Want to deliver an unstoppable presentation? Know your motivation
If you’re getting stuck with public speaking…it might be your motivation that needs an upgrade.
Many newbie speakers are so focused on their speech (and their nerves) they forget to identify the main reason they’re showing up in the first place. And this is a big mistake, because understanding your “why” will provide the energy you need to connect with your audience with passion and enthusiasm.
Need to figure out your motivation? Keep reading.
Why knowing your motivation is important
Unlike your “key message”, which is specific to each presentation you do, your core motivation is the deeper reason behind the work that you do every day. It’s important to dig in and identify exactly what is the heartbeat that gets you out of bed every morning.
Now, identifying your “why” doesn’t have to be time consuming, but it is a critical task to undertake. Remember that your answer should be simple, easy to understand, and personally meaningful. Your core motivation is as unique as you are, and it’s exactly what you need to stand apart from everyone else.
As an example, here’s my core motivation:
I’m determined to help women step up as leaders and build the careers and businesses of their dreams. My job is to help as many women as possible overcome public speaking fears and build great communication skills.
How to find your motivation
Grab a notebook or your laptop, and take time to answer these questions:
What do I (or we) do?
How do we serve people?
What makes us unique?
How does our work change people’s lives?
WHY do we do this work?
Why do we love what we do?
Why am I determined to share my work with the world?
If you own a business or run an organization, you’ve probably already got a specific vision or mandate that pushes your work forward. If that’s the case, work on identifying your specific role, and why you are representing this vision through big speeches or presentations. What do you want to share? And how do you connect to it personally?
Use your motivation as a “hub” for what you share
If you are working in a traditional career or are a solo-entrepreneur, you might need to identify the bigger picture of why you do what you do. If you are selling cupcakes, what’s the big reason you want to share this with the world?
And remember, there are no right or wrong answers. You can always adjust your core motivation, especially as your work evolves and changes.