talk about something that I believe is at the heart of any great organization: purpose. Purpose is what drives us, what motivates us, and what gives meaning to our work. It’s the reason we get out of bed in the morning and the reason we push ourselves to be better.

At [Company Name], our purpose is clear: [insert mission statement]. This is more than just a catchy phrase or a nice sentiment. It’s a promise we make to ourselves, to each other, and to the people we serve. It’s a reminder that what we do matters and that we have the power to make a real difference in the world.

But living up to that purpose isn’t always easy. It requires us to think big, to take risks, and to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. It requires us to be resilient when faced with setbacks and to learn from our failures as much as our successes.

Most importantly, it requires us to work together as a team. No one person, no matter how talented or dedicated, can achieve our mission alone. We need each other – to challenge us, to support us, and to remind us of why we do what we do.

So as we move forward, I want to challenge every one of you to think about your sense of purpose. What drives you? What impact do you want to have on the world? And how can you use your unique skills and passions to contribute to our collective mission?

Because when we are clear on our purpose when we are united in our resolve, and when we support each other every step of the way…there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Thank you again for all that you do. I am honored to be part of this incredible team, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.

Commentary: This medium-length speech is suitable for a company-wide meeting or event. It focuses on the importance of purpose, both at an organizational and individual level and encourages the audience to reflect on their contributions to the collective mission. The speech acknowledges challenges, emphasizes teamwork, and inspires the audience to achieve great things together.

Long Leadership Speech (700 words)

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to [Event Name]. It’s an honor to be here with all of you today.

As leaders, we often talk about the importance of vision – having a clear picture of where we want to go and what we want to achieve. And while vision is undoubtedly crucial, I believe that another quality is just as important, if not more so: courage.

Courage is what allows us to turn our vision into reality. It’s what gives us the strength to take risks, to make tough decisions, and to persevere when faced with adversity. Without courage, even the most brilliant vision will remain just that – a vision, never to be realized.

Think about the leaders throughout history who have changed the world. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela – these were not just visionaries, they were incredibly brave individuals who were willing to stand up for what they believed in, even when faced with tremendous opposition and personal risk.

While most of us may not be leading social movements or political revolutions, the need for courage in leadership is just as relevant in our spheres of influence.

As business leaders, we are faced with difficult decisions every day. Do we take a chance on a new product or market, even if it means risking failure? Do we stand up for our values, even if it means losing a client or facing criticism? Do we have difficult conversations with underperforming employees, even if it makes us uncomfortable?

These are the moments that test our courage as leaders. And it’s in these moments that we have the greatest opportunity to lead by example and to inspire others to be brave as well.

But courage doesn’t always look like grand gestures or bold proclamations. Sometimes, the most courageous thing a leader can do is to admit when they’re wrong, to ask for help when they need it, or to show vulnerability in front of their team.

These acts of courage, however small they may seem, have the power to build trust, foster connection, and create a culture where everyone feels empowered to take risks and learn from their mistakes.

Of course, being a courageous leader is easier said than done. Fear, doubt, and the desire to play it safe can be powerful forces holding us back. But I believe that every one of us has the capacity for courage within us – it’s just a matter of tapping into it.

So how do we cultivate courage in our leadership? Here are a few ideas:

• Clarify your values and let them guide your decisions. When you’re clear on what you stand for, it’s easier to act with integrity even when it’s hard.
• Surround yourself with people who challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone. Courage is often contagious, so seek out brave mentors and colleagues.
• Practice self-compassion. Beating yourself up over failures or missteps will only make you more risk-averse. Instead, treat yourself with kindness and learn from your experiences.
• Take small, incremental steps. You don’t need to revolutionize your entire organization overnight. Focus on being a little braver each day, and those small acts of courage will compound over time.

As I look out at this room full of leaders, I am inspired by the collective courage and potential that exists here. Each of you has the power to make a profound difference – in your organizations, your communities, and the world at large.

So let us all commit, here and now, to leading with courage. To take bold action in service of our visions. To support and inspire each other to be brave. Because it is only through courage that we can truly transform ourselves, our organizations, and our society for the better.

Commentary: This longer leadership speech, suitable for a conference or leadership event, delves into the crucial role of courage in leadership. With historical examples, thought-provoking questions, and practical advice, it inspires the audience to tap into their bravery and lead with integrity. The speech acknowledges the challenges of courageous leadership while offering a compelling call to action.

Long Leadership Speech (800 words)

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

It is my privilege to stand before you today as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our organization over the past year. As I reflect on all that we have accomplished together, I am struck not just by the tangible results – the record-breaking sales, the groundbreaking innovations, the impactful initiatives – but by the intangible qualities that have made these successes possible.

Qualities like resilience when faced with unprecedented challenges. Like creativity in finding solutions where others saw only obstacles. Like unity in working towards a common goal, despite our diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

These are the qualities that define us as an organization. They are the secret ingredients in our recipe for success, the driving forces behind our ability to not just weather storms, but to emerge from them stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.

And make no mistake, this past year has brought its fair share of storms. A global pandemic that upended the way we work and live. The economic uncertainty that tested our financial resilience. Social and political turbulence that challenged our values and our resolve.

When faced with these challenges, it would have been easy to hunker down, to play it safe, to focus solely on survival. But that is not who we are. Instead, we saw opportunity where others saw only crisis. We adapted, we innovated, we grew. We proved that our commitment to excellence, to each other, and the greater good is unshakeable.

I want to take a moment to recognize some of the specific ways this commitment has manifested over the past year:

• Our rapid pivot to remote work, allowed us to continue serving our clients seamlessly while prioritizing the health and safety of our employees.
• Our development of [product/initiative], not only met a critical market need but also advanced our mission of [insert mission].
• Our unwavering support for our communities through [CSR initiatives], even as we navigated our challenges.

These are just a few examples among many. In every department, at every level, and across every geography, I have witnessed countless acts of leadership, ingenuity, and compassion. You have shown that our strength lies not in the absence of adversity, but in our response to it.

But even as we celebrate these triumphs, we know that our work is far from over. The world around us continues to change at a dizzying pace, presenting new challenges and opportunities at every turn. To continue thriving in this environment, we must not just adapt to change, but lead it.

This means continuing to invest in our people, their skills, their well-being, and their growth. It means fostering a culture of continuous learning, where we not only welcome new ideas but actively seek them out. It means being unafraid to question the status quo, to experiment, to fail fast, and to learn faster.

Above all, it means never losing sight of our north star – our purpose, our values, and our commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Because it is this sense of purpose that will guide us through whatever challenges lie ahead, and that will continue to inspire us to be better tomorrow than we are today.

So as we step into a new year, a new chapter, I invite every one of you to recommit to this purpose. To bring your whole selves to the work, your passion, your creativity, your unique perspectives. To support and challenge each other, to push beyond what is comfortable, and to aim not just for success, but for significance.

Together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Together, we will not just navigate the future, but shape it. Together, we will continue to prove that [Company Name] is not just a business, but a force for good in the world.

Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and your unwavering commitment to our shared mission. I am honored to lead this incredible organization, and I am excited to see what heights we will reach together in the year ahead.

Here’s to the future, and to creating it together. Cheers!

Commentary: This speech, appropriate for an annual company meeting or celebration, reflects on the challenges and triumphs of the past year while casting an inspiring vision for the future. It highlights specific organizational achievements, acknowledges the contributions of the team, and emphasizes the importance of purpose, adaptability, and continuous learning. The speech strikes a balance between celebration and forward-thinking, leaving the audience energized for the year ahead.

Lengthy Leadership Speech (1000 words)

Friends, colleagues, partners – thank you for being here today. It is an honor to stand before you as we mark this important milestone in our company’s history.

Today, as we cut the ribbon on our new global headquarters, we are not just celebrating a building. We are celebrating a vision – a vision of a company that started small, with just a handful of people and a big idea, and grew into a global force for innovation and progress.

I want to take you back to where it all began. [Number] years ago, in a tiny office not far from here, a group of us sat around a table and dared to dream. We dreamed of creating a company that would not just make a profit, but make a difference. A company that would be a leader not just in our industry, but in our communities. A company that would be known not just for what we do, but for who we are and what we stand for.

Over the years, that dream has faced its share of challenges. There were times when growth seemed impossible, when setbacks felt insurmountable when the easier path would have been to compromise our values or abandon our vision.

But we persevered. We persevered because we believed in our dreams, and more importantly, we believed in each other. We knew that the strength of our company lay not in any one individual, but in the collective power of our team.

And what a team it is. As I look out at all of you today, I see more than just employees or colleagues. I see a family. I see people who have poured their hearts and souls into this company, who have challenged us to be better, who have picked us up when we stumbled, and celebrated with us when we succeeded.

It is because of you that we stand here today. It is because of your hard work, your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to our mission that we have been able to turn that initial dream into a reality.

And what a reality it is. Today, our company spans continents and touches lives in ways we never could have imagined in those early days. Our products and services are helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from [example] to [example]. Our brand is synonymous with innovation, quality, and integrity.

But even as we have grown in size and scale, we have never lost sight of what made us who we are. We have never forgotten our roots, our values, our commitment to making a positive impact in all that we do.

This new headquarters is a testament to that commitment. It is not just a beautiful building – though it certainly is that. It is a manifestation of our values, a physical embodiment of who we are and who we aspire to be.

From the sustainable materials used in its construction to the inclusive design that welcomes people of all abilities, this building reflects our dedication to environmental and social responsibility. From the collaborative workspaces that encourage teamwork and innovation to the community spaces that welcome our neighbors and partners, it reflects our belief in the power of connection and collaboration.

From the artwork on the walls that celebrates our diversity to the very layout that puts our customers and our mission at the center of all we do, this building reflects our unwavering focus on the people we serve and the difference we seek to make.

As we look to the future, I know that this building will be more than just a workspace. It will be a hub of innovation, a place where the brightest minds come together to tackle the toughest challenges. It will be a gathering place for our community, a space where we can connect with and learn from those around us. It will be a symbol of our commitment to growth – not just financial growth, but growth in our impact, our influence, and our ability to drive positive change.

But most of all, it will be a reminder. A reminder of how far we have come, and how far we have yet to go. A reminder that our strength lies in our unity, our diversity, and our shared sense of purpose. A reminder that, together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

So as we cut this ribbon today, let us recommit ourselves to the vision that brought us here. Let us continue to dream big, to push boundaries, to challenge the status quo. Let us continue to put our people, our customers, and our communities at the heart of all we do.

And let us never forget that, while this building may be a milestone, it is not the end of our journey. It is simply the beginning of a new chapter – a chapter that we will write together, with the same passion, resilience, and ingenuity that has brought us to this moment.

Thank you all for being part of this incredible story. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Commentary: This speech, fitting for a significant corporate event such as the opening of a new headquarters, interweaves the company’s history, values, and vision with the symbolism of the new building. It acknowledges the challenges the company has faced, celebrates the contributions of the team, and positions the new headquarters as an embodiment of the company’s mission and a launching pad for future impact. The speech is both reflective and forward-looking, using storytelling to create an emotional connection with the audience while reinforcing key corporate messages.

Distinguished guests, dear friends, and esteemed colleagues,

It is my great honor to stand before you today as we celebrate the incredible journey of our organization and look toward the bright future that lies ahead.

When I think about the history of [Organization Name], I am struck by the remarkable vision, unwavering dedication, and sheer audacity of our founders. At a time when [industry/field] was dominated by the status quo, they dared to envision a different way – a way that prioritized innovation, integrity, and impact above all else.

From those humble beginnings, we have grown into an organization that spans [number] countries, employs [number] people, and touches the lives of [number] individuals every single day. We have become a leader in our field, known not just for the quality of our products and services, but for the values we embody and the difference we make in the world.

But our success has not come easily, nor has it come without sacrifice. Along the way, we have faced countless challenges – economic downturns, industry disruptions, and internal growing pains. There have been times when the future seemed uncertain and when the problems we faced seemed insurmountable.

But in those moments, we did what we have always done. We came together. We leaned on the strength of our team, the resilience of our culture, and the clarity of our purpose. We innovated, we adapted, we persevered.

And time and time again, we emerged stronger. We emerged wiser. We emerged more committed than ever to our mission of [mission statement].

That mission has been the guiding light steering our organization through every stage of our growth. It has informed every decision we’ve made, every risk we’ve taken, every opportunity we’ve pursued. It has been the unifying force that has brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and forged them into a team capable of extraordinary things.

And what a team it is. As I look out at all of you today, I am struck by the incredible talent, passion, and humanity in this room. You are the lifeblood of this organization. You are the reason we have been able to achieve so much, and you are the key to unlocking the potential that still lies ahead.

Make no mistake, our work is far from over. The challenges we face as a society – from [issue] to [issue] – are complex, multifaceted, and deeply entrenched. Solving them will require the very best of what we have to offer as individuals and as an organization.

It will require us to be bold in our thinking, nimble in our approach, and steadfast in our commitment. It will require us to leverage the power of technology while never losing sight of the human element at the heart of all we do. It will require us to collaborate across boundaries, to learn from diverse perspectives, to embrace the discomfort of growth and change.

In short, it will require us to embody the very values that have brought us to this moment – innovation, integrity, inclusion, and impact.

These are not just words on a page for us. They are the principles that guide us, the standards to which we hold ourselves accountable, and the foundation upon which we will build the future of this organization and the communities we serve.

As we look to that future, I am filled with a profound sense of hope and possibility. I see an organization that is not just a leader, but a catalyst for change. An organization that sets the standard for what it means to do well by doing good. An organization that attracts the best and brightest minds, and empowers them to bring their whole selves to the work of shaping a better world.

I see an organization that is unafraid to tackle the toughest problems, to have difficult conversations, and to be a force for progress in a world that desperately needs it. An organization that measures its success not just in profits or market share, but in the lives touched, the communities transformed, and the world bettered.

This is the [Organization Name] I see. This is the [Organization Name] we are building together. And this is the [Organization Name] that, with your continued passion, dedication, and leadership, will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible and create a future that surpasses our wildest dreams.

So today, as we celebrate all that we have achieved, let us also recommit ourselves to the work ahead. Let us dare to envision a world where [vision statement], and let us have the courage to make that vision a reality.

Together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. Together, we will continue to prove that business can be a powerful force for good in the world. Together, we will create a legacy that will endure long after we are gone.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Thank you for your hard work, your heart, and your unwavering commitment to our shared purpose.

Here’s to the future – and to creating it together.

Commentary: This speech, suitable for a major organizational anniversary or milestone, takes the audience on a journey through the organization’s past, present, and future. It celebrates the organization’s growth and impact, acknowledges the challenges overcome, and emphasizes the critical role of the team’s talent and dedication. The speech then pivots to the future, painting an inspiring vision of the organization as a catalyst for change and rallying the audience around the work ahead. Throughout, it reinforces key organizational values and uses inclusive language to create a sense of shared purpose and possibility.

These six leadership speech examples demonstrate the power of words to inspire, motivate, and unite people around a common vision.

Whether you’re delivering a short pep talk to your team or a lengthy keynote to a large audience, the key is to speak from the heart, connect with your listeners, and tap into the values and purpose that drive your organization.

Remember, as a leader, your words can shape thoughts, ignite passion, and galvanize action.

Use them wisely, boldly, and authentically, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the kind of leader that people are proud to follow.

So the next time you step up to the podium, take a deep breath, draw on the courage within you, and let your leadership voice shine through.

Your audience – and your organization – will be all the better for it.

More From Forbes

How to make a memorable executive speech: 14 expert tips.

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Executives can be called on to deliver engaging speeches in various situations, ranging from industry events to private gatherings. While you might have a lot of addresses to give as an executive, the quality shouldn't suffer because of the quantity. Speeches should engage the audience and make them think and consider new possibilities.

But how does an executive consistently deliver rousing speeches time and again? How do they engage an audience that might have heard it all before? Fourteen professionals from Forbes Agency Council share valuable tips executives should consider when crafting speeches to make them stand out in the audience's memory long after the address is over.

Members share tips for crafting and delivering an engaging, memorable executive speech.

1. Provide Value, Be Charismatic

If you use Charlie Munger's Theory of Inversion, ways by which one would forget your message would be if it provides no value, there is no enthusiasm in delivery or the thesis is convoluted. In order to have a memorable message, I'd argue, do the opposite. So, provide value, be charismatic and be concise. Your message will not be forgotten. There is no need to speak otherwise. - Phillip Hui-Bon-Hoa , Abacus Growth

2. Find One Central Message

To make your speech memorable, find one central message you want to get across. Use the three Cs to hone your message: concise, compelling and consistent. Next, use the three Ss to bring that message to life: stories to illustrate your message, statistics to emphasize your argument and soundbites to leave your audience with a power sentence they'll never forget. - Nathan Miller , Miller Ink, Inc.

3. Tell Stories That Matter To Them

Tell stories that matter to them. Don't just state facts, because as valuable as information is, it won't impact anyone without context. Share the relevance of your words and give engaging examples. Explain what your message has meant for others and what it should mean to your audience. People won't just listen; they'll share what you have to say. - Fran Biderman-Gross , Advantages

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4. Strive To Be Relatable

Be relatable. If at an industry event, tell a story that you know every person there has faced. Talk about triumph. Internally, thank your team for their wins and successes. Relating back to others evokes emotion and likens the chance that they will never forget your speech. - Nick Brucker , Sparq Designs

5. Always Be Honest

Honesty is key. I believe that as an executive, you're always trying hard to say the "right things" to the team. And in the process, you sometimes forget to speak "your truth." How do you feel? Speak the truth, regardless of how it will be perceived. This will give rise to a culture that's real and will help team members to connect with you and the rest with real, honest conversations. - Osama Khabab , MotionCue

6. Make It Interactive

Invite the audience to share their opinions and questions throughout the meeting. If your audience feels like they are being “talked to” rather than having a meaningful interaction, your message might get lost, and they may even tune you out. Actively engage your team so they remain focused. - Hannah Trivette , NUVEW Web Solutions

7. Focus On The Human Connection

No matter how important your position or the precise speech that must be delivered, you cannot leave out one element — a moment of human connection. Standing up on a stage won't get the audience to pay attention. It doesn't even matter if your message is critical. You need a human connection to make your speech matter, to make it memorable. - Dmitrii Kustov , Regex SEO

8. Bring The Right Energy

The most important thing to make a speech memorable, aside from a clear, concise message, is energy. The energy you exude while giving a speech transfers to the audience. If you bring high, passionate energy while delivering your speech, it shows your conviction behind your message. When delivering a speech, you want the audience to feel your energy; and they’ll leave saying, "Wow, what a speech." - Tony Pec , Y Not You Media

9. Make It Personal

The personal factor is definitely a big element to create rapport with an audience and a brand. Today, we care more about personal stories than general business advice. We learn and remember a lesson or a particular event when we add a personal view and experience. So, even if we represent a business, we always need to show ourselves as a person with weaknesses and strengths. - Stefano Mongardi , TheWebMate

10. Use Humor

Humor is a crucial element. You don't have to be a pro stand-up, but you do have to offer something to the people listening that isn't dry. The truth is that many of the funniest moments speaking aren't a prepared joke; they're a human, even vulnerable moment the audience isn't expecting. Stating something that's happening "right now" and "in the moment" can enliven and elevate any talk. - Danny Star , Website Depot

11. Establish A Shared World View

I have found “Resonate ” by Nancy Duarte to be an invaluable resource when preparing executive presentations. She counsels presenters to begin by establishing a shared view of the world with the audience. This allows you to establish an immediate connection so that you can then build a bridge to the "new idea" you want to introduce. - Jenni Smith , EGR International

12. Push The Envelope

Push the envelope. Challenge the status quo. Share opinions that nobody else has. Be brutally honest. Authenticity is the key to engagement. If you're regurgitating the same info everyone else does, you'll lose interest fast. If you're 20% crazier than everyone else that speaks to your audience, they'll pay attention — regardless of whether they agree or not. - Josh Sample , Drive Social Media Saint Louis

13. Use The Basics Of Storytelling

Giving a speech just describes the format and set-up. It is not an excuse to ignore the basics of storytelling — develop a conflict that gets resolved after going through some trouble. It sounds trivial, but the biggest impact comes from stories people remember as they can relate to them emotionally. - Lars Voedisch , PRecious Communications

14. Make Sure You're Making An Impact

One thing that is very important is making sure that you are making an impact. The impact needs to be something that is memorable, as well as something that is going to help others. Knowing that you are going to make an impact and saying something meaningful is very important. - Jon James , Ignited Results

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Leadership Speech

Leadership speech generator.

Leadership is a character a lot of us wants yet only a few can master. Being a leader entails great responsibility. Speech writing could be a challenge for some but for a leader, it is more of a necessity. It requires both the mind and the spirit to come up with a powerful speech.

A leadership speech could be likened to a keynote speech because it stirs emotions among the audience. However, a leadership is more of an encouragement message. It should be filled with words of unity, camaraderie, and trust. Let us discuss in great detail what a leadership speech is.

Short Leadership Speech

Size: 66 KB

School Speech

Size: 55 KB

What Is  a Leadership Speech?

A leadership speech is a particular kind of speech that is used to deliver a strong message with the purpose of influencing others and providing inspiration when necessary. It is a composition designed with the objective to motivational speech others, lead them in the right direction, and drive them towards a common goal.

Although most speeches require to use proper language to deliver a message, a leadership speech takes more than that. The language to be used should be easily understood by the audience yet able to convey a strong and powerful effect.

Leadership Conference

Size: 392 KB

School Captain Speech

Size: 543 KB

How to Give a Leadership Speech

In order to give an inspiring leadership speech, you need to have the spirit and heart of a true leader. Here are some tips for you.

1. Be Confident.

Confidence is the first thing you need to practice before delivering a leadership speech in pdf . If you do not sound confident, your audience will see as weak and an inefficient leader.

2. Show Enthusiasm.

If you happen to read some welcome speech examples, you will know that they have a common denominator, i.e., it is filled with energy and emotion. You should be able to convey the right emotion to your audience.

3. Use Body Language.

You cannot just stand in front o everybody and read your lines. You have to use hand gestures and other parts of your body to send your message.

Leadership Elevator

Size: 113 KB

High School Speech

Size: 94 KB

Leadership Motivational

Tips for an Effective Leadership Speech

When you write your speech , make sure to use proper language and style. Here are a few tips for you.

1. Start with a Strong Opening.

This is always an essential key in any speech. You have to start strong. Remember that you have to catch your audience’s attention.

2. Create an Outline.

When presenting speech make sure to prioritize the important ones. In addition to that, organize your thoughts for a clearer message.

3. Develop a Connection.

Always bear in mind that in order for your message to be understood, you need to have a connection with the crowd. You may also see appreciation speech examples & samples.

High School Graduation Speech

Size: 75 KB

Effective Leadership Speech

Size: 10 KB

International Women’s Day Leadership Speech

Size: 70 KB

Leader’s Breakfast Speech

Size: 71 KB

Benefits of a Leadership Speech

Delivering speeches has always been proven an effective way to send out important message. It can change the course of history. Graduation speech examples have always united the spirit of students although the celebration means they are separating their ways.

A leadership speech word in the same way acts as an instrument to ignite emotions and encourage others. People who do not have a voice in the society consider it an opportunity to be heard and acknowledge specially if the leader understands their sentiments. It is through the leader’s speech that the rest of the members’ thoughts are brought out in the open.

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Create a leadership speech for a corporate team-building event

2. Help me write a leadership speech for a school leadership program

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Speech About Leadership and Responsibility

Have you been called upon to give an inspirational speech on leadership and responsibility? But you are not sure, what to include in the speech, how to start or end the speech. Check the sample speech here and use it as your guide.

Motivational Address on Leadership & Responsibility

“Friends, respected guests, and fellow community members, I am here today to talk about something really important – being a leader and taking responsibility. In our fast-changing world, we really need good leaders who take their role seriously. Being a leader is not just about being in charge; it is about using honesty, kindness, and strong commitment to make our society better. Being a leader means inspiring and guiding people to work together towards a common goal. A true leader shows kindness, stays humble, and never gives up. They pave the way for society to grow and get better. We see many examples of great leaders in history who have made a big impact on so many lives through their dedication and taking their responsibilities seriously. Great leaders know that it’s not about showing off, but instead helping others to do the best they can. They present themselves as symbols of hope and positivity, motivating their group members to strive for the best. These leaders take complete responsibility for their actions, leading by example and creating an environment where everyone feels valued. Being a leader and having responsibility go hand in hand. A leader can’t ignore their duties and still expect people to stay loyal. Responsibility requires being open, honest, accepting mistakes, and learning from them. During difficult times, leaders stand out, providing comfort and guidance to their team through tough situations. They own up to their mistakes and give credit to their team for success, promoting a culture where everyone takes responsibility together. Leadership today also involves thinking globally . Leaders must tackle big issues like climate change, economic inequality, and social unfairness. Leaders need to look after not just people close to them but also people all over the world. To solve worldwide problems we need worldwide solutions, therefore leaders need to work together regardless of politics or geography. We live in a time where technology is advancing quickly, bringing both benefits and issues. Leaders in technology must tackle hard questions concerning privacy, artificial intelligence, and automation. Truly great leaders are those who make sure that technological progress is done ethically considering humanity’s interests. Education is another place where leadership and responsibility are strongly connected. Leaders in education help shape the future generations’ minds. They need to encourage students to think critically, show empathy towards others, and properly understand their responsibilities. But remember- leadership isn’t only for those in authority positions. Each one of us can showcase leadership within our own lives – in our families, workplaces or communities. Being a responsible leader means thinking about our actions’ effect on others, welcoming diversity and showing empathy towards others. To cap it off, leadership can’t exist without responsibility – if you have authority but no sense of duty, you’re not going to be able to make things better. As we move forward into an unknown future, it’s crucial we remember that real leaders carry the responsibility of guiding others towards a better tomorrow with inclusiveness always kept in mind. Let us all aim to become the leaders our world needs – caring, responsible leaders who intend to make difference for betterment of societies across globe. Thank you.”

Features of Leadership

• Influence: Leadership is a trait that inspires others, altering their behavior and mindset to synergize towards common objectives.
• Interpersonal Process: The relationship between a leader and their followers significantly determines the achievement of organizational goals.
• Achieving Organizational Goals: Leaders unify efforts towards shared business objectives.
• Continuous Process: Leadership is a perpetual journey, requiring constant guidance and direction to keep the team aligned.
• Group Process: Leadership thrives in collective effort, fostering interaction and solution-driven dialogues.
• Situation Dependent: Effective leadership is adaptable, molding itself as per the current circumstances.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Leader

A leader wears multiple hats, playing numerous roles that contribute to the overall success of the organization. These responsibilities vary but typically include the following:

Short Speech on Leadership Qualities

A great leader, above all, is known by their work ethics and the trust they instill in their team. This trust is earned through consistent actions, leading by example, and offering guidance even in challenging times. Renowned leaders like Nelson Mandela , Mahatma Gandhi, and Barack Obama showcased an unwavering commitment to their goals and a deep respect for every individual. The pathway to such leadership isn’t easy or swift but is marked by patience, understanding, and perseverance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is the importance of a leadership speech.

A leadership speech plays a crucial role in inspiring and motivating individuals to embrace their potential as leaders. It provides insights into the traits and qualities of effective leadership, emphasizing the significance of leading by example, making informed decisions, and fostering a productive environment. As John Maxwell aptly puts it, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

2. What is the role of leadership?

Leadership involves guiding, organizing, and managing a team toward a shared objective. Leaders are visionaries who motivate their teams and foster a conducive environment for growth. The roles of a leader can vary from training and mentoring to decision-making and conflict resolution. They may employ different leadership styles such as transactional, transformational, autocratic, or democratic based on the context and the team’s needs.

3. How do you introduce yourself in a leadership speech?

Introducing oneself in a leadership speech requires a careful balance of authority and humility. It’s essential to communicate your values, vision, and expectations clearly while also expressing your eagerness to learn and grow with the team. The way you deliver this speech can significantly impact the team’s perception of you, emphasizing the importance of preparing and practicing your speech. Strive to make your introduction an accurate reflection of your leadership style and ethos.

Ryan is a car enthusiast and an accomplished team builder passionate about crafting captivating narratives. Known for his ability to transport readers to other worlds, his writing has garnered attention and a dedicated following. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Ryan continues to weave literary magic in every word he writes.

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Mastering Speech On Leadership Qualities and Skills

• January 15, 2024

Ever thought about how some leaders can say things that stick with us forever? Speech on leadership qualities by leaders are like magic words that can change the course of history. They’re not just talking— a true leader guides , inspires, and makes a big impact.

As we dig into speech on  leadership qualities , we want to figure out why some words become so powerful. What’s the secret sauce that turns a bunch of sentences into something that shapes the future? Come along as we figure out the mysteries of leadership speeches. We’re diving into how simple words can have a huge impact and how great leaders use speeches to change the world. Let’s get started!

10 Speeches Of A Good Leader

Let’s explore impactful speeches that changed the world. From times of war to moments of hope, these speeches made history.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech

In the heart of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “ I Have a Dream ” speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Facing a crowd of over 250,000 people, King spoke passionately about racial equality and justice.

This speech became a defining moment in the fight against racial discrimination. King’s words echoed across the nation, inspiring millions to join the struggle for civil rights. The speech contributed significantly to passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 , landmark legislations that dismantled segregation and protected voting rights for African Americans.

King’s dream wasn’t just for him; it was a vision of a more just and equal America, which made him a great leader. His speech became a rallying cry for those seeking an end to racial injustice. Its enduring impact is evident today, as King’s dream continues to shape conversations about equality and justice worldwide.

Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” Speech (1940)

Winston Churchill delivered his famous speech, “ We Shall Fight on the Beaches ,” to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, during World War II. The speech was a response to the evacuation of British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk .

Churchill’s resolute words provided a rallying cry for the British people in the face of imminent invasion by Nazi forces. The speech bolstered national morale and determination during a critical juncture of the war. 

Churchill’s speech is remembered as a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. It is an enduring symbol of determination and the refusal to succumb to tyranny. The words “We shall never surrender” inspire individuals and nations confronting challenges.

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863)

In the middle of the Civil War in America, thousands of soldiers lost their lives in a battle at Gettysburg . It was a tough time for the country, and people were feeling sad and divided. After the battle, Abraham Lincoln stood in a cemetery to honour the soldiers who died and to remind everyone of the principles the nation was built upon.

Lincoln’s short but powerful speech focused on unity and the idea that a nation dedicated to freedom and equality should stay strong. It was a call to action , urging people to work together to make sure the country stayed united and that the principles of liberty and equality didn’t fade away.

This speech is remembered because Lincoln reminded everyone in just a few words of the importance of a united nation. He made people think about the sacrifices of the soldiers and the principles that make America special. The Gettysburg Address became a symbol of national unity and a commitment to the ideals that the United States was built upon. Even today, it’s one of American history’s greatest speeches.

Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural Address (1994)

In 1994, South Africa went through a significant change. Nelson Mandela became the first black President, marking the end of apartheid —a system that segregated people based on race. His inaugural address was a crucial moment in the nation’s history.

Mandela’s inaugural address was a call for reconciliation and unity. He emphasised forgiveness and the need to move forward as a united nation. It set the tone for a new era, promoting equality and understanding among South Africans. 

This speech is significant because it signalled the end of a dark period in South Africa’s history. Mandela’s words were a commitment to building a nation where everyone, regardless of their race, could live in harmony. The inaugural address was a cornerstone in the journey towards reconciliation, and Mandela’s  leadership  became a beacon for peaceful coexistence and the dismantling of apartheid.

Steve Jobs’ iPhone Introduction (2007)

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs took the stage at the Macworld Conference & Expo to introduce a revolutionary device that would change the landscape of technology—the iPhone. Jobs began by emphasising Apple’s intention to reinvent the phone , unveiling a product that seamlessly combined an iPod, a phone, and an Internet communicator.

Jobs’ announcement of the iPhone marked a watershed moment in the tech industry. The sleek design, innovative features, and the convergence of multiple functionalities into one device captivated the audience and set a new standard for smartphones.

The introduction of the iPhone transformed Apple’s trajectory and revolutionised the entire smartphone industry. Jobs’ visionary presentation showcased the device’s capabilities and created immense anticipation and excitement among consumers and competitors alike. The iPhone’s launch redefined user expectations and set the stage for a new mobile communication and computing era.

Malala Yousafzai’s United Nations Speech (2013)

In 2013, Malala Yousafzai , a young Pakistani activist, addressed the United Nations on her sixteenth birthday. Malala had survived an attack by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education, and her speech was a powerful plea for the right to education for all children, especially girls.

Malala’s speech brought attention to the importance of education and the challenges faced by girls in many parts of the world. It sparked a global conversation on the right to education and the empowerment of young people, especially girls, in societies where education is often denied.

This speech is significant because it highlights the bravery of a young girl standing up for what she believed in. Malala’s words transcended her personal experience, becoming a rallying cry for the universal right to education. The speech inspired movements and initiatives focused on ensuring access to education for all children, regardless of their gender or background. Malala’s advocacy continues to make a lasting impact on the fight for educational opportunities worldwide.

Emma Gonzalez’s March for Our Lives Speech (2018)

In the aftermath of the tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Emma Gonzalez, a survivor and student activist, delivered a powerful speech during the March for Our Lives rally. The event called for stricter gun control measures in the United States.

Emma’s speech became a rallying cry for the movement against gun violence. Her raw honesty and determination captured the frustration and anger of many young people demanding action on gun control. The March for Our Lives movement gained momentum and drew attention to the urgent need for reform.

This speech is crucial because it amplified the voices of young activists advocating for safer schools and stricter gun control. Emma’s direct and passionate words resonated with a generation tired of living in fear of gun violence. The March for Our Lives movement, sparked by speeches like Emma’s, contributed to a national conversation about gun policy, prompting discussions on how to make communities safer and protect the lives of students.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address (1941)

On December 7, 1941, the United States faced a surprise attack by Japan at Pearl Harbor , leading to the country’s entry into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation the next day, delivering a speech that would shape the course of American history.

FDR’s speech motivated the American people, uniting them in the face of a devastating attack. It led to the United States officially entering World War II , with the president rallying the nation to respond to the aggression and defend democratic values.

This speech is a pivotal moment in history because it marked the turning point for the United States in World War II. Roosevelt’s words reflected the shock and determination of a nation suddenly thrust into a global conflict. The phrase “a date which will live in infamy” became synonymous with the attack and mobilised the country for a unified response against the Axis powers. The speech remains an iconic call to action during a time of great challenge and sacrifice.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Speech (1942)

In 1942, during India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule, Mahatma Gandhi delivered the “ Quit India” speech . He urged the British to leave India, emphasising nonviolent resistance as the means to achieve freedom.

Gandhi’s speech motivated the Indian masses to join the Quit India Movement , a pivotal chapter in the fight for independence. The call for nonviolent resistance inspired millions to peacefully demand an end to British rule.

This speech is significant because it marked a crucial turning point in India’s struggle for independence. Gandhi’s call for nonviolence and mass participation stirred a nationwide movement against colonial rule. The Quit India Movement led to widespread civil disobedience and protests, ultimately contributing to India gaining independence in 1947. Gandhi’s emphasis on nonviolence and unity became a guiding principle for liberation movements worldwide.

Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” (1987)

In the middle of the Cold War , with East and West Germany divided by the Berlin Wall, President Ronald Reagan delivered a historic speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. The speech urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to bring down the Berlin Wall and symbolised a call for freedom.

Reagan’s words became an iconic moment, expressing a powerful demand for the reunification of East and West Germany and the end of Cold War divisions. The speech inspired hope for a world without ideological barriers.

This speech is remembered for its boldness and the message it conveyed. Reagan’s direct challenge to Gorbachev demonstrated the unwavering commitment to freedom and the belief that the Berlin Wall was a symbol of oppression that needed to come down. The eventual fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany marked the end of an era and a significant step toward the conclusion of the Cold War.

Moving from talking about giving powerful speeches, let’s now look at the essential qualities that make  leadership communication  effective.

Exploring Speech On Leadership Qualities

In this section, we break down what makes a leader’s speech truly powerful.

Clarity and vision: A leader articulates a clear vision for the future, ensuring their message is easily understood. A well-defined vision guides both the speaker and the audience towards common goals.

Empathy and connection: Effective leaders connect emotionally with their audience. They express empathy, understanding the concerns and aspirations of those they lead, fostering a sense of unity.

Inspiration and motivation: A leader inspires by instilling a sense of purpose and motivation. Their words spark enthusiasm and a collective drive to achieve shared objectives.

Adaptability and resilience: A leader’s speech should reflect adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges. Acknowledging difficulties while expressing confidence in overcoming them builds trust.

Authenticity: Authenticity is key. A leader speaks genuinely, aligning their words with their beliefs. Authenticity builds trust and credibility among the audience.

Effective communication: A leader communicates with precision and impact. They choose words that resonate, crafting messages that are both persuasive and easily understood by diverse audiences.

Importance Of Speech On Leadership

Leadership speeches are more than just spoken words; they are transformative forces that shape the course of nations and individuals alike.

Here, we go into the depths of understanding why these speeches matter and their far-reaching impact:

Inspiring collective action: Leadership speeches serve as catalysts, inspiring individuals to join forces toward a common goal. By fostering a shared sense of purpose and motivation, leaders mobilise communities to take collective action.

Framing a shared vision: These speeches articulate a compelling vision for the future, providing a roadmap for progress. A leader uses their words to create a shared narrative that aligns followers with a common direction and purpose.

Building trust and unity: A well-delivered speech builds trust among followers, forging strong bonds within a community. By acknowledging challenges, expressing empathy, and offering solutions, leaders create an environment of unity and collaboration.

Guiding through uncertainty: In times of uncertainty, leadership speeches offer stability and assurance. Leaders communicate a sense of confidence, providing guidance and fostering resilience among followers facing challenges and adversity.

Cultural and historical legacy: Iconic leadership speeches become integral to the cultural and historical fabric of a society. They stand as enduring symbols of pivotal moments, reflecting the values, struggles, and triumphs of a community or nation.

Writing A Speech On Leadership

Crafting a leadership speech is an art that requires a thoughtful blend of substance, style, and strategic communication. Here’s a deep dive into the key elements, frameworks, techniques, and resources for writing a compelling leadership speech

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective communication. Employing the Empathy Map framework allows you to delve into the minds of your listeners, uncovering their perspectives, desires, and challenges. By conducting surveys or interviews, you gain direct insights, ensuring your speech resonates with the audience on a personal level. Utilise online demographic tools and social media analytics as resources to refine your understanding. The importance lies in forging a deep connection, fostering a sense of relatability that enhances the impact of your message.

Define a Clear Message

The clarity of your message is paramount in capturing and retaining your audience’s attention. The Message Box framework aids in defining your core message, supporting points, and audience benefits. Crafting a concise elevator pitch condenses your message for impact. Explore writing guides and templates to ensure precision. The importance here is in creating a well-defined narrative that not only informs but leaves a lasting impression, guiding your audience toward a distinct takeaway.

Structure with Purpose

Structuring your speech with purpose ensures coherence and engagement. Employ the Problem-Agitate-Solution (PAS) framework to organise your content effectively. Weave a compelling narrative using storytelling techniques like the Hero’s Journey , captivating your audience from start to finish. Use speech writing software and templates as resources to guide your structural choices. The importance lies in providing a clear path for your audience to follow, enhancing the overall impact of your message.

Infuse Authenticity

Authenticity is the bedrock of impactful leadership speeches. Utilise the Johari Window framework to enhance self-awareness, allowing your authentic self to shine through. Share personal anecdotes and experiences that align with your message, creating a genuine connection with your audience. Seek guidance from public speaking coaches and TED Talks on authenticity to refine your approach. The importance here is in building trust, as authenticity fosters a deeper connection and resonates with your audience’s own experiences.

Utilise Engaging Techniques

Engagement is the key to holding your audience’s attention. Apply the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence framework to organise your speech for maximum impact. Incorporate the Rule of Three , using triads to make your speech rhythmic and memorable. Explore public speaking courses , books on rhetorical techniques, and speech analysis tools as valuable resources. The importance lies in creating a dynamic and memorable experience, ensuring your audience is not just informed but actively involved in the message you convey.

Power Of Leadership Speeches

In conclusion, it’s clear how powerful leadership speeches are—they shape societies and ignite positive change. Think of the qualities of impactful speeches, like building blocks that make a lasting impact. For leaders aiming to craft speeches that stand the test of time, embracing audience understanding, clear messaging, structural purpose, authenticity, and engaging techniques is key. Let these insights be your guide, ensuring your words don’t just inform but also inspire, guide, and leave a mark on everyone’s minds. As leaders step onto the stage, here’s to their messages resonating, creating waves of positive influence that last through the ages.

Rishabh Bhandari

Rishabh Bhandari is the Content Strategist at Kapable. Rishabh likes to transform complex ideas into captivating narratives relatable to the target audience. He loves telling stories through his content. He believes that stories have the power to shift mindsets and move mountains. He has 3 years of experience in educational blog writing and copywriting.

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How to Speak as a Leader: The Power of Performance

Do you employ the power of performance when you take the stage? Here's how to achieve true leadership in your next high-stakes speech or presentation.

Leadership is performance. And nowhere is this truer than in public speaking.

In the drama observed by stakeholders in your organization or industry, you have the starring role. The most successful leaders have an intuitive sense of theater, performing many roles and convincing others to play their parts.

But your ability to perform well doesn't only matter when you’re on a stage! Whenever you interact with others, you’re in the spotlight. People make judgments about you based on the way you speak, sound, move, and interact with the world.

Want to increase your ability to speak as a leader? Learn how to shape your message, connect with audience members, and use your body language and voice to speak with increased impact. Download my essential cheat sheet ,  Leadership Skills: The 5 Essential Speaking Techniques . 

So, are you ready to speak to lead? 

Tapping Into Your Natural Talents as a Speaker 

Learning to speak as a leader will transform the most important component of your personal and organizational success: effective communication. In a recent survey conducted by the presentation software company Prezi, 70 percent of working Americans agreed that presentation skills are critical to their career success. [1] And a Harvard Business Review survey showed that communication and presentation skills are among the C-suite level competencies that companies prize most. [2] Another HBR article said it all in the title: “Leadership Is a Conversation.” [3]

The good news is that to embody the qualities of a leader when you speak, your most powerful strategy is a simple one: tapping into your natural talents. Public speaking, that is, reflects who you are.

Should any role be easier for you?

What can send you down the wrong path where public speaking is concerned, however, is the idea that giving a speech is something special . You may see it as an out-of-the-ordinary event, a moment of high visibility in which you need to rise above your ordinary competencies. But the truth is, you’re always performing!

Public Speaking Is Just One More Performance

You know the phrase, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”? Well, you’re already doing it. Throughout each day, you adjust your demeanor and behavior based on the needs of the people and situation you’re facing. The “you” presenting to your board is different from the you at home with loved ones, out with old high-school friends, or trying to talk your way out of a speeding ticket!

The sooner you realize that even a high-profile speaking event is just another opportunity to perform, the more readily you’ll let yourself be yourself. That’s important, because audiences just want the real you. Any attempt to look and sound “excellent” will advertise itself as that. Listeners truly want to know you and to connect with you . Here are  5 ways to find out if you're an authentic speaker and boost your credibility .

You already have the knowledge, expertise, and experience that got you to this place. Now, all you need is to let your natural talents come through—perhaps with some help from the best practices in spoken performance.

Raising the Bar on Your Speeches

It’s time, then, to recalibrate: to consider how you’ll reach the next level and truly speak as a leader. To do that, you need to understand the presentational art. More about that in a moment. But first, here are three “mantras” you can keep in mind to give yourself a winning ticket in the Public Speaking Memorability Sweepstakes:

• Pay more attention to your purpose than your content. Chances are, you already have subject matter expertise coming out of your ears. But do you know how to conduct an audience analysis for business presentations , to be clear on your purpose? 
• Establish rapport and connect with audiences . Do you give some thought and practice time to accomplishing this essential act of speaking for leadership? Do you know, for instance,  how to master a conversational style with a large audience ? Have you watched videotaped speeches you’ve given to observe whether it’s happening? (If you don’t routinely have someone videotape your speeches, start now!)
• Be action-oriented. At the height of America's "space race" with the Soviet Union in May 1961, President John F. Kennedy boldly declared: " I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." We achieved that goal on July 20, 1969, the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. As a speaker in your own profession, you should follow Kennedy's lead by learning how to woo an audience and move people to action . It's one of the best ways—sometimes the only way—to measure the success of your speeches.

Take a Page . . . and Take the Stage!

But your best guide for raising the bar in speaking for leadership, is to take a page from the actor’s art. Stage actors (as opposed to movie and TV actors) must project their persona across a considerable amount of space to achieve stage presence.

Consider this: the distance from the front of the stage to the last row of the orchestra in a Broadway theater may be 150 feet—and even longer when one or more balconies are included! 

What's your on-stage "size?" Looking and moving confidently in public speaking is a clear mandate for leading others. Whatever the content of your message, your physicality needs to match your material in terms of impact. Make your movement, gestures, and overall level of energy  exactly large enough to reach the person farthest from you.  You'll create just the right "size" for your speech in terms of the audience and venue.

Okay, you may not be acting a role with the need to be heard in the last row without a microphone. But you may be amazed at the ways acting and business speaking are similar . For instance, the stage art and speaking to lead share this important fact: To communicate with your audience in public speaking, you must cultivate the ability to reach all the members of a large group. That means developing and projecting physical presence .

Whether it’s gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, or your use of the stage, you need to become comfortable in the art of presenting not just information, but yourself. Yes, you will need to become larger than life. But you’ll embrace your listeners, every one of them in the space you’re speaking in, by doing so. 

Finally, as a leader, you have a need to persuade and activate key stakeholders and "tough crowds," from employees to boards to external audiences. Clearly, this requires more than great platform skills. Public speaking audiences have sensitive antennae when it comes to a leader’s authenticity and credibility. That’s when  your  qualities as a selfless leader who's concerned with giving listeners his or her best will increase your power in the public speaking arena. 

[ 1 ] Carmine Gallo, “New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills Are Critical for Career Success,” Forbes , September 25, 2014.

[2] Boris Groysberg, “The Seven Skills You Need to Thrive in the C-Suite,” Harvard Business Review, March 18, 2014.

[3] Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind, “Leadership Is a Conversation,” Harvard Business Review, June 2012.

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Politicians and other public figures deploy particular rhetorical devices to communicate their ideas and to convince people, and it’s time that we all learned how to use them, says speechwriter Simon Lancaster.

This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

There is a secret language of leadership — and it’s one that anyone can learn, says UK speechwriter Simon Lancaster in a TEDxVerona talk . He has made a career out of crafting addresses, remarks and talks for top politicians and CEOs of international corporations such as Nestle and Unilever, and continues to do so . Refreshingly, rather than clinging Gollum-like to what he’s learned and knows, he believes everyone should have access to the same tools that he and his colleagues use.

By tools, he’s not talking about special software or databases — he’s referring to rhetoric. Rhetoric has its roots in ancient Greece ( think: Aristotle ) as clear, convincing speech was seen as an essential component of communication and participation in a democracy. Instruction in rhetoric remained part of the curriculum in many secondary schools in Europe and the US until the 19th century.

“The reason we all used to learn rhetoric at school was because it was seen as a basic entry point to society,” explains Lancaster, who is based in London. “How could society be fair, unless everyone had equal ability to articulate and express themselves? Without it, your legal systems, your political systems, your financial systems are not fair.”

Yes, the power to persuade is just that — power.

Lancaster states there is only one school in England that still teaches rhetoric: Eton, the alma mater of 20 Prime Ministers (including current officeholder, Boris Johnson). He adds, “It should be of intense concern to all of us that education in this has been narrowed to a very small … elite.”

While Lancaster can’t send the world to Eton, he can share the 6 rhetorical building blocks needed to speak persuasively. Here they are:

Building block #1: Breathless sentences or phrases

Barack Obama gave an acceptance speech for the ages in 2008 after he was first elected president of the US. He spoke vividly of the challenges that lay ahead for the country: “Even as we celebrate tonight, we know that the challenges tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime: Two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.”

Lancaster wants us to pay special attention to the last part of that sentence, the “two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century” part. Yes, it’s a stressful mouthful — not just because of the content but because of how it’s delivered. Short, staccato phrases like these mimic how we speak when we’re anxious and in a hurry. This technique helps communicate urgency to an audience.

Building block #2: Speaking in 3s

What’s the other rhetorical trick underlying “two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century”? The rule of 3.

Humans are accustomed to things coming in 3s: whether it’s judges on American Idol , bowls of porridge in a fairy tale , or sides in a triangle. Our minds and ears have been trained by speeches (Abraham Lincoln’s “government of the people, for the people, by the people”); slogans (reduce, reuse, recycle); and book titles ( Elizabeth Gilbert ‘s memoir Eat, Pray, Love ). “You put your argument in 3s, it makes it sound more compelling, more convincing, more credible. Just like that,” says Lancaster.

Recall British PM Winston Churchill’s stirring triplet from the speech he delivered to Parliament on June 4, 1940 : “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight on the fields and in the streets.” Besides the rule of 3, he gave the line additional rhetorical firepower by repeating the opening clause.

Lancaster explains, “When we are emotional about things, our perspective distorts, and this then manifests in our speech. So this is the authentic sound of passion.” Doing this can catch an audience in the speaker’s enthusiasm.

Building block #3: Balanced statements

“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” It’s a line from president John F Kennedy’s inspiring 1961 inaugural address , and one that’s stood the test of time. Why? Its balanced construction, says Lancaster. “If the sentence sounds as if it’s balanced, we imagine that the underlying thinking is balanced and our brain is tuned to like things that are balanced.”

Grouping balanced statements in 3s further amplifies the effect:

“We’re looking to the future, not the past.

We’re working together, not against one another.

We’re thinking about what we can do, not what we can’t.”

Building block #4: Metaphor

According to Lancaster, people use a metaphor once every 16 words on average ( side question: Where do statistics like this even come from? ). He declares, “Metaphor is probably the most powerful piece of political communication.”

Metaphors are rich in imagery and awake immediate feelings in people, so it follows that politicians love them and sprinkle them like birdseed (“like birdseed” is a simile, not a metaphor , and similes are other strong rhetorical tools to have in your kit). At times, they can employ them to point us to an ideal or aspiration. For example, in his farewell address , president Ronald Reagan movingly invoked America, h/t to John Winthrop, as a “shining city upon the hill.”

Too often, however, metaphors are used to manipulate, incite and denigrate. Politicians and talking heads could have called the 2015-16 refugee encampment in Calais, France, a “refugee camp” or “refugee settlement.” Instead, they deployed this loaded word: “jungle.” Lancaster says,“It’s planting in your mind the idea that migrants are like wild animals to be afraid of, that they are dangerous, that they represent a threat to you. This is a very dangerous metaphor because this is the language of genocide; it’s the language of hate.” Unfortunately, media outlets picked up “Calais jungle” and used it as their shorthand identifier of the camp, extending the metaphor’s reach.

Building block #5: Exaggeration

In the same way that we get breathless when they’re speaking with passion, our speech distorts in another significant way. We exaggerate. So when we’re sitting down to a meal after having eaten little that day, we tell our family and friends: “I love this pizza.” But when we say things like this to each other, we also realize it’s a bit of distortion: We do not love the pizza in the same way that we love our children or parents or the planet, and everyone present knows that.

Similarly, politicians and leaders might say things like “I’ve waited my whole life to say these words” or “I will work to achieve this with all my heart and soul.” These utterances are indeed over the top, but because they’re acceptable and even welcome since they echo how we speak.

Building block #6: Rhyming

Starting from childhood, many of us are taught concepts through rhymes — such as “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” or “i before e except after c.” With their musicality, they’re a pleasing informational snack that sticks in memories like a musical earworm .

Rhymes can seem corny, but sprinkled in at the right time, they can be incredibly potent. We all  remember the pithy “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” from defense attorney Johnnie Cochran during O.J. Simpson’s 1995 murder trial.

Rhyming’s appeal comes “down to what linguists talk about as the processing fluency of language — how easy is language to swallow?” says Lancaster. “If you speak using long words and long sentences, it’s like giving someone a steak and asking them to swallow it. Whereas if you give them something pithy, like a rhyme, it’s like asking them to just sip on some Prosecco.”

These six tricks can help us speak directly to people’s instinctive, emotional and logical brains, and they are extremely effective, says Lancaster. There’s no need for us to be in the public eye to use them in order to sway others or make our words stay in people’s minds. Even if we never employ them in our own lives, it’s equally important for us to recognize them. Politicians, con artists and advertisers utilize them to win votes, spread opinions, or sell products people don’t need. By being alert to these rhetorical devices, we can be better citizens and consumers.

To learn more about rhetoric, watch this:

Watch Simon Lancaster’s TEDxVerona talk here:

About the author

Daryl Chen is the Ideas Editor at TED.

• how to be a better human
• public speaking
• simon lancaster

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Leadership Speaking Definition, Process, Benefits & Strategies

July 11, 2017 | Category: Blog , Intelligent Leadership , Speaking

In an age of soundbites and 140-character missives, is the art of oration relevant anymore? It may be more relevant than ever, actually. If anything can break through the background noise of convenient aphorisms and bumper-sticker politics, it’s a truly well-crafted, tub-thumper of a speech, whatever the topic. As cynicism and skepticism become almost baseline 21st-century emotions, there is tremendous power in having our world upended for half an hour while we look at a topic with a fresh perspective, guided by someone who knows both the subject matter and how to connect with an audience.

Most of us who have been around for a while have experienced the unique power of a beautifully delivered speech, appeal, sermon, or declaration, and it can be something we remember for the rest of our lives. There are times when an outstanding speech, delivered by someone who has honed the art for many years, can be just the right thing to jostle a business or other organization out of complacency and into action – or at least into a shifted perspective.

Truly useful, engaging information occupies a “sweet spot” at the intersection of culture, history, and technology-powered zeitgeist.

If you’re a business leader who may be interested in bringing in a leadership speaker for your organization, it’s important to understand what leadership speaking is and is not, what it can and cannot do, and what benefits result from a well-crafted speech, delivered with skill. Here’s what you should know about leadership speaking.

What Is Leadership Speaking?

It’s an oversimplification to think of leadership speaking as a learned individual delivering perfectly-turned phrases to a passive audience. Sure, that happens, but leadership speaking is about communication, and communication is a two-way street. In other words, the audience plays a critical role in successful leadership speaking. This represents a certain risk to the leadership speaker in that the audience may be responsive and engaged, or they may sit there passively, seemingly unable to be cajoled out of their passivity.

Expect your leadership speaker to engage your audience, helping them become invested in the content and delivery.

That’s why the outstanding leadership speaker has a well-stocked kit of tools meant to get the audience invested and engaged. In general, it’s not a skill set that can be learned through the underclassman introductory course in public speaking that so many of us were required to take at some point. In that scenario, there are right and wrong answers, and grades, and that alone is enough to squash the creativity and drive to engage of some people who would otherwise be quite competent at public speaking.

Outstanding speakers come from every background imaginable. They may or may not look like someone who belongs on a stage, and just about any accent may season their speaking. What they all have in common, however, is the ability to break through the passivity of an audience and help them discover that they are invested in a topic, if only temporarily. Leadership speaking also demonstrates leadership in a contained setting, imparting lessons, and inspiring those who take the time to listen. And with a great leadership speaker, everyone in earshot feels compelled to take the time to listen.

Who Uses It?

Ultimately, the “user” of a leadership speaking event is the individual in the audience, who may learn something, make a new cognitive or emotional connection, or otherwise be inspired to be a better person today than they were yesterday. But it’s usually someone in top leadership who brings in a leadership speaker in an attempt to engage, inspire, and renew commitment among their teams.

Any industry can benefit from the right leadership speaker, from healthcare to telecommunications to education to government. But the organizations that can expect to benefit from leadership speaking are those that want to do one or more of the following:

• Transform or reinvent their organization to support key business initiatives
• Strengthen leadership attitudes and skills of current or future leaders
• Build a stronger culture of leadership or talent to support operational goals

The more of these goals an organization recognizes, as you can see from the following Venn diagram, the more they’re likely to benefit from leadership speaking both short- and long-term.

Organizational goals are the main determinant of the benefit gained from leadership speaking.

One scenario in which a leadership speaker may be engaged is when an organization has experienced a setback. While it’s unrealistic to expect even the greatest leadership speaker to “fix” an organization beset by scandal or tragedy, there are times when the services of a leadership speaker can help get a discouraged or disheartened team back on track.

By contrast, another scenario in which an organization may bring in a leadership speaker is when something great has happened: a product has taken off, a major contract has been landed, or the organization has been recognized with a prestigious award. A skilled leadership speaker knows how to help harness all that positive energy and keep it moving forward, to take the organization to an even higher level of functioning. And, of course, leadership speakers will always be in demand for specific events, often as keynote speakers for conferences or other “milestone” organizational events.

What Are the Benefits of Leadership Speaking?

Let’s get this out of the way first: to the typical employee, a leadership speaker offers the benefit of breaking them out of their normal workday routine for a period of time, and many will be appreciative for this reason alone. This benefits the speaker as well, because the audience is already primed for “something different” than what they might otherwise be doing on an ordinary Tuesday morning.

But benefits of excellent leadership speaking go far beyond the brief joy of breaking out of routine for a while. For one thing, leadership speaking offers a fresh perspective. Often the outsider is the very person to help teams take a new, fresh look at things, and discover new ways of approaching problems and challenges. Experienced and in-demand leadership speakers are the ones who work with management beforehand to understand the organization’s goals for the event, what drives the organization, and what the organization values most. With their unique outsider’s perspective, the right leadership speaker can help communicate an organization’s goals in a new and fresh way, helping employees reconnect with company (and personal) values.

Exceptional leadership speakers know that audiences shouldn’t remain passive.

John Mattone has the experience to know that if he’s giving an opening keynote speech, he needs to instill an important message right from the start in such a way that people will continue talking about it throughout the meeting. If he is presenting a closing keynote speech, his goal is to release people back to their regular lives energized and poised to take action. Whatever the setting or reason for leadership speaking, John knows how to connect with the audience and keep them engaged with rich, varied content that may include exercises, case studies, and group discussion.

What Are John Mattone’s Leadership Strategies?

John Mattone offers fast-paced, high energy leadership speaking that is anchored with the gravitas that comes from over three decades in business leadership. The content has to be top notch, and it must be delivered with genuine passion. John is skilled at making an intellectual connection with the audience as well as an emotional connection, and researchers in the field of learning and education will tell you that people assimilate and retain information better when they make an emotional connection as well as an intellectual one. Though he spends the majority of the time on stage, or on a speaker’s platform, John is also known to leave the stage and interact directly and up close with the audience.

Ultimately, John delivers leadership lessons that are simple, practical, and that can be put to use. But he also ensures that the audience is invested and has a great time during his speaking engagements. Your audience will learn, they will laugh, and they will have their own “Eureka!” moments during his presentation. And he focuses on information that people can actually put to use in their daily activities, helping them improve not only professionally, but personally.

Does Leadership Speaking Work for Everyone?

Anyone who doubts the effect that outstanding speaking by a leader can have on an audience only needs to read Winston Churchill’s “We shall fight on the beaches” speech, or Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” speech. Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury is largely credited with inspiring the defeat of the great Spanish Armada in 1588, and if you want to be immediately shaken out of complacency, you could hardly do better than Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech of 1851.

But you’ll notice that these outstanding speeches have something in common: they were delivered to a receptive if skeptical audience – an audience on the cusp of some major change, the consequences of which they could not yet envision. Leadership speaking has immense power, but only if it is used in the context of an organization that is receptive and committed to positive change. Unfortunately, some organizations break down under the weight of disaster or scandal to the point where nothing short of starting over from scratch could possibly bring it back to excellence. In these cases, even a great leadership speech can do little more than distract the audience for a time. In most typical business or organizational situations, however, an exceptional leadership speech can make an immediate and lasting difference.

How Do You See Results?

First of all, you have to be able to identify and articulate the results you want to see. Perhaps you want to kick off a technical conference with a keynote speech that will have everyone talking even at the closing session. Or maybe you want to fire up the inspiration in your sales team as you bring a new and exciting product to market. How do you want your people to feel when they leave the auditorium? If you can’t define what you want to accomplish with leadership speaking, then how will you know if you have succeeded?

Be able to articulate your goals before booking a leadership speaker.

Likewise, John Mattone goes into every leadership speaking engagement with clearly delineated goals and priorities. First of all, he wants the client to be the hero of the event, with audience members and top management pleased with their choice of leadership speaker. His job is to engage fully with his audience, and elevate each and every event to a higher level of excellence.

John is also equally passionate about making audience members laugh and learn – often at the same time. He wants them to come away from a speech with new tools they can use right away to improve their lives on both a personal and professional level. And he wants them to be invested enough in the event that they can forget their outside problems for a time, and feel genuinely changed afterward. Working with an experienced leadership speaker like John Mattone, an organization can clarify goals, articulate the outcomes they want, and work together toward fulfilling them. Additionally, his website contains a full suite of resources for the meeting planner to help the process along.

Is Certification Necessary for Excellence in Leadership Speaking?

Certifications exist for professional speakers, and someone who is new to planning organizational events may want to look for a leadership speaker who has some kind of professional certification, while taking the time to do enough research to understand what that certification actually means. More valuable to the typical organizational event planner than certification, however, is track record, and a leadership speaker worth booking will be happy to share testimonials and contact information for individuals in other organizations for which they have delivered leadership speeches. They should have online reviews readily accessible, with names and organizations attached so you can follow up if you want to.

Certification may be the cherry on top of the qualifications you desire for your event, but there’s no substitute for digging in and learning what a speaker’s qualifications are, who they have worked with in the past, and what past clients have to say about their events. John Mattone is happy to share reviews of his leadership speaking, reviews from clients as far-ranging as the Cleveland Clinic, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and Al Hosn Gas in the United Arab Emirates.

Leadership speaking can be phenomenally powerful, and people who have never been part of an outstanding leadership speech don’t know what they’re missing. Sure, we live in a world of YouTube videos and social media posts, but there’s no substitute for the electricity and excitement in the air at a live speaking event featuring someone who really knows how to engage an audience. Leadership speaking can’t fix an organization that is irretrievably broken, but the organization that wants to improve morale, kick off a new phase of business, or celebrate an important milestone can gain momentum and inspiration from the right leadership speaker.

In his capacity as an executive coach and leadership speaker, John Mattone has worked with numerous clients across industries, including Coca-Cola, Amazon, and the late Steve Jobs. He has well-developed and well-received presentations on the topics of Intelligent Leadership, Talent Culture, Cultural Transformation, Success Mapping, Management Trends, and more. He works with each and every leadership speaking client to learn about their goals, their people, and their facilities, and to ensure the necessary audio-visual and staging elements are in place. As a result, every client can expect an energetic, fast-paced presentation, packed with outstanding content delivered in an entertaining and passionate manner. You should expect no less from any leadership speaker you trust your organization to.

Leadership speaking can do what online communication cannot.

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Glossary of Key Terms

Audience engagement – an environment where audiences feel empowered to interact with a presenter, due to outstanding presentation content and delivery, and a human-to-human connection the presenter makes with the audience

Cultural transformation – a dynamic process where a living culture, whether in an organization, a location, a profession, or societal niche, changes and adapts to internal and/or external forces. In a business context, this begins (but doesn’t end) with transformation in leadership.

Executive coaching – personalized training in leadership from a professional who understands both business leadership and principles of successful coaching. It is a prominent practice among C-level executives.

Keynote speaker – the public speaker invited to either start off or bring to a close an organizational event such as a trade show, technical conference, or celebratory event. An outstanding keynote speaker is able to energize an audience and leave them with plenty to think about as they return to their normal routine.

Leadership content – this is the “meat” of the leadership speech, the information that helps change people’s perspective, inspire them to new achievements, or impart critical knowledge or wisdom on a topic. Without good leadership content, leadership speaking can be dull or empty.

Leadership culture – the system of an organization’s norms at its top level of leadership. The leadership principles that make up leadership culture are shaped by top leaders, and sometimes by outsiders like leadership speakers or leadership coaches.

Milestone event – an organizational event that caps off a long and challenging process, or that kicks off a new operational phase. Examples of milestone events include receiving a prestigious organizational award, winning a lucrative contract, and opening a new branch location.

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to Write a Leadership Speech

by Samantha Schleese

You’ve finally done it. You’re a successful entrepreneur (“Hooray!”). You’ve won the adulation of your peers. (“Double hooray!”) They’ve assembled to hear you give a speech, and are now sitting in front of you, waiting to hear the wisdom of your words—even if it is on mute at the other end of a Zoom call. What will you say—or, more to the point, what will you say as a leader?

Giving a leadership speech is more complicated than ordinary public speaking. As a self-made business person, you’re speaking with the authority of being a great success story. People want to hear the wisdom you have to share, but more than that, they want your leadership. To give the guidance and wisdom expected of a person of your position, your speeches need to reflect your leadership status.

You may not have done much public speaking as an entrepreneur; it may be difficult for you to express your life and knowledge in a series of bite-sized sentences. But you are no stranger to adversity; use the leadership skills that made you into a success to lead an audience of captive listeners.

To write a great leadership speech, be sure to follow these following points:

A speech occupies a strange no man’s land; it’s a peninsula caught between the oral speaking of the ocean and the written word of the mainland. It needs to be natural enough to be spoken aloud, and yet focused enough to build a structured argument that has an emotional impact.

When writing any speech, take your time. Have the patience to go through several drafts and revisions. Practice it aloud and in front of a rehearsal audience; record yourself if you have to. Use shorter expressions instead of run-on sentences. Take your most complex thoughts, and rewrite them to be simpler.

Above all else, a speech needs to be clear. It needs to be understood by all members of your audience. The responsibility is on you to be an effective communicator with a speech that effectively delivers your message.

A true leader understands the importance of cultivating trust in their followers. If no one believes you, no one will follow you. The same thing can be said for giving a leadership speech: in order to gain the trust of your audience, you need to be sincere with them. People won’t just want to hear what you have to say, but why you say it, and how .

As a successful entrepreneur, people will want to know you. They want to learn what made you successful, and how you did it. However you respond, keep in mind that the thing your audience wants most of all is sincerity; they want you to be honest and genuine. 

Remember: Your audience is following your every word. Lead them by building their trust, and you’ll keep your audience enthralled and engaged.

Keep to the Point 

You’ve had a fascinating life, one that started at the beginning and has led up to the present time. It’s a tall tale in short order, and you have plenty of anecdotes to share. The thing is… don’t do it.

A leadership speech is no time to be winging it with stories about “that one time.” Your audience is looking to you for direction. They are looking for advice to improve their lives. It’s great to weave personal stories into your narrative, but make sure each one serves a distinct purpose towards the goal of your speech.

Your leadership speech needs to entertain; it needs to educate; and it needs to have a point. Use facts and numbers to build authority and help retention. Build your speech towards a climax that inspires and elevates your audience. Demonstrate how your words are relevant to their needs. Be the leader they are looking for.

A “Brand” New World 

It’s always there, ever-present. It’s there when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television, or when you go to work. It’s your “brand”: the unique, personal stamp you’ve put on your business, and it’s the x-factor that your audience wants to hear. For these reasons, it’s an integral part of any leadership speech you give. 

Because you live an adventurous life without taking notes, this may be a strange concept for you to put into words. But, there’s no need to spell everything out. You are your own brand, and it’s already in everything you do. 

Talk about how you’ve grown your business using your values and beliefs. Explain how your personality has influenced your entrepreneurial direction. Share the background behind key business decisions. It’s your brand, and it is distinctively you. Be the charismatic charmer that you are.

Inspire Confidence

There’s never enough inspiration; some days, there’s barely any at all. With your leadership speech, your audience is looking to you to guide the way in an uncertain world. It’s a heavy responsibility, and maybe you’ve never set out to become a role model . But, that’s okay.

Your success as a self-made entrepreneur is an inspiration on its own. Talk genuinely about your experiences. Try to be honest with your failures and regrets—which, if you truly are successful, you probably already have. Be yourself, and inspire others with the confidence that shines within you.

Giving a leadership speech may be one of the most difficult things you can do as a leader; it can also be among the most rewarding. Be considerate towards your audience, have a good awareness of yourself, and you too can write a leadership speech that can inspire others.

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10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series,  Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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About the Author

North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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10 Of The Greatest Leadership Speeches Of All Time

The world may be dominated by social media these days, but we should never underestimate the power of a great speech..

In fact, despite the prevalence of Facebook and Twitter, videos of some of the  greatest leadership speeches are still immensely popular. Here are 10 examples of fantastic, motivational speeches that will show you why.

1.    Martin Luther King: I have a dream

Any article featuring inspirational speeches must include this ground-breaking speech. 

On 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King addressed a crowd of over 250,000 . In it, he calls for an end to racism and equality for all. In 1999, this speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

2.    Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

In 2005, Steve Jobs gave a Commencement Address to Stanford University that will leave you with goosebumps. It’s a brilliant speech, and also a great lesson from one of the most influential presenters in history.

3.    President Obama: Seeking a new beginning

In June 2009, President Obama gave a rousing speech at Cairo University . This speech shows Obama at his best, building a fantastic rapport with his audience.

4.    Randy Pausch: The last lecture

Carnegie Mellon Professor, Randy Pausch, gave his last lecture to a crowded auditorium. 

This presentation is about achieving your childhood dreams and it’s a great one to study for tips on building a connection with your audience and really getting them on your side.

5.    Rosalinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader

In this incredibly inspirational speech, Torres describes 25 years of observing great leaders at work and then shares ways to learn how to lead .  

6.    Bill Clinton: 2008 Speech to the Democratic National Convention

If you’re looking for an example of fantastic communication skills, look no further than this former US President . This speech shows how great content, teamed with exceptional delivery, can really bring the house down.

7.    J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement

Commencement addresses are always very inspirational speeches and this is no exception. Rowling immediately gets her audience on side, inspiring and delighting as she goes.

8.    John Wooden: The difference between winning and succeeding

As the coach of UCLA basketball team, John Wooden led his team to record wins that remain unbeaten. In this speech, he redefines success with incredible simplicity.

9.    Richard St. John: 8 secrets of success

In this amazing TED Talk, Richard St. John delivers an incredibly motivational speech asking why people are successful. Is it because they’re clever, or lucky ?

10.    Nelson Mandela: Inauguration speech

When you’re thinking about leadership speeches, Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech in 1994 must be on the list. Mandela was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He led his country through the end of apartheid and into a united history they had never seen before. 

These 10 examples of leadership speeches show you just how powerful the spoken word can be. These speakers are all experts in their field and captivate their audiences to give incredible, motivational speeches, which lift and inspire . 

Want more inspiration? Get motivated by other brilliant famous team leaders here . 

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Motivational Speech on Leadership – Tips and Examples

Editorial Team

Giving a motivational speech on leadership is quite different from preparing to deliver any other regular talk. This is because motivational speeches are meant to inspire change and spur action. They are intended to cause your audience to do different and do better.

While giving a motivational speech on leadership will be rewarding for the audience, it will also be very impactful on the one giving the address to know that they are doing something to make the world a better place.

It would help if you prepared beforehand to ensure that you deliver the speech successfully. Let us look at some of the few tips that will ensure your delivery is on point and that your speech influences action.

Tips on delivering a motivational speech on leadership

Some of the critical things to put in mind while giving a motivational speech on leadership are capturing your audience’s attention, being relatable, grasping your topic well, inspiring emotion, and compelling action. Let’s take a more in-depth look at each tip and how they’ll help ensure your speech delivery is successful.

1.    Capture The Attention of Your Audience

To get your audience’s attention, you need to know what they expect to gain from the talk. You will need to engage your audience to be able to interact with them. You should also ensure that you have their attention before getting into the real content on leadership to ensure that they don’t miss a thing.

You can start the speech by asking a lingering question. It can be about the leadership skills that your audience has. You can also inquire where they see themselves in the future applying those leadership skills. This will get the audience in the right mindset and get them thinking about leadership. You can also present your audience with interesting facts about leadership to raise their curiosity and want to hear what more you have to say.

Humor can also be a great way to pick the interest of your audience. You can tell funny personal stories or those you have heard from other leaders. Jokes are always a great conversation starter, and you cannot go wrong with that. It will also help reduce the room’s tension and create a conducive atmosphere to have a serious conversation.

2.    Be Relatable

Getting the attention of your audience is one thing, but maintaining it is something else. You have to deliver your motivational speech on leadership in a simple way that interests your audience and also be relatable to create a rapport with them.  Make them talk about the challenges they might face on their leadership journey and how they will be impacted.

3.    Grasp Your Topic Well

You cannot speak and inspire a group of people on something that you have no idea of. When giving your speech, ensure to provide specific examples. You can prepare statistics in advance and provide details on the leadership skills that will enable your audience to succeed.

Research your topic and have an outline of the key things to talk about. This will ensure that you are well organized and you will be able to speak with confidence. You will also talk passionately since you will be well prepared, and the motivational speech will be memorable.

4.    Inspire Emotion

You should evoke emotions in your audience and make them as passionate as you are about leadership. Try and make your speech make them feel strongly about being different and starting change. People tend to remember more the things that happened while they were deep in their feelings.

You are likely to have more memories of experiences you have had while extremely happy or sad, frightened or disappointed. When speaking to your audience about leadership, creating vivid mental pictures of where they are and where they would like to be will help make them feel strongly about the issue.

It is the feeling that you invoke in your audience that will then compel them to take action.  They will want to see change, and the passion within will cause them to be the changemakers. To do better and be better.

5.    Compel Your Audience to Take Action

As mentioned before, inspiring emotion in your audience and making them passionate about leadership will compel them to take action. However, you should know your audience first to ensure you are on the same page.

Ensure that the audience is engaged before starting to enable them to grasp the contents of your speech. Once you have their attention, have them feel inspired, and then call them to action. You can do this by using a call-to-action, which is a statement or question after your motivational speech that will persuade and guide the audience to take action to get to where they want to be.

When making a call-to-action, make it very direct and straightforward. Ensure that the audience acts promptly. You can also help explain to your audience how they can overcome obstacles and reduce barriers that prevent the action. You should also explain why it is essential for the action to be taken and make it as specific as possible to help them know what they are working to attain.

It is crucial that you not only leave your audience thinking about making a difference but also motivate them actually to do something.  

Examples of Motivational Speeches on Leadership

Example 1: what differentiates a leader from a boss.

“It is my greatest pleasure to be addressing the world’s top CEOs today. I have never been in a room full of power like this, and I am truly humbled.

Have you ever wondered if your employees listen to you because they respect you and whatever you say makes sense, or because you are the boss? Do they consider you a leader? What do they say about you behind closed doors?

I can see you are all thinking about it now. I know you wish to know what your employees have to say about you. If you haven’t been the best of leaders, worry not because leadership is a learning journey. Today I want to talk to you about what differentiates a leader from a boss. Being a CEO does not automatically make you a leader.

You must be wondering, what difference does it make if your employers see you as a leader or boss? The truth is, it matters. It will even affect the output you get from your employees.

All a boss does is manage their employees. On the other hand, a leader motivates and inspires innovation. A leader helps employees to think creatively and innovatively. If, as a leader, you are chasing greatness, your employees will follow you and even have you as a role model or mentor. This translates to them pursuing greatness and giving their jobs the best. Eventually, the organization does well. A boss or manager just has people working for them.

While a business needs to have set goals for the employees to achieve, a leader sets more than goals. They offer the organization a vision. A boss will push employees to attain their goals, while a leader will ensure they share the same vision for the organization with the employees. The organization will, therefore, be working with a long-term existence in mind.

Being a manager means mimicking and adopting an already existing leadership skill. However, leadership calls upon the individual to be bold and proud to walk in their shoes. As leaders, you need to work extremely hard to build your brands to stand out. Authenticity and transparency are all part of the leadership journey.

Some of you in this room have taken huge risks for your organizations. If you have, then pat yourself on the back because you are a great leader! Leaders always take risks for their businesses. Bosses work to avoid risks.

To be a boss or manager, you will need to have proven your skills already. There is no pressure to grow and horn your skills once you are up there. Therefore, it is no shock when some of you think that this is the end of the journey for you; being a CEO. However, leadership is an endless journey of learning. To better and improve your skills. It is upon you to seek personal growth every day.

It is expected of a boss to direct and give employees instructions on how to get things done. Leaders coach their employees and offer guidance to make them be at their best. Leaders are optimistic about their employees and believe that they know what is expected of them. Therefore, they refrain from telling the employees what to do and barking orders.

As movers and shakers in your various fields, I must clarify nothing wrong with being a boss or manager. However, it is crucial that you also take charge and be a leader. Your organization needs both—an excellent manager who is a great leader. Therefore, I urge you to take charge today and see your organizations flourish with the excellent leadership that you offer”.

Example 2: What makes a Great Leader?

“It is my greatest honor today to be addressing the young leaders and changemakers of this great country. Having been in the leadership scene for a while now, I have seen many leaders rise to the top. I have also seen the unfortunate fall of some.

Have you ever wondered what makes a great leader? Leadership is a journey, and it takes time to horn your skills.

To be an excellent leader, you need to be thoughtful. You should be able to portray that you have a strategic vision in place. As a leader, you need to be conscious of what is happening around you to make wise decisions. Leadership is about having a voice. You should be bold and confident enough to communicate clearly to people under you.

Dear young changemakers, do not be fooled into believing that you are the only one with a say since leadership is about being the guiding voice. Many a time in this journey, leading will require you to listen and learn. This will also present you with an opportunity to groom other leaders. And when such an opportunity arises, do not be selfish. Share your skills. You do not dim your shine by lighting others.

You cannot walk this journey of leadership alone. You will need to have a mentor that will hold your hand and guide you. This will allow you to learn from both their mistakes and experiences. You will be lucky as you will have first-hand guidance on how to overcome some barriers and obstacles.

How will you be able to meet other movers and shakers if you live in your small bubble? Get out there and connect. In the current times,  the world is run through social media, and you must connect with people. Volunteer for seminars and workshops or even organize events. Take part in committees and remember to network with purpose in mind.

As a leader, think positively and proactively. Always aspire to be part of the solution and not the problem. Exchange ideas with fellow leaders or people under you. You can also seek guidance from your mentor on how to solve certain issues. Be enthusiastic and passionate about what you do. It is only by doing so that you can pass on the passion and convince others to do better.

I urge you, young leaders of today and tomorrow, to hold each other hands. This journey of leadership is not a short race but rather a marathon. That to eventually get there and see the change that we want, we must start now. No matter how small, just start”.

When preparing to deliver a motivational speech on leadership, take time to learn from your audience. Find out what motivates and drives them and where they see themselves in the future.  Assist them in envisioning their leadership journey and keeping the fire within them burning. At the end of your speech, your audience should be left knowing very well and leadership is a journey, and every day is a learning process.

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The best leadership speech: Are you ready to lead?

Last week a client aggressively urged me to watch ‘the best leadership speech ever’. He’s a pretty good leader himself, with a world class creative team of over 100 people.

I watched it this weekend and it’s pretty good.

The video is long – 50 minutes – but here’s what you get: A unique piece of public speaking that is funny, heartbreaking, honest and motivational.

This leadership speech is by  General Mark Welsh , Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, speaking to 1,000 cadets at the US Air Force Academy.

It illuminates the life and death gravity of leadership in the armed forces, but it’s the opposite of what you might expect of a military speech. Rather than a tone of ‘You have to do this because it’s an order’, we are treated to an incredibly engaging and persuasive speech that awakens desire in the audience  to be a great leader.

What makes this leadership speech great?

His audience

Men and women 20-25 years old who have a 75% chance of graduating the Academy’s four-year program, which is intended to give cadets the skills and knowledge that they will need for success as officers.

Informal tone to connect

His opening word: “Yo”.

The start is a bit slow but appropriate in that environment.

Pretty soon you see the speaker’s ability to combine life and death issues with personal humour and light-hearted approachability. The subject is serious, but the speaker regularly has a laugh. He seems friendly and welcoming, yet clear about what matters.

He isn’t ‘heavy’ ALL the time. The contrast of light and heavy make the important areas stand out.

Flexible structure

The speech is structured around the profiles of dozens of people under the General’s command. Their pictures are shown and their stories told. His  messages are made concrete  by the fact they follow a real story. Tell a story – make a point. For example:

‘Everybody has a story. If you don’t know the story you can’t lead. Learn the story.’

Clear, personalized messages

This leadership speech is worth watching just to see how the speaker makes all his messages personal.  For example, instead of saying;

“Are you ready to lead”

“Are you ready to lead him ” after explaining a person’s story.

Instead of;

“You are expected to be a great leader”

‘ He expects you be be ready to lead his people. In fact he demands it.’ After telling a story about the head of a division.

Here are some more messages peppered throughout the talk.

• You better be willing to make decisions. Sometimes without all the information you want. Get ready.
• You better be good. ‘Your job is to lead them… are you ready?”
• You will make a difference.
• We are a team. All the people are important.
• Attention to detail is it important. You better have it.
• Leadership is a gift given by those who follow.
• Are you ready to lead? If not, rededicate yourself to the effort.

Great Explanations

There’s is nothing dramatic about his delivery skills, but he’s comfortable enough to act out a character (‘my son walked over like John Wayne…’).

He doesn’t rush.

This is vital. When information is rushed, it doesn’t seem as important. His pace allows the ideas to come alive. He appears calm, thoughtful, genuine. Present in the moment.

Do you connect with your team this way? Can you stand calmly on stage in silence – allowing your ideas to absorb?

Clear and personal ending

A good ending is important to deliver the key message and make the ideas feel complete (and therefore easier to remember).

“Thank you for being good enough to be here. Make sure you’re good enough to graduate. Take care of yourselves. I’ll see you out there.”

Do your speeches inspire people to follow you?

A great speech like this can strengthen a team or ogranization more powerfully than 10,000 hours of work. It can engender belief and dedication that lives on for years . How powerful are your leadership speeches? —– If you’d like to develop your leadership presentation, consider:

• Presentation Skills Training
• Presentation Skills public course
• Message Development Sessions

Want to be a great speaker? Get the kindle ebook from amazon.com:  What’s Your Message?: Public Speaking with Twice the Impact, Using Half the Effort

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How to Give a Killer Presentation

• Chris Anderson

For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED’s curator, shares five keys to great presentations:

• Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end).
• Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it—over and over).
• Work on stage presence (but remember that your story matters more than how you stand or whether you’re visibly nervous).
• Plan the multimedia (whatever you do, don’t read from PowerPoint slides).
• Put it together (play to your strengths and be authentic).

According to Anderson, presentations rise or fall on the quality of the idea, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker. It’s about substance—not style. In fact, it’s fairly easy to “coach out” the problems in a talk, but there’s no way to “coach in” the basic story—the presenter has to have the raw material. So if your thinking is not there yet, he advises, decline that invitation to speak. Instead, keep working until you have an idea that’s worth sharing.

Lessons from TED

A little more than a year ago, on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, some colleagues and I met a 12-year-old Masai boy named Richard Turere, who told us a fascinating story. His family raises livestock on the edge of a vast national park, and one of the biggest challenges is protecting the animals from lions—especially at night. Richard had noticed that placing lamps in a field didn’t deter lion attacks, but when he walked the field with a torch, the lions stayed away. From a young age, he’d been interested in electronics, teaching himself by, for example, taking apart his parents’ radio. He used that experience to devise a system of lights that would turn on and off in sequence—using solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box—and thereby create a sense of movement that he hoped would scare off the lions. He installed the lights, and the lions stopped attacking. Soon villages elsewhere in Kenya began installing Richard’s “lion lights.”

• CA Chris Anderson is the curator of TED.

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30 of the best ted talks on leadership that every great leader should watch – 2nd edition.

Last updated: 4 March 2020

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Love inspiring Ted Talks on leadership? So do we!

That’s why we put together this list of our  crème de la crème TED Talks on leadership.

So next time you’re needing a little boost, take a 20-minute break to listen to one of these and learn from some of the most forward-thinking and innovative experts to discover what’s given them their little-known edge.

1.  How Great Leaders Inspire Action , by Simon Sinek

With more than 29 million views , Simon Sinek is now on the A-List of leadership gurus, after he gave this incredible talk.

As Sinek himself says, “As it turns out, all the great inspiring leaders and organizations in the world, whether it’s Apple or Martin Luther King, Jr. or the Wright brothers, they all think, act and communicate the exact same way. And it’s the complete opposite to everyone else. All I did was codify it, and it’s probably the world’s simplest idea. I call it the Golden Circle.”

For Sinek, the difference between these inspirational leaders and everyone else is they start with “why,” which is the core concept of his Golden Circle . By asking why, how and what, you can set yourself on a trajectory of tremendous success that, statistically speaking, very few people attain.

2.  The Puzzle of Motivation , by Dan Pink

To be an effective leader, you need to know what makes people “tick,” and especially what motivates them in the workplace to give you their best. Interestingly enough, money only takes you so far.

In this compelling video –which has clocked over 13 million views – Pink (author of  Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us ) untangles the web of motivation in a way that makes sense for leaders. Here’s a hint : traditional rewards aren’t always as motivating as we think.

3.  Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders , by Sheryl Sandberg

Sandberg left Google to become Facebook’s COO in 2008. In this video, she looks at why so few women make it to the C-suite, and offers up three important pieces of advice to women who want to buck the trend and get there. The key, in Sandberg’s view, is ensuring women remain in the workforce.

As it turns out, having more women remain in the workforce has other positive benefits on society and households, such as equal earning and equal responsibility between partners. As Sandberg notes, households that demonstrate this equality also have half the divorce rate.

4.  The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding , by John Wooden

To be a successful leader, what better place to start than by defining exactly what you mean by success? The man affectionately known as “Coach” redefines success to be much more than merely winning. Coach James Wooden explains this difference with profound simplicity, and urges everyone to pursue the best in themselves. The Coach’s 17-minute talk is uplifting as much as it is inspiring.

5.  What Makes us Feel Good About Our Work ? By Dan Ariely

Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist who has gained a deeper understanding of human motivation than most economists could ever hope for. He even designed experiments that would help solve the mystery of motivation, which is what this video is all about.

As it turns out, money isn’t the only thing that motivates us to work. It isn’t exactly joy, either. The real motivation for going to work every day is to make constant progress and lead a life of purpose . Strong leaders care about the bottom line, but are about much more than that. They have a sense of purpose, and get out of bed every single day to fulfill it.

6.  Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe , by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek’s material is so good that he’s the only one to appear twice on this list. You know building trust among your followers is important, but actually doing it is another thing entirely.

Sinek’s video on the topic will take your understanding of trust to a whole new level. After all, humans are emotional species who struggle with insecurities and vulnerabilities. A good leader brings his or her employees into a circle of trust. This is especially important in today’s economy, where jobs are destroyed as fast as they are created. Leaders have a responsibility to make their workers feel safe.

7.  Dare to Disagree , by Margaret Heffernan

When it comes to forming your dream team, the last thing you should do is surround yourself with what Heffernan calls “echo chambers” who only tell you what they think you want to hear. Mastering the art of disagreement is essential to effective leadership. Leaders must also be willing to cope with others disagreeing with them. Only through disagreement are ideas challenged.

Hefferman outlines a rubric for avoiding echo chambers and allowing ourselves to experience what she calls constructive conflict.

“So what does that kind of constructive conflict require? Well, first of all, it requires that we find people who are very different from ourselves. That means we have to resist the neurobiological drive, which means that we really prefer people mostly like ourselves, and it means we have to seek out people with different backgrounds, different disciplines, different ways of thinking and different experience, and find ways to engage with them. That requires a lot of patience and a lot of energy.”

8.  Lead Like The Great Conductors , by Itay Talgam

You’ve no doubt heard leadership described through the metaphor of conducting an orchestra. Itay Talgam operationalizes that metaphor by sharing what leaders can learn from 6 different 20th-century conductors. Don’t worry, this TED Talk requires no formal background (or interest) in the symphony.

Talgam describes the “magical moment” when a conductor turns chaos into blissful music. It’s a very small gesture, “not very pomp, not very sophisticated.” And suddenly, out of the chaos, noise becomes music.

9.  As Work Gets More Complex, Six Rules to Simplify , by Yves Morieux

Everyone knows that a staggering number of people are disengaged from their work. Yves Morieux argues that our reaction to the unfathomable complexity of modern work has a lot to do with that disengagement. Traditional organizational management certainly doesn’t help, either. His antidote includes 6 refreshing ways to engage in what he calls “smart simplicity.” The first rule is understand what your colleagues actually do. This is especially important for business leaders if they wish to simply the workplace and boost employee engagement.

10.  What It Takes To Be A Great Leader , by Roselinde Torres

Roselinde Torres has developed a deep understanding of what makes leaders effective. She poses 3 laser-like questions that will spur your own thinking on what it takes to be a great leader.

In a world filled with executive leadership programs and expensive seminars, Torres argues the best way to learn leadership might be right under your nose. Torres’ 9-minute talk is candid and to the point.

11.  A Life of Purpose , by Rick Warren

His book, Purpose-Driven Life, has sold more than 30 million copies. The church he pastors, Saddleback Church, has more than 22,000 members. Clearly, Rick Warren understands a few things about leadership.

This video is an intimate presentation of his own thoughts and crises around leadership. For anyone who’s ever looked at their existence and said, “There’s got to be more to life than this” will certainly find solace in Warren’s 21-minute talk.

12.  Listen, Learn… Then Lead , by Stanley McChrystal

Stanley McChrystal is a 4-star general who spent decades in the military. What he gleaned about leadership that can build a shared sense of purpose among an incredibly diverse set of followers boils down to how well you listen and learn, as well as how you position failure.

McChrystal’s view of leadership can be summarized with the following quote:

“[A] leader isn’t good because they’re right; they’re good because they’re willing to learn and to trust. This isn’t easy stuff.”

13.  Got a Wicked Problem to Solve? First, Tell me How you Make Toast , by Tom Wujec

Making toast is simple, right? But what happens when someone asks you to draw how you make toast? Suddenly things get interesting, and complicated.

This simple exercise reveals much about leading solutions to complex problems. Tom Wujec invites listeners to run the exercise themselves while explaining what he’s learned from observing thousands of people draw toast. From this talk, leaders will learn some important truths about how to handle real-world challenges .

14.  Everyday Leadership , by Drew Dudley

Drew Dudley’s whole approach is to make sure everyone understands how to bring out the leader within. Too many people think great leadership is reserved for extraordinary people.

His humorous take will remind you of all the little things leaders do each day. Leadership may be self-taught, but certainly isn’t reserved to a special segment of society. Dudley reminds us that leadership is an everyday act that should be celebrated.

15.  Tribal Leadership , by David Logan

It’s easy to think that as a species we have evolved far beyond the days of tribalism, but management consultant David Logan argues that effective leaders understand the 5 kinds of tribes that still crop up naturally in nearly any setting. Logan’s talk takes you through the 5 tribes, or stages, beginning with “Life sucks” and ending with “Life is great.”

16. Learning From Leadership’s Missing Manual , by Fields Wicker-Miurin

If you missed the opening line of this article, Fields Wicker-Miurin will remind you that leadership is self-taught. People who are looking for the holy grail leadership manual will wait forever in vain.

Leadership comes from within , but that shouldn’t stop you from developing the qualities that people admire in a great leader. Instead of looking for a how-to manual, learn the inspiring story of a local leader in your community. They’re not as far away or elusive as you might think.

17. How To Make Work-Life Balance Work , by Nigel Marsh

Leaders may be workaholics, but they also value work-life balance. That’s Nigel Marsh’s main thrust in this 2010 talk. Marsh shows you how to share a balance lifestyle between family, personal time and productivity. He also drops some inspiration from his books Fit, Fifty, and Fired Up and Overworked and Underlaid (yes, he has a great sense of humor).

Achieving an ideal work-life balance may seem like a jigsaw puzzle, but isn’t nearly as hard as our productivity-obsessed culture makes it out to be. Through small changes, you can have a big impact on work, relationships and life in general.

18. The Key To Success? Grit , by Angela Lee Duckworth

Successful consultant-turned-teacher Angela Lee Duckworth reminds us that success requires hard work and grit. While this is nothing we don’t know, why are these characteristics so difficult to apply? As Duckworth says, “as much as talent counts, effort counts twice.”

Duckworth’s quick talk is an essential listen for anyone getting suckered into taking shortcuts. As it turns out, all the old adages about success and hard work are true.

19. The Secret Structure Of Great Talks , by Nancy Duarte

The ability to move others through motivational speech is one of the greatest qualities of a true leader. Author and CEO Nancy Duarte gets it, and that’s why she developed this 18-minute talk to help aspiring leaders take their presentation skills to the next level.

Duarte dissects the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Steve Jobs to uncover the essential qualities of a great presentation. If leadership is your passion, be prepared to spend a lot of time talking in front of people.

20. How To Start A Movement , by Derek Sivers

Don’t let the name of this short TED Talk fool you – Derek Sivers isn’t calling for revolution or political anarchy. Using interesting footage, Sivers shows you how surprisingly easy it is to start a movement. As they say, it takes two to tango. That’s all that’s needed for leaders to inspire a movement.

21. Got A Meeting? Take A Walk , by Nilofer Merchant

“Sitting has become the smoking of our generation.” – Nilofer Merchant

In her TED Talk, business innovator Nilofer Merchant offers a simple message about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle . Leaders spend a lot of time in meetings. Merchant suggests you turn your next one-on-one meeting into a “walking meeting.” Not only do you hit two birds with one stone – by meeting and elevating your heart rate – the simple act of walking allows your ideas to flow much better than they otherwise would sitting in a cramped office.

22. The Leaders Who Ruined Africa, And The Generation Who Can Fix It , Fred Swaniker

Africa has struggled to live up to its development goals, and its leaders are to blame, says TED Fellow and founder of the African Leadership Network Fred Swaniker.

Having lived throughout Africa, Swaniker highlights the vital role true leaders play in building a society, and what can happen in their absence. Swaniker’s description of the next great African leaders is anybody who wants to make a difference in their society, especially where strong institutions are lacking.

23. The Happy Secret To Better Work , by Shawn Achor

It’s generally assumed we have to work to be happy, but what if we have it backwards? That’s the argument psychologist and CEO Shawn Achor makes in this 2012 talk. Achor says we need to be happy independently of work , and only then will we be able to increase productivity and success in the workplace.

Searching for happiness in the workplace can be a deep rabbit hole that often leads to less happiness overall. This is an important message for leaders, who seek to inspire other people in their line of work. It just so happens that developing happiness outside the 9-5 hours is the most important for our health and success.

24. How to Fix a Broken School? Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard , by Linda Cliatt-Wayman

You don’t have to be a teacher to appreciate Linda Cliatt-Wayman’s inspirational talk about her time as principal at a failing school in Philadelphia. It didn’t take long for her to realize that leadership was more than just “laying down the law.” We won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say she managed to turn around her struggling school. There were 3 key principles that helped her get there.

25. Trial, Error and the God Complex , by Tim Harford

If the title of Tim Harford’s TED Talk doesn’t pique your interest, nothing will. Harford, an economics writer who studies complex systems, talks about the importance of trial and error in achieving success. Except he doesn’t just “talk” about it, but presents the findings of his studies on complex systems.

As the title suggests, Harford’s talk centres on the concept of a God complex – refusing to admit the possibility of being wrong regardless of the complexity of the situation – and the importance of trial and error in achieving better results.  Go down the list, virtually every successful business leader used trial and error to perfect their craft.

26. The Surprising Habits Of Original Thinkers , by Adam Grant

“The greatest originals are the ones who fail the most, because they’re the ones who try the most.” – Adam Grant

Suffice it to say, all aspiring leaders want to be recognized for their creativity and originality. While creativity often lies within, psychologist Adam Grant studies the lives of “originals” – thinkers whose ideas transform the world. Over the course of 15 minutes, Grant explains the unexpected habits of original thinkers, and their fearlessness in the face of failure.

Fear of failure is one of the biggest inhibitors to success in all of life’s endeavors. While never easy, leaders must learn to overcome that fear. Studying the habits of original thinkers will teach aspiring leaders they “need a lot of bad ideas in order to get a few good ones.”

27. Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are , by Amy Cuddy

Four years and more than 38 million views later, Amy Cuddy’s powerful TED Talk has resonated with many aspiring leaders. As a social psychologist, Cuddy explains how “power posing” – showcasing a posture of confidence even when you don’t feel confident – can affect your brain chemistry and move you to positive action.

While some of the findings presented in the study are controversial among social scientists, Cuddy’s talk is a great reminder of the importance of projecting confidence in every situation . Whether that holds up to tests of academic rigor are less important.

28. How to Get Your Ideas To Spread , by Seth Godin

If you think the answer to Seth Godin’s talk is “social media,” try again. This TED Talk took place back in 2007, a few years before social media became as ubiquitous as it is today. As a leader, getting your ideas to spread requires more than just a Twitter handle. Godin, himself an author and marketing guru, explains the importance of standing out, and why even the craziest ideas can become the most successful ones.

29. Secrets Of Success In 8 Words, 3 Minutes , by Richard St. John

Analyst and bestselling author, Richard St. John, managed to condense 7 years of interviews into an unforgettable 3-minute presentation about what it takes to be truly successful. Believe us, nobody is as cognizant of your time as St. John. This 3-minute talk is normally presented as a 2-hour presentation to high school students.

30. Why We Do What We Do , by Tony Robbins

No list of inspiring TED Talks is complete without Tony Robbins, the globally renowned life success coach who has spent decades helping people achieve their dreams. Robbins shattered many preconceived notions about his work a mere 36 seconds into his presentation.

“I’m not here to motivate you, you don’t need that, obviously. Often that’s what people think I do, and it’s the furthest thing from it. What happens, though, is people say to me, ‘I don’t need any motivation.’ But that’s not what I do. I’m the ‘why’ guy. I want to know why you do what you do.”

He then goes into detail explaining the “invisible forces” that make us do the things we do. He also high-fives Al Gore in the front row. With more than 18 million views, Robbins’ TED appearance is one of the most popular.

There you have it. More than 8 hours of pure leadership inspiration to help turn you into the type of leader others admire, respect and want to follow.

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How to Give a Motivational Speech on Leadership to Students?

Karen scholz.

• Speech Writing

Preparing for a successful motivational speech is a different process than preparing for talks delivering information.  Motivational speeches are meant to spur action—to compel audience members to do, or become something different, something more. 

Motivational speeches can be very rewarding for both the audience and the presenter.  The audience can leave feeling inspired, ready to take action to do or become more. 

The presenter can make positive change in many people’s lives, which can make a positive impact on the world.  And there’s nothing more rewarding than delivering an inspiring motivational speech on leadership to students. 

Motivating youth to become leaders pushes this next generation to develop skills that can eventually influence the direction of families, companies, philanthropies, schools and other groups, one leader at a time.

So how do you ensure your speech is successful? 

A motivational talk centered around teaching leadership to students includes 5 main components:

• Capturing their attention
• Knowing the topic
• Inspiring emotion
• Compelling action

Let’s get into each of these in more detail.

Capture their Attention

Capturing the attention of students starts with knowing your student audience.  Why are they there?  What do they hope to get from your talk? 

There’s little chance to motivate your student audience if you don’t engage them.  If their attention is focused on their exam in a couple of days, or even what they’ll be doing the next weekend, there’s not much hope in making an impact. 

There are many ways to capture the students’ attention before getting into the meat of leadership.  However you choose to do it, master it.  It’s essential. 

Possibilities might include:

Asking a lingering question

Initial questions to students about their own existing leadership skills and what they envision themselves doing in 5 years by way of leading a group may be a way to capture their thoughts, getting them all in the right mindset, thinking about leadership.

Providing an interesting fact or visual

This could include statistics about leadership, quotes from historical leaders, or unusual or otherwise striking visuals of leaders or wanna-be leaders.

Shocking the audience also works, generating interest and sympathy/empathy.  (I’ve seen disfigured speakers talk about how they adapted to their new selves, overcoming mental and physical challenges to become CEOs of companies!)

Funny personal experiences or stories about others can create a clear picture of leadership in action. (A key trait of leaders is confidence and there’s no better way of showing confidence than being able to publicly make fun of yourself, or laugh alongside another for a personal experience that was funny.)

Look no further than our modern-day motivational speaker icons to see the variety of ways each has found to immediately engage their audiences.

Tony Robbins often asks the audience a series of questions, prompting audience feedback/participation. 

Les Brown has been known to engage his audience in an immediate personal visualization exercise to image possibilities. 

Dr. Wayne Dyer was a master at weaving a powerfully-relatable personal story into the beginning of his talks to draw in his audiences. 

Zig Ziglar drew an audience in with his self-deprecating humor and stories about his experiences which showed his authenticity and made him incredibly relatable.

However you choose to make a connection with the students, be impactful.  Pique their curiosity about their own potential to be effective leaders.

Once you gain the students’ attention, you have to keep it.  “Leadership” will hopefully be presented in a way that interests them, but the audience also has to relate to the person talking about it or their take-aways will be minimal at best.  But it can be difficult to build rapport with both extroverts and introverts.  So how do you make yourself relatable?

Tony Robbins has said that connecting with the audience by building rapport is essential in any public speaking initiative.  If you want to connect, he says you can and should draw them in and make them a big part of your presentation. ( T ) 

You make it all about them , how they’ll be impacted, challenges they may have now or in the near future, how they can overcome them, and how they can become better leaders. 

Knowing Your Topic

Clearly, any motivational speaker must know their topic, and they have to have passion towards it. 

If you’re speaking to students about developing their leadership capabilities, you know about leadership.  You may have specific examples ready of recent graduates who’ve moved quickly into corporate leadership roles.  You may have stats on private sector leaders, philanthropic leaders, government or world leaders, and, depending on your outline, may have historical figures in mind, along with examples of actions they’ve taken to exemplify their leadership prowess or inadequacies.  You may decide to get into the specifics of what leadership skills are important for success .

Knowing your topic, your outline, and how you want to deliver it will give you the ability to deliver it with the confidence and passion needed to make your presentation memorable.

Speaking of passion, this brings us to our next component…

Inspiring Emotion

The best motivational speeches sell concepts by making the audience feel something strongly.  Emotions sell… but only if the person on the receiving end truly feels .  This concept is summed up really well through a couple of quotes from some well-known authors:

People remember more of what transpires while steeped in emotion.  Research conducted by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions shows that personal experiences which take place while individuals have heightened states of different emotions like joy, disappointment, fear and anger are remembered more. 

They state that this is because of “a hormone released during emotional arousal ‘primes’ nerve cells to remember events by increasing their chemical sensitivity at sites where nerves rewire to form new memory circuits.” ( S ) 

If each of us thinks back to our own past, we know this is true; we remember both the things that made us feel really good, really badly, scared, or disappointed.  With this in mind, when speaking to students about their leadership skills – where they are now and where they’d like to be – it’s essential to make them feel strongly .

These feelings will ultimately be what compels the audience to take action.  Which leads us to the final component…

Compelling them to Take Action

We’ve already discussed that eliciting emotions is what will compel audience members to do what they need to do to put them on the path to the desired goals. 

But part of getting the most number of students in the room to take action to develop or demonstrate their leadership abilities is in reading the room.  (And this goes back to knowing a little about the audience in the first place.)

Is the audience engaged?  Are they feeling inspired?  If they seem to be, that’s great, but that’s only the first of two steps that need to be taken.  The second is a call-to-action. 

A call-to-action is a statement or question at the end of a persuasive speech guiding them take action to get them where they want to be.  Depending on the student audience, this might mean that they need to practice some of their leadership skills in a small group.  

It might mean that they force themselves to be the primary public speaker at a large event. 

The call to action needs to geared toward the audience, but according to Andrew Dlugan from “Six Minutes Speaking and Presentation Skills,” there are five keys to making the call to action stellar: 1)

• Make it direct and clear
• Ensure they act in a timely manner
• Reduce barriers to make action happen
• Explain the benefits of action)
• Make it as specific as possible to your audience

Whatever it is, this call-to-action is what can separate an energy-charged student leaving your speech feeling enlightened about leadership, and one who leaves motivated with specific action steps in mind about how they’ll take their leadership skills to the next level;  it can make the difference between thinking and doing.

As you prepare to deliver a captivating motivational speech to a group of students that will encourage them to take steps to excel in various leadership roles in life, take steps to know who they are.  What motivates students?  Know their ambitions, their fears, potential challenges and rewards.  Connect with them and spellbind their imaginations. 

Help them envision their leadership in motion. Help them find their passion in the types of leaders they can be and then motivate them to take specific action, inspired to always learn more and be more.

Leave them with the ingrained understanding that developing leadership skills is a journey, not an event.  Leave them knowing that:

“Leadership and learning are indispensable from each other.” John F. Kennedy

“The only thing tougher than developing leadership skills is attempting to be successful with them.” Orrin Woodward

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Speech On Leadership [1,2,3 Minutes]

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the ways and shows the way”. This is one of my favourite quotes which describes the meaning of leadership in just a few words. Leadership is a process of influencing, inspiring and helping others to achieve goals along the way.

In this article, we shared some examples of speech on leadership. These speeches have a time duration of 1, 2 and 3 minutes. This article will explain to you what is leadership, who is a good leader and how to choose a good leader.

1 Minute Speech On Leadership

Hello and welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to present a speech on leadership.

What is leadership? If you find the definition in the dictionary, you will see it is the ability of a person to influence individuals and guide them in a way that maximizes their efforts and leads to optimum outcomes.

This is why It becomes important for any kind of organisation to have a great leader who has good visionary skills and risk-computing skills so that he can lead the organisation on the path of progress.

Many say that leadership can not be taught but I believe this is an assumption. Various leadership development programmes can help you develop leadership skills.

To sum it up, developing leadership skills is a slow process but anyone can definitely learn leadership. Thank you!

2-Minute Speech On Leadership

I warmly welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to deliver a speech on leadership. Before I start speaking my thoughts, I would like to wish you a good day. Also, I want to thank you for giving me this valuable opportunity.

Leadership is a skill that not everyone is blessed with. Yet, it is not something that can not be learned. It is a process of influencing, inspiring and helping others to become their best selves, building their skills and achieving goals along the way.

Leadership skills are always needed to accomplish a great goal of an organisation. A good leader has a good vision and risk-calculating abilities which reduce the risk of a decline in progress. Working for a goal without having a good leader is no less than shooting arrows in the darkness.

A leader can make or break all of your future dreams. So, it is very vital to choose a leader very wisely. But then a question arises in the mind; how to identify a good leader who can actually help us to lead ahead in life?

Well, there are some common personality traits of a good leader which can help in finding a good leader. First , good observation skill is one of the features of great leaders, they observe well before making a decision.

Second , they are action-takers, they do not waste their time on unnecessary activities. Third , they are good communicators. They have a great deal of sense of how to present views in a positive way. This quality enables them to influence and persuade each kind of person.

Fourth , Flexibility is another great quality of great leaders. They change strategies whenever they feel the need. So, pay close attention to who is leading you. Thank you!

A Speech On Leadership | 3 Minutes

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the ways and shows the way”. This is one of my favourite quotes which describes the meaning of leadership in just a few words.

Good morning! All of you. Before heading ahead to my speech on leadership, I would like to wish you all the best wishes and also want to pay thanks for giving me this valuable opportunity.

Who is a leader? The answer is “someone who can lead you somewhere is called a leader” and this kind of capability is called  leadership . Also, a good leader is also a great mentor. Thus, It becomes necessary for any kind of organisation to have a splendid leader.

Leadership is not a new idea. If we examine history, we will find It has been ruling the world since human civilizations came into existence. A leader possesses good visionary skills and risk-computing skills so that he can lead the organisation on the path of progress.

Whether a person, a business or an organisation, all of this desire to lead to new heights. There is no choice but to have a great leader who can show them the right path and help them get there. This is why leadership holds great importance in every sphere of life.

But choosing a good leader is not easy yet not even very tough. Great leaders show some common qualities which can help us select a good leader who can actually help us to achieve goals and accomplish success. Let’s talk about these qualities.

This is the greatest quality that a great leader can have. This quality his see the broad picture of the scene to decide what are the next essential steps to take and where these steps will lead to.

2. Inspiration

Planning without action is worthless. Similarly, having a vision not going to work unless you have the ability to convey a clear picture of your vision to the people. Hence, inspiring people by showing them their vision is another quality of a good leader.

3. Continuous Improvement

A leader strives for continuous improvements as they know that there is always room for improvement. They’ll always be ready to help the members to discover ways to develop new skills or improve upon a weakness,

4. Flexibility

If one strategy does not work, try the other one. This activity is called flexibility. Being flexible enables a person to find out the best way to achieve goals in less time.

If a person possesses these qualities, he or she qualifies to be a good leader. This is all I wanted to say. I hope you liked my thoughts. Thank you!

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Ok but do this speech some short

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• Speech on Leadership

Introduction

Before you start reading or mugging anything on leadership for your speech, we want you to first understand the basics about the term leadership. You should know who a leader is, what makes him or her a leader and why should we have a leader? Can you be a leader yourself?

We at Vedantu not only focus on providing you with the study material, but we want to bring a change in the system of education. We want students to be more curious, we want students to make their contribution above and we want the students to be a leader themselves.

What does leadership mean?

Leadership is a skill or ability of an individual to influence others. In other order, it is the quality of an individual to make you do something which you did not even want to do. 

For example - Indians had a weakness of littering garbage around but the leadership quality of our Prime Minister persuaded us to follow the Swachh Bharat Mission. 

Who is a leader?

So, anyone can be a leader. It is a skill that can be learned. Though it may not come in a day or month and it requires the right environment to grow your perception, right thought, the right information, and a will to lead for a better cause. Adolf Hitler was a leader too, but it is the conscience and the intention of a leader which differ them. 

In this article, we have provided a long and short speech on leadership and along with that we have also given 10 line pointers about inspirational speech on leadership

Long Speech on Leadership Qualities

A warm welcome to everyone present here today. I feel honored to be given this opportunity to give a speech on leadership. I hope this speech makes you think about what a leader is. What is the role of a great leader and what are the true leadership qualities?

Let us go back to the history of the world. Many events happened around the world. Events such as injustice towards people, slavery, racism, and dictatorship. During all these events the universe provided us with a few people who rose to the occasion and helped humanity to fight injustice. They taught us how to fight, they led us towards a better future, and those my friends were leaders. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin king Luther Jr and so on were present to lead and guide people towards a better future. One quality that was common in all of these leaders was that they had this amazing ability to persuade people to respect and follow them.

Firstly let’s just not confuse leadership with dictatorship. A good leader will never dominate or subjugate people because of their sex or position in society, that is done by a dictator and the best example of a dictator was Adolf Hitler. Surely he had thousands of followers but he dominated them and made them forcefully adapt his mentality, a good leader will never do that. The world is full of people who have a great desire to take charge and forcefully rule over other people’s lives and call themselves a leader which rests assured, is not a sign of a leader.

So who is a true leader? Well, a true leader is someone who is known for his work ethic, A true leader is someone who earns respect through his rightful actions and mass following without any dictatorship. A true leader inspires others in his or her group to be better persons. A great leader will inspire other people to follow in his/her footsteps to become a guiding light for humanity. A good leader will always lead the people towards the path of growth and progress by carrying the torch of wisdom. As the phrase goes ‘Action speaks louder than words, a true leader will never tell people to follow them but the benchmark he or she has set and his or her actions will allow people to trust in him or her. A good leader will always set the goal and will start working towards the goals to achieve it without compromising morals and ethics and this is a sign of a true leader.

Let us take the example of Mahatma Gandhi, you could ask anyone about him and the only general answer the crowd will give is that Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader. A journey of a great leader starts with an incident and this could be applied to Gandhi as well. Mahatma Gandhi had settled down in South Africa with his family practicing law but one night during his train journey he was exposed to the cruelty of people in the society towards those with different skin color. He saw that he was a judge because he was an Indian and was considered to be inferior because of his skin. This incident is considered to be the turning point in Mahatma Gandhi’s life. After the incident, he decided to change the perspective of people and also to free India from British rule, and as they say, the rest is history.

Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi possess a great quality of effectively channelizing their energy and also devote themselves to a cause or the growth and progress of humanity. Nelson Mandela, Martin King Luther Junior, and many more have this ability and are considered to be a pattern found in great leaders. The restrictions or the obligations they faced only enabled them to rise against all odds and never bow down to any circumstances.

Leadership is not an easy task and I can assure you that it cannot be cultivated within a day. It is not for people with weak hearts who cannot tolerate hatred, betrayal, and jealousy. A true leader will always have a goal and vision and he or she with his or her team will work every day to accomplish that dream. We often see that in a few working places many bosses call themselves leaders but are never present to help or appreciate the work the employee has done. This is not a sign of a leader. A true leader will always work with the team and listen to the concerns of everyone and also note down the ideas that would be helpful to complete the given task. A true leader never boosts himself or herself for the work and will always try to understand the team.

My dear friends, I want to conclude this speech by saying that it is not easy to become a great leader in a day, week, or year. It is a process of facing your fears, discomfort, and failure. A true leader will always learn from his past mistakes and will always try his or her best to correct those mistakes. A true leader will also respect his team members and will always help them, guide them when they are in need. So if you want to be a good leader, start practicing gratitude and always respecting people irrespective of their profession. Thank you.

Short Speech on Leadership Qualities

Greetings to everyone. It is my privilege to give a small leadership speech and I hope at the end of the speech everyone understands who a true leader is.

A true leader is someone who is known for his or her work ethic. A true leader is known for his/her actions which allow people to trust him or her. A true leader will always guide everyone and help them to find themselves on the darkest path.

The world has had many great leaders in the past such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Barack Obama, and so on. The one quality of truth that is common in many leaders in the past is that they could influence and guide people for the betterment of society. For example, When Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America, the country was in a recession phase where the citizens were suffering as many of them did not have proper medical facilities, food to eat, etc but Barack Obama was able to guide everyone. He was able to understand everyone and the difficulties the common people were facing and finally in 2014 he was able to make America recession-free.

The qualities of great leaders cannot be cultivated in a day, month or year as it requires years of patience and to have the ability to understand the situation and lead from the front. Great leaders are always committed to their goals and they have great respect for every person in a team.

To conclude this speech I want to say that it is not easy to become a  good leader within a day or years as it requires years of hard work. Leadership is also not for the weaker hearts as many leaders deal with hardships and sacrifices for the betterment of society. Anyone can be a good leader if the qualities required to become one are practiced from an early age. Thank you.

10 Lines about Leadership Speech in English

An inspirational speech on leadership should always start by describing the qualities of a great leader. 

 A true leader is not born or created but is formed after years of practicing the art of guiding people towards a greater future. 

 Leaders like Barack Obama, Subhash Chandra Bose, Nelson Mandela could guide people and people listened to them because they were good at convincing people to fight for a better cause. 

 Being a good leader is related to actively listening to people’s concerns and searching for solutions.

 While giving a leadership speech try to make the audience understand the difference between leadership and dictatorship. 

 While giving a leadership speech it is advised to always include examples of great leaders in the past.

 The skill of leadership is linked to commitment, honesty, loyalty, sacrifice, selflessness, and earning respect.

Everyone always asks, How do you give a speech on leadership? The answer is to define what a great leader is and always try to connect with the audience. 

A true leader will never boost himself for the work he or she has done.

Start and end the speech on leadership by thanking the audience for participating in the event.

Small Exercise to practice 

Write down on paper the name of your favorite leader

Write down the qualities you admire the most in that leader

Try to write a speech on your own using the speech we have provided as a reference

FAQs on Speech on Leadership

1. How to write a good essay or a speech on leadership?

It is very important for the students to learn to write on their own. To write a good essay or a speech students should follow the following steps - 

Try to understand the topic you want to write about 

Read from multiple sources to get an idea of the topic.

Prepare a structure that is what all you want to cover in your writing.

Note down all the important points according to your structure.

Arrange the collected information in the pre-decided structure.

Remember to keep your audience engaged in your speech.

Try to use ideas and words which don't hurt anyone's emotions.

Start writing and with time you will get better in the process.

You can also send us your essays or writing which will be evaluated by the faculty. 

2. How to deliver the speech in the right manner?

To be able to deliver a speech perfectly you need to keep the following points in mind - 

First, you need to have a clear idea of the topic you want to deliver a speech on.

You should know your audience well in advance to understand their interest.

Make use of the language your audience is comfortable with.

Have control over your voice, keep it clear, balanced and audible to the audience.

Make use of different tones and pitches of the voice to emphasize certain points.

Make use of examples and stories to get the attention of your audience.

Make the speech in the right order.

Always let your audience know what they can expect and learn from the speech.

Try to connect with your audience frequently.

3. What should be the structure of writing a speech?

Like every writing, the speech also has three parts that are the introduction, body, and conclusion. Keep the introduction very interesting, get the attention of your audience by starting with a short story then gradually introduce your topic through that story. Secondly, make the audience aware of the keywords of the topic.

In the body, talk in detail about your topic like state the historical, economical, social factor of your topic.

And then conclude your speech by summarizing the key message and the takeaways of the speech. Try to practice with this framework and in due course of time, you will be able to write an excellent speech. Also, try to learn from some great speeches of the leaders.

4. How important is it to have a command of the English language while writing a speech?

If you are writing a speech in English then yes you should have a very good command of the language. You should not be committing grammatical errors or mistakes while framing the sentence. For this, read the basic grammar and practice writing frequently. You can make others read your writings and suggest the needed corrections. 

The more you read, the more you write the better command you will have over the language.

5. Can I use quotes from other personalities in my speech?

Yes you can use any quotes which you think are relevant for your topic. But you should keep a few things in mind - 

Do not overuse quotes that are you should have a maximum of two to three quotes in your speech

Do not make use of any disputed quotes

Use simple quotes which your audience can understand easily.

6. How can I download reading material from Vedantu?

Accessing material from Vedantu is extremely easy and student-friendly. Students have to simply visit the website of  Vedantu and create an account. Once you have created the account you can simply explore the subjects and chapters that you are looking for. Click on the download button available on the website on Vedantu to download the reading material in PDF format. You can also access all the resources by downloading the Vedantu app from the play store.