example motivational speech for employees

The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

A woman listens to motivational speeches through her headphones

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

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Motivational Speech

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind.

Whether it's a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote, these speeches are designed to change how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“I learned many great lessons from my father -- not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.

But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you'll know you have other options.

It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred — on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“Either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me.

And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

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15 Inspirational Speeches to Share with Your Team

These days, you might be feeling on the edge of burnout. Finding the time and mental energy to get everything done is simply overwhelming.

Whether you’re managing fine or barely holding on, this is a great time to reflect on your well-being and build habits that bring you long-term success.

If you’re ready to take it to the next level and make 2021 your year, start by inspiring yourself and your team with a mind-expanding talk. We’ve put together 15 inspirational speeches ranging from educational to motivational that are sure to get you ready to grow yourself in 2021.

1. Are you an ideal team player?- Patrick Lencioni

Best-selling author and team dysfunction expert Patrick Lencioni breaks down the questions every member of your team can ask themselves to improve their teamwork.

2. Developing a Growth Mindset- Carol Dweck

Developing a growth mindset is critical for successful advancement in life. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck explains why growth mindsets are so powerful and how to develop one in this Ted Talk classic.

3. The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen

Productivity guru David Allen explains his simple method for ensuring you get things done. This is a must-watch for any team struggling with procrastination and prioritization.

4. The power of vulnerability- Dr. Brené Brown

Pioneering vulnerability researcher Brené Brown shares her findings on the impact embracing emotional transparency can have on teams and relationships. This is a must-watch for any team looking to improve their communication and teamwork.

5. The 3 Most Important Things for Every Entrepreneur- Verne Harnish

Verne Harnish, EO Founder and best-selling author of Scaling Up , is a popular speaker at business conferences around the world, as well as the host of his own . His message resonates with entrepreneurs and business leaders with entrepreneurial mindsets.

6. These Are Not Unprecedented Times – Simon Sinek

Delivered over Zoom at the start of the pandemic, popular speaker Simon Sinek gives an optimistic message for anyone stuck in the dark tunnel of coronavirus quarantines and lockdowns. The Start with Why Author’s message also resonates with those emerging from the tunnel and motivating themselves for what’s ahead.

7. The Science of Habits – Marco Badwel

Harvard researcher Marco Badwel shares the secrets of forming successful habits as explained by science. If you or you’re team is trying to adopt a new habit, this talk is for you.

8. The 5 hindrances to self-mastery – Master Shi Heng Yi

Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi shares lessons for a fulfilling life and from his time as a traditionally educated monk living in the west. “The universal law of being successful and happy at the same time means finding the balance”, says master Yi.

9. What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness- Robert Waldinger

Looking to motivate your team to find fulfillment in their work-life harmony? Look no further than this classic ted talk on the research of what’s important to life-long happiness.

10. The habits of happiness- Matthieu Ricard

Former molecular biologist and Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard explains how to develop habits of well-being to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment. This is a great watch for anyone working to find balance and peace in their lives.

11. Oprah Winfrey- Spelman College Commencement Address 2012

Among the greatest commencement addresses ever, Oprah Winfrey’s 2012 speech lays out a motivational path to success anyone can connect with.

12. 2005 Stanford Commencement Address- Steve Jobs

This classic speech by the famous Apple CEO makes a lasting impact on all that listen to it. Steve Jobs pushes the listener to aim high with their goals and take advantage of every setback.

13. Darkest Hour (2017) – We Shall Fight on the Beaches Scene

Nothing stirs the soul like Sir Winston Churchill’s timeless words that roused a nation to arms against a great evil. During tough times, a little cinematic and historic motivation may rouse your team.

14. A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

If you’re looking for a feel-good pick-me-up, look no further than this viral classic from Kid President.

15. Van Down By The River – Saturday Night Live

When you’re sick and tired of motivational speeches, watch the greatest parody of motivational speakers ever made. Chris Farley gives a legendary performance in this video that is just to delight and inspire change.

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10 Motivational Speeches That Will Inspire You to Take Action Today

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Whether you’re looking to increase team productivity or turn your daydreams into a reality, motivation is key. But, in the day-to-day of working life, it’s easy to lose sight of end goals and become distracted. Thankfully, the wise words of entrepreneurs, writers, and fictional characters can offer a reinvigorating perspective. The following motivational speeches may give you the push you need to reach your full potential.

1. Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die (2005)

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

In this commencement address, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. shared one of the keys to his success: love. His love for the work he did kept him excited about going to work every day and working toward new goals. Often, there is a big difference between what you want versus what other people want for you . Discovering what you’re passionate about, and working toward it with achievable goals , will lead you to success and satisfaction. This is why it is our staff’s number one pick for motivational speeches that will inspire you to take action today.

2. Ellie (Jodie Foster) Meets An Alien In Contact (1997)

“You’re an interesting species, an interesting mix. You are capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone. Only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable… is each other.”

While this Sci-Fi classic might seem removed from reality, it offers uplifting advice for the workplace and beyond. In this scene, Ellie finally makes contact with an alien who offers insight into the human condition and the larger universe. To apply the alien’s words to the workplace, think of the power of teamwork. Establishing a diverse and talented team can improve employee happiness and performance. For example, burnout is a common problem at companies. Sharing the workload, and knowing you can rely on team members and managers for support, can re-motivate employees. When the going gets tough, it’s a comfort to know you’re not alone.

3. Timo’s (Rick Gonzales) Answer In Coach Carter (2005)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this scene, Timo, a member of the basketball team central to the movie, responds to the question the coach asks throughout the movie: “What is your greatest fear?” Timo’s words touch on the importance of self-efficacy. By believing in yourself, you can deepen your interest and commitment to a given task, and recover faster from setbacks . If you lead a team or company, others will soon be influenced by your can-do attitude. So, stop fearing your own power and shine.

4. Chris (Will Smith) Gives His Son Advice In the Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

In a world full of naysayers, it’s easy to become discouraged. In this scene from the heart-warming film, Chris offers his son priceless advice: to pursue his dreams mercilessly, without letting other peoples’ ideas of him get in the way. While this motivational speech is noble and beautiful, you might find it challenging to apply to your own life. Here’s where building a strategic plan — with short- and long-term goals— can make pursuing your dreams concrete. With a clear and concise vision for the future, you can put these words into action.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it Takes to be a Great Leader

“So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.”

Rosalinde Torres asserts that exceptional leaders are attuned to the world around them. They pay attention to the latest trends in their field and aren’t afraid to abandon tried and true practices for ones that are the future. Basically, she’s advising the opposite of that popular saying, “Keep your head down.” Because, if you do that, you’ll end up reacting to the future instead of making it. Further, you won’t benefit from a broadened perspective that includes different cultures, industries, and readings. Ask yourself, “When is the last time I looked around me and toward the future?” This is the start of great leadership.

6. John Keating’s (Robin Williams) Motivational Speech About Seizing the Day From Dead Poets Society (1989)

” Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

John Keating motivates his students with a simple sentiment— seize the day. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s a useful sentiment for those stuck in careers they don’t like or struggling to achieve their next milestone. Most working people will spend around 8 hours a day at the office; that’s a lot of time to spend on something you dislike. So, if you’re feeling uninspired or sick of your career, take Mr. Keating’s advice and don’t waste any more time. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can your harness them into a fulfilling career?

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Motivational Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

“When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA that the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad. And when I realized this, I dubbed my new devotion the Church of Freedom From Concern, the Church of FFC. And I dedicated myself to that ministry. What’s yours? How will you serve the world? What did they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”

The comedian’s advice for a successful and rewarding life is simple: find how you want to serve the world, and pursue it. While it may take years of exploring to find your talent, sometimes it can be as simple as stepping back and reflecting on those moments when you felt yourself excelling and having an impact on others. Finding your calling might seem overwhelming, but asking yourself what the world needs that you can provide will surely set things in motion.

8. Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa (2006)

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rocky’s motivational speech is all about not letting failure define you. This is good advice, no matter your industry. In 2019, 90% of startups failed . But, many successful business people, including Bill Gates and Walt Disney, failed before they succeeded. So, even if the odds are against your, it doesn’t helo to fixate on the negative. In fact, a positive attitude can improve mental and physical health , which will improve your performance in the workplace.

9. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation (2009)

“There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.”

There is an outdated belief that rewards and punishments are vital to improving employee performance. Pink argues that intrinsic drive— doing things because of internal satisfaction as opposed to external factors—is the real secret to high performance. So, whether you’re a manager or a new employee, consider why your work matters. Aside from your salary, what gets you to work every day? If these questions are hard to answer, you might need to incorporate or seek out a more creative approach. Pink gives the example of companies giving employees flexible schedules, where they can use their time as they want to accomplish set tasks. The schedule allows for more creativity and independence, and thus improves employee performance.

10. Coach Tony D’Amato’s (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (1999)

“I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.”

This emotional scene drives home an important point: There is no “i” in team. Both entrepreneurs and executives who work their way up the corporate ladder know that they won’t achieve success all on their own. Attracting and retaining exceptional team members is the foundation of any lasting business. So, think about the skills you’re looking for in an employee and implement a process that’ll allow you to root out those people who will go the extra inch for you. If you’re not in a leadership position, think about the skills that will make you an invaluable hire.

The Bottom Line on Motivational Speeches

No matter what industry you’re in, you can harness the wisdom of real and fictional characters to achieve your wildest dreams. So, get out there, explore your interests, make connections, and create a fulfilling career.

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How to Give a Motivational Speech for Your Next Team Meeting

Hrideep barot.

Workplace Communication

Have you ever been the center of attention at a team meeting, wondering how to inspire everyone there with real inspiration? It’s not just you. It might feel like an art form to write a speech that not only draws in listeners but also inspires genuine motivation. But don’t worry— we’re going to unpack the art of delivering a motivational speech for a team meeting.

Thus, stay with us if you’re preparing for your next team meeting and want to leave a lasting impact. Let’s investigate the different ways to give a speech that has the effect of a real discussion rather than a lecture, fostering a spirit of enthusiasm and cooperation that lasts long after you’ve left the room.

This article aims to address the following:

What is Motivational Speech?
Why is it Important to Motivate your Team?
Techniques for Giving a Motivational Speech
Prerequisites for creating a Motivational Speech
Sample of Motivational Speech
Popular Motivational Speakers
Conclusion.

WHAT IS A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH?

A motivational speech is like a burst of energy for your spirit. It’s that talk that gets your heart racing, your mind buzzing with possibilities, and leaves you ready to take on the world. Picture it as a verbal pep talk, aiming to inspire and ignite a fire within you. Whether it’s a speaker on stage, your boss at a team meeting, or even a friend lifting your spirits, a good motivational speech has this magical ability to make you believe in yourself, see challenges as opportunities, and fill you with the courage to chase your dreams. It’s not just words; it’s a boost for your soul, a reminder that you’ve got what it takes to conquer whatever comes your way.

Check this out for more information on this topic.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MOTIVATE YOUR TEAM?

Let’s break it down in simpler terms. Imagine your team as a group of friends planning a road trip. Motivation is like having a full tank of gas – it keeps your journey smooth and enjoyable. Here’s why keeping that tank full is so darn important:

Keep the Wheels Turning:

When your team is motivated, it’s like stepping on the gas pedal. Tasks get done, projects move forward, and everyone’s cruising toward success.

Happy Travelers:

Motivation adds a dose of joy to the work journey. It’s not just about reaching the destination; it’s about enjoying the ride. Motivated team members find satisfaction in what they do.

Reaching Pit Stops:

Ever tried a road trip without goals? Motivation sets the GPS. It helps your team set and reach targets, turning the work journey into a series of achievements.

A Solid Caravan:

Motivated teams stick together. It’s not a solo adventure; it’s a collective effort. Motivation creates a bond among team members, making sure nobody gets left behind.

Smooth Roads, Fewer Bumps:

A motivated team is a stress-free team. It’s like driving on a well-maintained highway – fewer potholes, less stress, and an overall smoother ride.

No Detours:

Motivated employees are less likely to jump ship. They’re committed to the trip, less tempted by other roadside attractions, and more likely to stay in the car with you.

Handling Roadblocks:

Motivation turns roadblocks into speed bumps. Instead of seeing challenges as showstoppers, a motivated team sees them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Innovation as the Scenic Route:

Ever taken the scenic route? That’s what a motivated team does. They’re not just following the GPS; they’re exploring new ideas and finding innovative shortcuts.

So, in the grand journey of work, motivation is your trusty fuel. It keeps your team’s engine running, ensures a happy crew, and makes the entire trip worthwhile.

Check this out for more information on this topic.

TECHNIQUES FOR GIVING A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH.

Giving a motivational speech is like setting the stage for a blockbuster movie – you want your audience on the edge of their seats, eager for what comes next. Here are some down-to-earth techniques to make your speech a hit:

1. Get Personal:

Share a bit of yourself, and let your audience see the real you. Personal stories make your message relatable and genuine.

Example: Share a personal story of overcoming a professional setback. “A few years ago, I faced a project failure that taught me valuable lessons in resilience. Today, I want to share that experience with you and inspire a collective spirit of resilience in our team.”

2. Kick Off with a Bang:

Start strong, imagine you’re opening a door to a fantastic world. A catchy quote, a surprising fact, or a quick story can be your key to that door.

Example: Start with a motivational quote: “As Vince Lombardi once said, ‘Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.’ Today, let’s explore how our individual commitments contribute to our collective success.”

3. Make Your Intent Clear:

Tell your audience why they should care. Make it crystal clear what you’re there to talk about and what you hope they’ll take away.

Example: Clarify the purpose of the speech: “The purpose of today’s meeting is to rekindle the spirit of collaboration within our team. By the end, I hope each of you feels motivated and connected to our shared goals.”

4. Tell Stories Like You’re Chatting:

Forget formalities and share your stories like you would with friends over coffee. This brings warmth and authenticity to your speech.

Example: Share a work-related story in a conversational manner: “Picture this: a tight deadline, unexpected challenges, and a team that rallied together to overcome every obstacle. This happened last month, and it reminded me of the strength we possess as a team.”

5. Sprinkle Some Positivity:

Choose words that bring sunshine, positivity is your secret sauce. It’s infectious and sets the mood for inspiration.

Example: Use positive affirmations: “Today is not just a meeting; it’s a celebration of our team’s capabilities. I believe in each of you, and together, there’s no challenge too great for us to tackle.”

6. Throw in a Few Chuckles:

Laughter is a universal language. A well-timed joke or a funny anecdote can break the ice and make your speech memorable.

Example: Share a lighthearted work-related anecdote: “Who else has experienced a ‘Monday moment’ on a Wednesday? I know I have, and sometimes, a good laugh is the best remedy for workplace blues.”

7. Let Your Body Talk:

Your body is part of the conversation. Smile, make eye contact, and let your gestures add flavor to your words. It’s like seasoning for your speech.

Example: Maintain eye contact and smile genuinely: “As we discuss our journey today, I want to emphasize the importance of genuine connections. So, let’s keep the eye contact alive, and feel free to share those smiles. We’re in this together!”

8. Encourage Action:

Motivate your audience to take a step forward. A speech without a call to action is like a movie without a climax. Guide them on what to do next.

Example: Motivate the audience to set individual goals: “Before we conclude, I want each of you to jot down one personal goal you want to achieve this month. Let’s turn today’s inspiration into actionable steps toward personal and team success.”

9. Jazz it Up with Visuals:

Use visuals like you’re telling a storybook. Slides, images, or props can add a visual rhythm to your speech.

Example: Use slides to showcase collaborative achievements: “Here’s a visual representation of our recent successes. Each slide represents a milestone, and together, they tell a story of our collective triumphs.”

10. Hit Emotional Chords:

Make your audience feel something, and share moments that tug at the heartstrings. Emotion makes your message stick.

Example: Share a personal story that evokes determination: “In my career, I faced a moment of doubt, but the support of this team fueled my determination. I want you to feel that same fire within you as we tackle challenges together.”

11. Finish with a Bang:

End like you’re leaving your audience with a cliffhanger. Summarize, hit your main points, and leave them feeling excited and motivated.

Example: Summarize key points with enthusiasm: “Today, we explored the strength of our team, celebrated our successes, and set the stage for future triumphs. I’m leaving this room with immense pride in each of you. Let’s continue this journey with passion and purpose!”

Remember, a good motivational speech isn’t about impressing; it’s about connecting. So, speak from the heart, be yourself, and leave your audience feeling ready to conquer the world!

Check this out for more information on this topic

PREREQUISITES OF CREATING A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH .

1. understand your audience:.

Consider conducting surveys or interviews to gather insights into your audience’s preferences, challenges, and expectations. Use this information to tailor your message to their specific needs and create a stronger connection.

2. Define Your Purpose:

Clearly articulate the expected outcomes of your speech. Whether it’s boosting team morale, fostering a sense of purpose, or encouraging personal development, defining your purpose helps shape the content and structure of your speech.

3. Gather Relevant Stories and Examples:

Develop a repertoire of stories that not only align with your key messages but also resonate with the experiences of your audience. Personalize each story to make it relatable, ensuring that listeners can see themselves in the narrative.

4. Establish Credibility:

Share specific instances where your expertise or experiences have contributed to successful outcomes. This could include successful projects you’ve led, professional certifications, or lessons learned from overcoming challenges. Building credibility involves providing tangible evidence of your capabilities.

5. Create a Strong Outline:

Within the introduction, consider incorporating a “hook” that captures immediate attention, such as a thought-provoking question or a brief anecdote. In the conclusion, emphasize the key takeaways and end with a call to action, prompting the audience to apply what they’ve learned.

6. Incorporate Engaging Elements:

Explore various types of visuals, such as infographics, charts, or short video clips, to cater to different learning styles. Incorporate audience participation by posing questions or facilitating brief discussions. Engaging elements should complement your verbal message and enhance audience understanding.

7. Tailor Your Language:

Choose language that reflects the culture and communication style of your audience. If you’re addressing a diverse group, consider incorporating inclusive language to ensure that everyone feels represented. Tailoring your language fosters a sense of connection and understanding.

8. Consider Timing:

Break down your speech into time segments for each section. Allocate more time to critical points and less to supporting details. Be mindful of natural pauses, allowing the audience to absorb information. Effective timing ensures a well-paced and engaging presentation.

9. Anticipate Questions and Reactions:

Develop comprehensive responses to potential questions, considering alternative perspectives or concerns that may arise. During the speech, actively observe the audience’s reactions and adjust your delivery based on their engagement level. Anticipating questions demonstrates preparedness and enhances your ability to connect with the audience.

SAMPLE OF MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH .

“Hey Team! How’s everyone doing today? Let’s kick off with a little pep talk because, hey, we’re an awesome bunch, and we need a reminder of that now and then. Look at us — a bunch of talented, creative, and downright cool individuals. Seriously, have you seen the awesome stuff we’ve been pulling off together? It’s like a superhero team, but without the capes (unless you’re into that kind of thing). So, here’s the deal. We’re not just clocking in and out; we’re on a journey together. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster – ups, downs, twists, and turns. But guess what? Roller Coasters are exciting, and so is our journey. Sure, we’ve got challenges. But here’s the secret sauce; those challenges? They’re just hurdles in a race we’re winning. Every problem we solve, every deadline we smash – that’s us leveling up. I want each of you to take a moment to appreciate the uniqueness you bring to this team. Your quirks, your skills, your coffee preferences – they all matter. As we move forward, let’s not just aim to get the job done. Let’s aim to rock it. Let’s make our tasks our own, add a bit of flair, and make it so awesome that people will be talking about it. Remember, we’re not just colleagues; we’re a squad. We’ve got each other’s backs. Your win is my win, and together, we’re unstoppable.

In the words of someone probably wise, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” And I believe our dreams are pretty epic. So, let’s tackle the day with a high-five, a smile, and the knowledge that we’re in this together. Ready to rock? Cheers to an awesome day, team! “

Check the video out to learn more about how to write and deliver such speeches.

POPULAR MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS.

Tony robbins.

Tony Robbins, the motivational expert, doesn’t just speak – he’s a force of inspiration. Imagine this: he’s not just on stage; he’s leading a revolution in how we approach life. With his infectious enthusiasm, Tony delves deep into the workings of our minds and emotions, urging us to break free from limitations and seize success. It’s not just motivational talk; it’s practical strategies for conquering life’s challenges. Whether it’s his captivating speeches or life-altering advice, Tony Robbins isn’t just a speaker; he’s your motivator, encouraging you to overcome fears and live your fullest life. His impact isn’t fleeting; it’s a game-changer for millions worldwide.

One of his speeches includes:

Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey, a motivational powerhouse, isn’t your typical financial guru; he’s your money confidant. He doesn’t just throw numbers at you; he’s in it to make a change in your life. Imagine this: instead of lecturing, he’s having a real talk about money, debts, and dreams. With his down-to-earth style and a sprinkle of humor, Dave helps you achieve financial freedom. Whether he’s rocking the stage, writing books, or on the airwaves, Ramsey isn’t just a speaker; he’s that friendly guide helping you conquer debt, handle money, and embrace your best life. His impact is more than dollars – it’s about sparking hope and giving you a roadmap to a brighter financial future.

Check this video out for one of his speeches:

Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner, the man who inspired “The Pursuit of Happiness,” isn’t just a speaker; he’s your personal motivation booster. Picture this: he doesn’t just narrate a tale; he shares his journey from homelessness to success, a rollercoaster of resilience and hope. Chris has this amazing knack for turning tough times into victories, and when he speaks, you can’t help but feel empowered to face your challenges. He’s not just a character from a movie; he’s a living reminder that, no matter how tough life gets, you have the power to script your own story of happiness.

Here’s one of his speeches:

Suze Orman

The money expert Suze Orman isn’t your typical financial wizard; rather, she’s a helpful buddy who guides you through the complex world of personal finance. Rather than overwhelming you with financial jargon, she makes financial issues approachable and powerful. Suze’s influence extends beyond her discussions of investments and budgets; she is a powerful motivator for taking charge of your financial destiny. Her speeches are similar to an international pep rally in that they provide you with financial security advice and inspire a shift in perspective towards plenty. Suze Orman is not only concerned with finances; she is an enthusiastic promoter of both financial and personal empowerment, inspiring individuals to make financially responsible decisions with self-assurance and direction.

Here’s one of her speeches:

So, as we wrap up our exploration into the art of delivering a motivational speech for your next team meeting, remember that the power of words goes beyond mere communication; it has the ability to ignite passion, foster collaboration, and leave an enduring impact. Whether drawing inspiration from the dynamic Tony Robbins, the financial wisdom of Dave Ramsey, the resilience of Chris Gardner, or the practical guidance of Suze Orman, motivational speakers serve as stimulants for personal and professional transformation.

In the grand journey of work, motivation is the fuel that keeps your team’s engine running, ensuring a happy crew and making the entire trip worthwhile. As you gear up for your next team meeting, armed with the techniques and insights shared here, remember that a good motivational speech is not just about impressing but connecting. Speak from the heart, be yourself, and leave your audience feeling ready to conquer the world. After all, it’s not just about the words; it’s about the impact, the inspiration, and the lasting motivation that resonates long after the meeting. So, go out there, inspire, and make your next team meeting an unforgettable experience.

Cheers to a journey filled with motivation, collaboration, and success!

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10 motivational speech examples

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Motivation is the key to workplace success . In fact, staff who are engaged with their jobs have a four times higher success rate, according to the Q12 Meta-Analysis report by Gallup.

This success comes from greater levels of efficiency, productivity, satisfaction, stress management, development of personal relationships, and capacity to problem-solve which, in turn, entail having greater motivation. As the writer Charles R. Swindoll notes, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."

The power of the word: 10 motivational speech examples

We all know that maintaining motivation is not always easy. However, at times when you think you've lost your enthusiasm for your work and don't have any goals to work towards, you can turn to the movies .

There are plenty of examples from the silver screen of speeches that will inspire you on various levels to pick up your professional projects once more with the maximum energy possible. Below, you will discover 10 great examples of motivational speeches from the world of film which are sure to lift your mood.

"The Great Dictator": the freedom to have a purpose

In this film from 1940, Charlie Chaplin speaks about the freedom to decide what you want to do with your future, overcoming societal conventions and searching for a true purpose in life . His advice is not to give up, not to let people who tell you how to think, act or feel bring you down.

“You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure."

"The Pursuit of Happyness": the power of perseverance

Do you have a dream? Chase it, even if you find obstacles in the way or people try to convince you to give up. That's the advice given by Chris Gardner (Will Smith) to his son in the film The Pursuit of Happyness , a veritable ode to perseverance that was a must-include on this list of inspirational speeches.

"Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period."

"Rocky Balboa”: resilience to withstand the blows

As with the previous example, this is also a case of words that a father, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), dedicates to his son. In one scene from the film, the main character is talking about the inevitable blows in life and how true achievers are those who push on while they're being beaten down , without complaining, without looking for a scapegoat.

"If you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody."

"Pay It Forward": the power to change the world

This film, directed by Mimi Leder, is another example of motivational speech that forces the viewer to reflect on their role in society. What does the world mean to you? What does the world expect from you? With these two questions, Kevin Spacey floats the idea to a group of seventh graders that the power to build your own future lies inside of you, despite the disappointments of adult life.

"The realm of possibility exists in each of you; you can surprise us, it's up to you."

“Any Given Sunday”: small steps towards major goals

Achieving your dreams is a mammoth task; the path is littered with obstacles that may lead you to feel demotivated. How can you avoid this? As Al Pacino points out in this movie about American football: play by play, inch by inch. When the results are long-term, it's common to lose hope because you can't see any tangible progress. Hence the importance of setting short-term objectives , small milestones that encourage you to forge ahead with your personal and professional projects.

"We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when we add up all those inches that’s gonna make the difference between winning and losing".

“V for Vendetta”: getting out of your comfort zone

Any career involves myriad difficulties and barriers, but what should you do to tackle these? Do you resign yourself to new circumstances or try to overcome the obstacles? It's easy to fall into a rut, the safety of the known, the tranquillity of monotony, as the well-known speech in V for Vendetta tells us, advocating for us to get out of our comfort zones , pursue our goals and not keep doing things we don't like.

"The truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? If you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror".

"Invictus”: how to be an inspirational leader

Are you looking for leadership motivation? In this film, there's a scene that really clears up how to be an inspirational leader that gets the best out of a team and goes that extra mile to achieve its objectives. How can you make others better than they think they are? The key lies in serving as a model and encouraging a sense of belonging, just as Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman discuss.

"We need inspiration, because in order to build our nation, we must all exceed our own expectations".

"Steve Jobs": A gift for innovation

In the final speech from the biopic Jobs , the founder of Apple, played by Ashton Kutcher, makes a plea for all those people who seek new ways to make the world better. He talks about the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who don't fit in and the ones who see things differently, defying the rules and disrupting the status quo. Considering everything this visionary achieved in life, his words will undoubtedly help you to recoup your motivation.

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

"Dead Poets Society": finding new perspectives

" O Captain! My Captain! " You're sure to have heard this legendary phrase from the Dead Poets Society at least once, but this film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams is packed with profound teachings. One of them is the importance of seeking new perspectives, of developing a global vision that lets you understand the environment and, harnessing this knowledge, dare to change and explore new fields.

"I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things a different way. Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly or wrong."

Good Will Hunting: nobody knows it all

These motivational speech examples, taken from the big screen, feature the same actor, but this time in his role in Good Will Hunting . In a few short minutes, this scene highlights that nobody knows it all, and that to keep growing personally and professionally, we need to embrace continuous improvement . Without this ongoing learning, there can be no evolution, even if you're a genius as is the case of the main character played by Matt Damon.

“I look at you and I don't see an intelligent, confident man. I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you're a genius Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine and you ripped my life apart."

Do you want to develop professional skills that will help you access better job opportunities? Discover Santander Open Academy , the training space you need to keep growing.

To accomplish this aim, Banco Santander is committed to lifelong learning, professional retraining or reskilling, and further training or upskilling, three key concepts to boost employability through the acquisition of new knowledge, and training in the transversal skills most sought-after by employers. Something that is sure to prove a great incentive so that you never lose your motivation .

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Career Development

How To Write a Team Motivation Speech (With Template and Example)

Having a motivated and effective team is a key factor in any successful organization. Keeping team morale high and ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal is essential for any team to reach its full potential. A team motivation speech can be a great way to ensure your entire team is focused and energized. Not only does it set the tone for the day, but it also reminds everyone why their work is important and how it fits into the greater mission of the organization. A team motivation speech can also be an excellent way to show appreciation for the hard work of your colleagues. By recognizing their accomplishments and acknowledging the dedication of your team members, you can create a more positive work environment, leading to increased morale and improved job performance. A team motivation speech should be delivered with a professional tone that expresses a genuine appreciation for the efforts of your team. Doing so will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone is motivated and inspired to reach the common goals.

Why deliver a team motivation speech?

A manager or business might give a motivational speech for a number of reasons, including:

What is a team motivation speech?

Managers and executives deliver team motivation speeches to their staff in order to inspire and uplift them. Team motivation speeches are frequently used by managers to keep employees concentrated on a current task or project and ensure its success. The length of speeches can vary, and managers may give them to staff in a very informal setting, such as just before the workday begins, or they may arrange a meeting where they can effectively communicate their message.

How to write a team motivation speech

Here is a list of the steps to writing an effective speech to motivate your team:

1. Acknowledge their hard work

It’s crucial to acknowledge the effort employees have already put in and how it’s contributed to their success when beginning a motivational speech. It’s also advantageous to list any issues or difficulties they’ve encountered, along with the steps they took to come up with solutions. An example of what a manager might say to inspire the team is:

“I know you’ve had a lot of challenges in the last few weeks, like personnel changes and client demands, but you’ve done an outstanding job keeping up and communicating with each other,” the speaker said. “.

2. Remind them of project goals

Employees can better understand why they are working hard and concentrate on the long-term advantages of their productivity by being reminded of their current goals, whether for a project or the entire company. Mention the smaller goals the team has completed and how they fit into the overall objective. For example, a manager might say:

“Since the project began two months ago, we’ve adhered to a specific action plan and accomplished three of our five smaller objectives. Our anticipated completion date has been pushed back by three days as a result of those accomplished goals. “.

3. Discuss successes

Discussing the team’s accomplishments and how they have benefited the business can help show how important the team is to the success of the enterprise. When highlighting accomplishments, it is advantageous to focus on specific people and the decisions or actions they took that benefited the business or a significant project. Publicly praising workers can both inspire them to keep up their good work and inspire other workers to put in even more effort in order to receive public recognition.

4. List whats left to be done

Finally, it’s crucial to mention any significant tasks or assignments that staff members must complete in order to achieve a primary goal or objective when concluding the speech. It’s crucial for managers to motivate staff members and instill confidence in their abilities to complete the remaining tasks after outlining what needs to be done. For instance, a manager might say these words as he wraps up his speech:

I recognize that there is still work to be done, but with our combined efforts and the skills you have already shown, we will be able to complete it quickly and effectively. “.

Times to deliver a team motivation speech

It’s crucial to understand when to give a team motivational speech. Some of those times can include:

Tips for writing a team motivation speech

Here are some more pointers for creating a potent speech to motivate your team:

Acknowledge strengths

When giving a team motivation speech, it’s beneficial to highlight the employees’ top strengths. It’s advantageous to talk about how employees have enhanced or expanded their skills and expertise as you highlight their strengths. Employee motivation can be boosted by letting them know that you’ve noticed their growth and development.

Tell a story

It’s crucial to include a story in your motivational speech because it improves the presentation’s natural flow and makes it more engaging. Having a clear beginning, middle, and end for your speech’s story will make it easier for the audience to follow. As an illustration, the opening of your speech might discuss significant setbacks a project experienced, the middle might focus on how the team overcame those setbacks, and the conclusion might discuss new project setbacks and how the team can overcome them once more.

Practice and refine

To make the speech as effective as possible, it is beneficial to practice, review, and edit it before delivering it. If you’re reviewing the speech, think about having friends or family listen to it and provide feedback. You can determine whether any portions of the speech require revisions or additions to help them catch the attention of your employees by having family or friends listen.

Incorporate pauses

Employing pauses while delivering the speech can help the audience retain the information and encourage them to listen for more. Additionally, it can assist you in underscoring or emphasizing key points in the presentation. When you practice, think about placing pauses in various places and ask friends and family if they find their placement to be effective.

Team motivation speech template

A good team motivation speech template is provided below:

[ Address the team or group of employees ] ,

You have made significant contributions to this business/department/team/project over the past [increment of time]. [Discuss and commend the team’s efforts, as well as any significant difficulties or obstacles they overcame]

It’s crucial to keep in mind the project’s importance as we get closer to finishing it. [Include the projects’ goals and how achieving them will benefit the business]

Now that the project is underway, we’ve already achieved some significant successes and some of its smaller goals, including [list the team’s accomplishments, highlighting particular members and their contributions to the project’s success]

There is still some work to be done before the project is finished, such as [list the key tasks or assignments that employees still need to complete], but I am confident that by working together, we can finish it quickly and provide our company/client/department with exceptional results.

Team motivation speech example

Here is an illustration of a team-motivation speech utilizing the example from above:

You’ve done a lot for this project over the past few months. You’ve completed our competitor analysis, created impressive marketing plans, and presented the client with original ideas. You put in the extra time and talked to each other to find solutions when the client rejected some of our proposals and we fell behind schedule.

It’s crucial to keep in mind why this project is so crucial as we get closer to finishing it. Gneiss Construction, our client, hired us to enhance their company’s marketing and expand their customer outreach. Our diligence will enable their family-run business to grow and prosper. If they are successful, our business will also be successful because they will pay us in full and spread the word about our superior services to other businesses.

Now, we’ve already achieved a number of the project’s smaller goals, such as getting the client’s approval for our marketing strategies and creating a potent campaign action plan. Although many people helped us achieve those successes, I’d like to recognize Arman’s and Jessica’s leadership, which allowed us to do so quickly and effectively.

There is still some work to be done before the project is finished, such as starting the campaign and analyzing consumer response, but I am confident that if we work together, we can finish it quickly and give our client excellent results.

The Power of Teamwork – Teamwork Motivational Video

How do you motivate your team speech?

Acknowledge their hard work. …
Remind them of project goals. …
Discuss successes. …
List what’s left to be done.

How do you motivate your team?

Share your vision and set clear goals.
Communicate with your staff.
Encourage teamwork.
A healthy office environment.
Give positive feedback and reward your team.
Provide opportunities for development.

How do you start a team speech?

Make a strong emotional statement at the beginning of your presentation speech by using words like “hate,” “love,” and “worst.” Say something like, “What I love about emperor penguins is that they know how to take a hit for the team, so when I give a speech on teamwork, I’ll start off with that.

What is the most inspiring speech?

Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s well-known “I Have a Dream Speech” from 1963 serves as a reminder that better days are always ahead. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. arguably gave the most well-known and motivational speech in American history.

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Home > Blog > Speaking 101 > 10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

Whether you’re a speaker or not, there come times in all of our lives where we need a little motivation. Maybe you’re struggling to find your purpose or are unsure about your path in life. Maybe you just had a bad day and need a reminder that tomorrow’s a fresh start. In either case, looking to famous speakers – and their corresponding motivational speech examples – is one sure way to boost your mood and help you find the energy to keep on keepin’ on.

Here, we’ll look at ten different speeches from some of the most famous motivational speakers of the 21st century. Some are serious and take a candid look at difficult issues in the speakers’ lives. Others are humorous, designed to balance tough topics with laughter.

Whatever tone you need to hear at this moment, at least one of the following speakers is guaranteed to brighten your day. They’re also all incredible examples for you to follow, simply from a speaking standpoint, when you next step on stage or record a virtual event .

Hopefully, you get as much out of these examples as our own team did and are able to put the corresponding takeaways to good use. 💓

Steve Jobs: Commencement Speech At Stanford (2005)

First of our motivational speech examples is Stanford’s 2005 commencement speech, delivered by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Since his passing , much has been said about Jobs, some positive, some negative, with some people going so far as to publish their criticism or praise. However, regardless of whether or not they personally admired him, few will argue against Job’s brilliance. Even for those that scrutinized his business practices or personal life while he was alive, there’s little doubt that he was a major force in shaping the world we live in today through the technology he created.

In this speech, Jobs’ mindfulness for these differing views is readily apparent, and overall, the entire speech is surprisingly humble. Jobs structures his speech as three simple stories, and of course they’re anything but simple, once you dig beneath the surface.

One is a rags-to-riches story, which is expected, considering Jobs’ success. Second is a story of adversity in which Jobs explains the issues he faced after being “fired” from Apple.

But it’s the third story – one about death – that’s truly surprising. It’s not a subject you’ll hear in many commencement speeches, let alone motivational ones. Yet, in telling this story, Jobs manages to present it in a way that it’s not depressing or scary but instead inspires his audience to live life to the fullest.

In the same way, as you shape your own motivational speeches or as you approach challenging situations, remember that simplicity and logic are all well and good, like the stories Jobs includes at the beginning of his speech. But, if you want to truly stand out and conquer your challenges, be courageous! Approach tough topics head-on, don’t be afraid to be unconventional, and you’re sure to leave a mark, just like Jobs did.

Richard St. John: 8 Secrets of Success TED Talk (2005)

Second of our motivational speech examples is that of author, marketer, and analyst Richard St. John , namely his 2005 TED Talk. TED Talks have become a staple in the world of motivational speeches, and it’s easy to see why this one made the cut. Based on his book , 8 To Be Great , St. John’s speech cuts to the chase in a way that most speeches don’t. In fact, it’s only three minutes long!

Plus, although many of his points are simple, the speech itself is structurally brilliant, condensing 7 years of research and 500 of St. John’s interviews into a presentation that, despite its brevity, keeps audience members on their toes. Altogether, it’s a brilliant example of the use of momentum in storytelling. When it starts, for instance, St. John begins with “It all started one day on a plane,” which for many listeners – myself included – would seem like a signal to tune out a bit. It’s like hearing a speech that starts with “Webster’s Dictionary defines…” It works, but it’s used a lot .

That said, the rest of St. John’s speech is the polar opposite, and quickly jumps from one interesting point to another without any wasted words or time. It also incorporates carefully-placed jokes. That way, even though he covers a lot of ground, his audience remembers all of it. It also allows him to connect with his audience and, unlike many speakers, share his information without appearing to be on a pedestal.

With your own experiences or motivational speeches, St. John’s speech offers two important lessons. First, keep it simple. You don’t have to be flashy to be memorable. Second, don’t be afraid to laugh. In presentations, humor makes you more relatable and memorable, and in life, it makes hard times easier to handle.

Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation TED Talk (2009)

Third in our list of motivational speech examples is another TED Talk, this time from career analyst and bestselling author Daniel Pink. As an author, Pink’s built his reputation on many “legs,” including his publications, awards – even a stint as chief speechwriter for former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in the late 1990s.

Like these accomplishments, Pink’s TED Talk is a model for any speaker that needs to take a boring topic – like business or politics – and turn it into something inspiring and engaging. In this case, the former of these topics is presented as a puzzle. To start with, Pink explains the common economic approach to performance, saying “If you want people to perform better, you reward them. Right?… That’s how business works.”

However, what he says next is what really puzzles you, as a listener: There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does….the solution is not to do more of the wrong things, to entice people with a sweeter carrot, or threaten them with a sharper stick. We need a whole new approach.”

Ultimately, the topic of performance in the workplace is a relatively common one and the question “How do I motivate myself at work?” is a common puzzle. But Pink tackles out-of-the-box thinking in an out-of-the-box way and, in the end, concludes his story with a clear takeaway from the evidence and unconventional analytics he’s shared.

Likewise, with your own speeches or decisions, start by considering all the evidence you can find. That’s just a good rule of thumb, no matter what field you’re in. But, after that, try to consider it from another angle. Like Pink’s speech, it’ll make your topic vastly more interesting, and you’re almost guaranteed to grow, personally, because of your learning process.

Mel Robbins: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over (2011)

Number four of our motivational speech examples belongs to Mel Robbins . As speakers go, Robbins is widely respected for her unique and candid approach to difficult situations, or, as I call it, the “gut-punch” approach. In other words, she’s not afraid to talk frankly about tough stuff.

Dig beneath the one-liners and snarky comments, though, and Robbins’ approach is really about being direct to the point of bluntness. Some of the things she advocates are platitudes – focus on getting what you want, tell yourself the truth, force yourself out of your comfort zone, etc. – but she always backs it up with data that makes the gut punches land that much harder.

Beyond her speaking style, however, Robbins is also known for engaging with her audiences. In this speech, for instance, she not only picks an individual from her audience to highlight the overwhelming odds of simply being born (this is the data we just talked about). She then goes on to meld that statistic with a model of the human brain, saying “I describe one side of your brain as autopilot and the other side as an emergency brake” and explaining her method for getting out of your own “autopilot” mode to meet your goals.

In this way, by presenting evidence but then relating it to a real person in the room, Robbins takes a subject that could be complicated or boring and makes it relatable. Likewise, if your speaking material – or your mood – has a tendency to flatline, change things up! Be blunt with yourself and candid with your audience. Then, do whatever you need to connect your message to other’s lives. Just like Pink’s speech, taking this Mel Robbins, “gut-punch” approach will make you relatable and likable, making you memorable.

Michelle Obama: Commencement Speech at Eastern Kentucky University (2013)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is another commencement speech, this time from former lawyer, bestselling author , and First Lady to the 44th President of the U.S. Michelle Obama.

Since stepping into the spotlight at the White House, Obama’s been regarded by many as a woman of power, and her personal and professional accomplishments are without question. In some ways, they’ve even helped her become a celebrity. This level of fame, however, is precisely where Obama’s similarity to celebrities ends.

For many celebrity motivational speakers, speaking is just a gig, and the amount of time they want to spend on it corresponds directly with the money they receive to be there. In cases like these, it’s clear to the audience that the speaker may not even believe what they’re saying on stage or want their audience to succeed. They just want the paycheck.

Yet, despite Obama’s popularity and prominence, her approach to speaking is anything but flippant or snobby. It’s all about connecting with the audience in a way that shows true generosity of spirit. In fact, every point Obama touches on is quickly translated and related to her audience in a way that’s both personal and powerful, making it clear that this speech isn’t haphazardly thrown together or something she’s said to hundreds of other audiences. It was carefully crafted to tie her core values – resilience, conscientiousness and service – into the setting and the needs of her audience, so they could leave with personalized affirmation and action steps.

By doing this, Obama never fails to deliver a message that is both moving and quietly powerful. To do the same with your own speeches, follow her lead and remember who you’re there for: not the check, not the glory, but your audience .

Brené Brown: “The Power of Vulnerability” (2013)

Number six of our motivational speech examples is the shortest on this list, a less than three-minute short film from University of Houston research professor Dr. Brené Brown .

Although Brown originally gained traction with her 20-minute TED Talk in 2010, this speech (or “mini-speech,” rather) takes the topic of that talk – vulnerability – and concentrates on a single facet of it. Specifically, she focuses on empathy and the age-old question of how to express empathy rather than sympathy and, in doing so, authentically connect with the person you’re trying to support in the moment.

It’s a hard question, but, like Richard St. John’s speech, Brown shares a lot in a short message. In many ways, it’s her brevity that forces you to sit up and listen. In a little more than two minutes, her message is simple: When someone you know feels down and alone, don’t try to make things better. Just be there with them, and stick around, even if it takes them a while to bounce back.

To illustrate her point, Brown presents her speech alongside an animated cartoon in which a fox is the depressed party and a bear comes to her aid. This helps her take a challenging and sometimes uncomfortable situation and not just make it engaging but also light-hearted.

Similarly, if your speech tackles a tough message, consider presenting with a visual aid to lighten the mood, and keep the message as brief as possible. Don’t be the motivational speaker equivalent of “that guy,” i.e., the speaker who drones on and on but keeps repeating the same basic points. Use your speaking ability and visual aids to make a connection in the way that suits your audience best.

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Seventh of our motivational speech examples is a 2014 commencement speech, this time from comedian, actor, and artist Jim Carrey. As you’d expect, part of Carey’s charm is his sense of humor, and it’s largely through his comedy that he keeps the audience engaged through serious topics. He’s also mindful of his tendency to walk the comedic line and uses this unpredictability to keep his audience paying attention, as they can pretty safely assume he has another joke up his sleeve.

Additionally, besides humor, Carey also engages his audience with something we’ve yet to touch on: authenticity! Unlike the other speakers in this list, Carey is widely known for his eccentricity more than anything. Most recently, as he’s shared more and more of his artwork, he’s also gained considerable attention for his creativity. Throughout his speech, although many speakers might choose to “dumb down” these attributes, Carey instead thrives on them, staying true to his authentic self, just as he encourages the members of his audience to be.

To conclude his speech, Carey states: “You’ll come up with your own style, and that’s part of the fun… You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world, and after you walk through those doors today, you will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.”

With your own speeches – and your own personal choices – keep this mindset close and remember to be yourself. Like Carey says, “you are ready and able to do beautiful things”. Plus, I can almost guarantee there are people out there who could benefit from the stories you have to share. Just stay true to yourself, stay humble, and your audience won’t want to look away.

Simon Sinek: Live2Lead (2016)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is a speech from writer and TED speaker Simon Sinek . As author of the bestselling leadership book Start With Why , Sinek first appeared in his 2009 TED Talk , “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.”

Since then, he’s gone on to publish a number of additional books centered around leadership as well as how to “wake up inspired, feel safe wherever [we] are and end the day fulfilled by the work [we] do.” These three ideas can be seen consistently throughout his ongoing work, speaking included.

In this speech, specifically, Sinek deals with leadership in the business world, but his approach is based on the idea of destroying stereotypes everywhere. In short, he’s there to “blow up” paradigms and share new ones, based on his own research and experience. Here, Sinek focuses on “trust” and “communication,” for the former. Then, he proposes replacing them with “empathy” and “perspective,” for the latter.

Although this may sound ordinary, Sinek demonstrates that he’s not just replacing one stereotypical topic with another. He’s also urging audience members to ditch their preconceptions about that topic, so they can approach it with an open mind. After having done that, he’s then careful to only provide extremely relevant and powerful arguments for his “new take” on the topic. That way, he provides details without overwhelming the audience.

Overall, these switches between “blowing up” and building provide a sense of balance in Sinek’s speech. In your own speeches, aim for a similar balance for your audience. Keep in mind that you’re there to educate but not berate with a ton of new ideas. It sounds simplistic, but staying consistent and on-point is key if you want your audience to leave inspired to act.

Simon T. Bailey: To Break Through, Find Your True Calling (2017)

Number nine of our motivational speech examples is a 2017 speech from Simon T. Bailey. If you’re a regular SpeakerFlow blog reader, you already know there are many reasons Bailey is legendary among professional speakers. For one thing, his personal branding and digital presence are two of the best in the speaking industry. For another, his humility is seemingly endless despite his success, a trait that’s perhaps best summarized in his book, Success Is An Inside Job : “Success is not significance. Money is not meaning. Power isn’t purpose.”

In this speech, we see this idea reinforced through the third thing that sets Bailey apart, namely his speaking skills. Because he’s talking to a business-oriented crowd, in many ways, this skill isn’t immediately apparent. Truthfully, the first part of his speech is traditional. While it’s undeniably engaging, it’s sometimes a little hard to see why he’s such a renowned orator.

Then he digs deeper. After his initial “traditional” approach, Bailey pivots to a creative angle, explaining how to “invent your future” and be unconventional in simple ways to slowly change your mindset. He then goes on to incorporate topics like emotional equity and commitment, love and respect as universally important values, and his trip to South Africa to “get free.” Combine this surprising switch from “conventional” to “creative” with Bailey’s optimistic tone, and you can almost feel the audience connecting with him.

To create the same atmosphere on your own stage, aim for a similar element of surprise. Remember that you’re there to speak for more than a few minutes. Consequently, building up to a powerful ending is crucial, even if that means starting slow.

Matthew McConaughey: Commencement Speech at University of Houston (2018)

Last but not least in our motivational speech examples list is a 2018 commencement, delivered by Matthew McConaughey.

As an actor, McConaughey has arguably delivered motivational speeches in almost all of his movie appearances. In fact, whether it’s The Lincoln Lawyer , Mud , We Are Marshall, or Dallas Buyers Club , one of his best tricks as an actor is to take each of his characters by the horns and deliver a rousing speech at a critical point in the film.

Outside of the big screen, however, McConaughey’s commencement address for the University of Houston reflects similar confidence and power, in his words, his clothing, and his body language. As a well-known celebrity, this isn’t entirely surprising, especially considering his famously “swoon-worthy” movie persona.

That said, when he gets to the heart of the matter, McConaughey dives well beneath the surface. His pointed words about motivation, success, and life being both tough and unfair are striking in a way you don’t always hear from celebrity speakers. He may begin with platitudes and stereotypes. But, the more he explains, the more intimate the speech gets. This makes it more memorable than even his best movie speeches.

So, what can you take away from McConaughey’s speech? Simply put, whenever you’re trying to put your best foot forward, whether you’re on stage or just walking down the street, remember that being memorable doesn’t require heels or a suit. For McConaughey, who here rocks a beard and open-collared dress shirt, it’s his words that make people pay attention, not a flashy outfit or dramatic entrance.

Likewise, in your own life, the same can be true. Just speak with confidence and conviction, and no matter how you look or what you’re wearing, people will listen. 💖

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Jim Carrey is a very cool person! Every time he’s smiling with charming look, His speech is also very motivating! Thanks for sharing with us,

Agreed! It’s hard to look away when Carrey’s on stage or on camera, for sure. (And thanks for reading! 😊)

Usually, I am not doing comments anyone but it’s interesting, I really feel better to hear this.keep it up.

Glad you found these speeches inspiring, and thanks for the kind words! 🙌

You really don’t need to change the world, you just need to master your own self, align your values, your personality, and your purpose to your vision. That’s the core of making for a better world.

Well said! 🙌

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Short Motivational Speeches

Motivational speeches are excellent tools to teach, inspire, and even just to tell others what to do. However, not many of us have the time to devote to writing long or complicated motivational speeches. The ability to write a short, sweet, and inspiring motivational speech is a very useful one, and it’s one that will come in handy throughout your life, especially in places of leadership.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to several useful motivational topics, the most important parts of a good motivational speech, and meaningful situations that motivational speeches can be used in.

Importance of Motivational Speeches

Motivational speeches are not something you have to give. Regardless of whether you’re a leader, someone else in a position of power, or otherwise, motivational speeches are completely optional. If you don’t have the time, energy, or inclination to give a motivational speech, it’s likely that nothing will change. However, you may be missing out on a powerful inspirational tool for employees, friends, or others.

If you’ve listened to a motivational speech yourself, you’ve probably felt the impact it can have on you firsthand. They can be the source of great change in your motivation, faith, and thoughts. As such, motivational speeches are particularly useful for bosses, directors, and other leaders. If they’re something that you can employ for yourself, they’re not an opportunity that you should neglect.

Why Do We Need Motivation?

Motivation plays a vital role in our everyday lives. However, motivation isn’t a given, either. We often need a bit of a push to keep us motivated, or we sometimes need a reminder of why we’re working so hard in the first place. When we lose our motivation, our performance in various areas is lost, too.

Furthermore, motivation is something that binds us together. Every single human being on Earth has felt motivated to do something at some point in their life, all the way back to the first humans who were motivated by the urge to hunt and mate. A well-crafted motivational speech is relatable, inspiring, and reminds us about these things that we fight for.

For the workplace especially, motivation is critical. If employees aren’t inspired to work at their full working capacity, the business isn’t making all the money it could be. Certain causes and non-profit organizations are also in the business of motivating people to turn their lives around.

Many aspects of our lives depend on motivation . Some examples of this are:

While keeping your employees, charges, friends, or peers motivated isn’t your responsibility, sometimes it can be in your best interest. We’ll explore that further in the rest of this article.

Crafting a Motivational Speech

A motivational speech requires several key components to be successful and effective. In the following sections, we’ll go over the most important steps involved in creating a successful, impactful, and succinct motivational speech.

Finding a Topic

Finding a topic for your motivational speech is the very first thing you should do. Your topic should relate to your problem at hand or the issue you’re looking to address, of course. For example, if you’re an employer who is hoping to inspire your employees to work more productively, that should be your topic and your inspiration. If you’re a guest speaker looking to encourage smokers to quit, that will be your source.

Picking a topic for your motivational speech isn’t particularly complicated. The purpose of your speech will be to address a problem , after all. However, how you proceed from there is much more difficult. The next step will be to explain your purpose to your audience. How you do this is primarily up to you. If you’re the straightforward type, it can be as simple as telling your audience that the purpose of your speech is to get them to do something.

However, if you desire to be more creative, you also have the option of being a bit more subtle. You can try different things like:

Revealing your purpose at the end of your speech
Hinting at but not revealing your purpose
Forcing your audience to deduce your purpose from personal stories or other clues
Letting your audience take their own wisdom or purpose from your speech or story

Telling a Story

A significant part of a motivational speech is the inclusion of a story. After all, the draw of a motivational speech is a story for the listeners to compare themselves to and take something away from. If a story isn’t included in your motivational speech somehow, it’s no different than a lecture.

Since we’re concerned with creating short and succinct motivational speeches here, you must be careful which stories you choose. If you don’t have a relevant story to share that’s short enough for your purposes, doing online research or asking friends for something is also a good idea. The story doesn’t necessarily have to be yours to be effective. You just have to make it relatable and relevant.

Barring length, which we’ve already addressed, not every story is effective for a motivational speech. The audience needs to be able to relate to the story, and the story itself needs to relate to the topic at hand, or else there’s no point in telling it. Additionally, if your story doesn’t further the point you’re trying to make, it will simply use up more of the time you have to speak.

If possible, using a personal story or a story of someone close to you is best, because this is the type of story that you will relate to the most. When you relate to the story emotionally, you will be a much more effective speaker, and the audience will recognize this and respond to it. If you don’t have an applicable personal story, find something online that moves you and inspires you on its own, then work that into your speech.

As a last resort, you can consider making up a fictional story to tell your audience, but this isn’t always an applicable strategy. For example, if an employer were to make up a story to tell their employees, it wouldn’t be particularly useful, applicable, or even helpful. In the worst case, the employees might take the story as a threat of what might happen to them if they didn’t show greater performance.

Whether you’re looking to scare your employees or not is up to you, but that’s not the purpose of a motivational speech. A motivational speech is meant to inspire people to take positive action, not scare them into behaving with veiled threats.

Finding Your Audience

Your audience is as much an integral part of your speech as the body of the speech itself is. If your audience cannot relate to your speech, it will have less of an effect or it won’t have one at all. In the same way, trying to relate too hard to your audience can be a death sentence, too. Age is a particularly difficult one to follow, but there are hundreds of more variables that presenters need to keep in mind, too, such as:

Knowledgeability of the audience
Cultural factors and cues
Financial availability of the audience
Geographical factors

The delivery method you use to relate to your audience plays a role, as well. Particularly infamous is when older speakers try too hard to engage and relate to younger audiences. Avoid the trap of using too much hip lingo and trying to act like a younger generation; the same can apply for older generations, too. As long as you represent yourself well and speak respectfully and engagingly with your audience, your delivery will go over well.

To relate to your audience, rather than falling prey to the traps we mentioned above, consider what your audience needs instead. What is your audience getting out of your speech? Is your audience a group of employees who were forced to come to this speech, or is it a group of students who voluntarily came to listen to you?

Your speech is as much about your audience as it is about you. What can you offer to the audience by speaking to them? What do you want to offer to the audience? Is your speech being given to solve an existing problem, or is its purpose to impart wisdom? These questions and more are essential things to ask yourself as you decide how to deliver your speech.

Tie Things Together

It’s very important to make sure the different parts of your speech all tie together when you’re crafting it. The greater points in your speech should relate to your story, your story should relate to your audience, and your final points should relate to everything mentioned above. This is doubly important since your motivational speech is meant to be short and sweet.

If your speech is all over the place or doesn’t tie together, your audience will not respect it and are unlikely to learn anything from it. Moreover, if your speech doesn’t make sense, your audience will likely zone out long before you’re done giving it.

Just as important as tying everything together is tying things together well. While overdoing things with your speech is a no-no, leaving it boring and clinical isn’t always appropriate, either. Your opening, ending, and overall tone should be compatible with your audience and the message you’re trying to convey.

Start Strong

The importance of the opening to a speech can never be underestimated. What kind of opening works best depends mostly upon your audience, however. Finding this perfect opening sequence is a crucial part of catching your audience’s attention early on and holding that attention for the duration of the speech.

Picking a great opening to your speech is an excellent way to make it memorable, engaging, and interesting to your audience. If you really want to make an impact on your audience, this is the way to do it. Several effective strategies for crafting an effective opening are:

Asking your audience some thought-provoking questions
Citing a surprising or unbelievable statistic or fact
A meaningful or inspiring quote
A short and sweet anecdote

Since your motivational speech will be short, its opening is all the more important. You have even less time to introduce your audience to the topic, get them hooked, and pave the way for the rest of the speech. It’s also worth noting that, if your audience needs background on a topic or idea in order to understand it, it’s important to provide that right away in a short motivational speech.

Be Succinct

Even in a longer motivational speech, it’s important to get right to the point and get your message across to your audience. No audience appreciates their time being wasted, so your motivational speech should be brief, to-the-point, and as condensed as possible without losing understanding, ease of conveyance, or meaning.

Your speech needs to be structured, easy to understand, and meaningful. This means avoiding excessive prose or sentences that don’t add to your point. Your structure should be clean, logical, and easy to follow regardless of the topic. Don’t decorate your speech much or at all. The purpose of your speech is to prove a point or to address a problem, after all.

When creating your speech, you should always be honest and real. If you write things into your speech that you don’t believe or subscribe to, your audience will know. If you can’t relate to or at least empathize with your own concepts, you may want to think about adjusting the subject of your speech. A normal speech might be able to get away with this, but a motivational speech depends very much upon being honest and touching the heart.

Your speech should feature a call to action, as well. What problem are you trying to solve? Is the issue you’ve identified wildlife preservation? If that’s the case, perhaps your call to action should be for people to volunteer and donate their time towards saving our wildlife. Whenever you’re giving a motivational speech, make sure there is a course of action mentioned within to give your audience an easy route to follow.

Encourage your audience to engage with what you’ve talked to them about thus far. If your audience is a group of employees under your care, call them to work harder, find a solution to a problem, or improved conditions in the workplace for the benefit of the place as a whole. If your audience is a group of recovering smokers, call for quitting by reminding them of how their health is at stake.

Be Evocative

When you’re looking to engage and hook your audience, playing to their emotions is essential. Throughout your speech, you should be sure to use emotional language, use stories that evoke emotion, and help your audience relate to you emotionally as much as possible.

When your audience connects with you and your speech emotionally, that creates your best possible chance to hold your audience’s attention, change the way they think, and influence the way they act going forward from the speech.

Emotions are an undeniable catalyst for inspiring action. Since this is the end goal of a motivational speech, you should thus try to evoke strong emotions in your audience whenever possible. Whether your speech plays on happiness, sadness, anger, or outrage, speaking to these emotions is an excellent way to craft your speech.

Besides involving your audience’s emotions , it should involve their thoughts, too. Your speech should be designed around making your audience think in addition to making them feel. Present questions that your audience must think about twice to decide what they really believe, and keep them thinking even after your speech is finished.

This might seem like a tall order when you’re only creating a short speech, but making your audience think is essential. It can provide several benefits, such as:

Making your audience think about how they might be able to address your problem
Making your audience think about your points, come up with counterpoints, or consider solutions
Forcing your audience to consider how the issues you’ve presented might affect them

Write to Speech

The way you write work that will not be spoken out loud can be very different than work that is meant to be spoken. Often the case is that work that’s not meant to be spoken doesn’t work as well when it’s spoken out loud. Thus, when you’re writing something that will be spoken as its end result, you should pay attention to this and make sure it works when spoken, too.

An excellent way to practice this and prepare your speech to be spoken out loud is to rehearse your speech as you write it. Saying your speech to yourself before the day of is an excellent way to catch wordy trip-ups or other issues before they matter.

If you can, take things a step further and practice your speech in the mirror, too, as this is an excellent way to improve your own charisma as you work. Charisma only works to improve your audience’s involvement in your speech, so maximizing this skill should always be encouraged.

Do Your Research

There is absolutely no substitute for doing a thorough research when you’re crafting your motivational speech. If you skimp on your research and site unreliable or made-up facts during your presentation, your uncertainty will show through in your demeanor. What’s more, if a member of the audience catches a bad fact that you deliver, they might tune out, or worse, call you out on it during or after the speech.

You should also be prepared to cite things like clinical trials, the results of experiments, and any important metrics when giving your speech. Even if you don’t mention these citations out loud during the speech itself, you should be prepared to give them after the speech if any audience members are interested.

Being caught without your sources is an excellent way to fall into uncertainty or be discredited by your listeners. In the same way, make sure that you pull your statistics from reputable sites, as well. Sources and statistics are completely useless to you if they’re unreputable or fake, to begin with.

Watch Your Language

When you’re crafting your speech, the language you use within it needs some special attention. The language you use might vary depending on your audience, but there are also a few more rules that you should follow. For example, try to avoid jargon within your speech as much as you can. If you must resort to specialized words or if you desire to teach them to the audience, make sure to provide background.

Leaving your audience unsure of what you’re talking about is an excellent way to lose them and waste the remainder of your speech. If your audience doesn’t feel like they can keep up with you, they will quickly zone out and think about other things.

Always respect your audience by using the best level of language that they can understand, but that still respects their intelligence. After all, you would use far different language when talking to a three-year-old than you would when talking to a teenager, right?

Delivering Your Speech

Once you’ve created the perfect short motivational speech, you’re still not quite done. If you want your speech to have maximum impact, the way you deliver it is just as important as the way you write it. There are many things you can do to maximize the delivery of your speech, and we’ll go over the best of these methods in this section.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Like we stated above, practicing your speech yourself is an excellent way to fine-tune how well you give it. Doing this in front of a mirror provides an extra bonus, or alternatively, you can give your speech in front of a video camera or in front of friends or family that you trust. Over time, practicing this way will improve the way you act and feel as you deliver your speeches, even going as far as boosting your own confidence.

Confidence while giving a speech is essential. Even if you have trouble with crowds, you should at least be confident in your delivery and confident in your material. While you practice your speech, though, be very careful not to craft a fake demeanor to use while you give your speech. Your audience will notice this, and they will be far more receptive to your speech and your message if you’re genuine and honest instead.

Prepare and Prepare Again

Even beyond practicing, there really is no replacement for preparing for any contingencies for your speech. You might lose your notecards on the day of, other speakers might run over time, or key people might fail to show up. You should be prepared for these scenarios and more when you’re going in to present your speech. Consider making preparations like:

Making extra sets of notecards
Preparing a shorter version of your speech
Preparing a longer version of your speech
Having questions on hand to address the audience with when your speech is over
Preparing for different noise levels in your venue

No one is a naturally perfect speaker. Excellent speakers are as good as they are because they take the time to prepare and practice again and again. While you may be able to give an average or good talk even if you skimp on practice and preparation, you will never be able to give an excellent talk this way.

The Delivery

Delivering your speech is an integral part of making it impactful, motivating, and relatable. If you sound unimpressed with or uninspired by your own speech, after all, your audience will inevitably feel the same. You should sound knowledgeable and confident in your material, but still passionate and even emotional about your chosen topic.

An excellent way to practice delivering the speech you want is to record yourself speaking, then play it back. You can deliver your speech in front of friends or family, too, but hearing it from your own mouth is especially helpful. Doing this is an excellent way to take a closer listen to your tone of voice, your vocal excitement and passion, and how well you’re getting your point across.

Examples of Short Motivational Speeches

1. matthew mcconaughey – this is why you’re not happy.

2. Peter Dinklage ‘Don’t Wait’

3. Lou Holtz ‘The 3 Rules to a Less Complicated Life’

4. Will Smith Self-Discipline Motivational Speech

5. Oprah Winfrey Motivational Speech

6. Jim Carrey Motivational Speech

A short motivational speech is a wonderful thing. Even a short speech can have an incredible, lasting effect on its listeners if it’s crafted and delivered the right way. What’s more, a motivational speech is an excellent way to address problems, brainstorm solutions, and get everyone involved in something and on the same page.

Of course, a motivational speech first and foremost duty is to motivate, and when done right, it doesn’t lack at this, either. If you take the proper time and care to craft your speech properly, in addition to knowing and respecting your audience, choosing a good story, and isolating a relevant topic, you will most assuredly be successful in crafting an effective speech that will absorb and motivate your chosen audience.

Motivational Speeches to Engage Your Team

Encouraging your team through the use of motivational speeches cannot be overemphasized as its benefits towards the productivity and efficiency of your team are numerous.

As a team leader, using motivational speeches as a tool to enhance workplace performance, spurring them into working harder and smarter. When you motivate your team, they are bound to attempt and complete all tasks given to them efficiently before the set deadline.

Big business owners take team motivation seriously because they know how powerful a motivated team can belong with the positive impact it’ll have on the organization.

This article of Forbes would enlighten you about the importance of motivational speeches for your team and a few motivational speeches you could use especially if you have no idea on what to say.

Importance of Motivating Your Team

Other than the general view in terms of productivity and efficiency given in the first section of this article, there are several reasons why motivating your team is necessary.

When your team isn’t motivated, they are more likely to use resources i.e. internet, etc. for their personal use and become uninterested in executing their work. All of which could affect your overall productivity and contribute to the waste of your resources. These reasons and more are why using motivational speeches for your team is important.

Here are a few other reasons for motivating your team:

1. Increased Commitment

It’s no news that for a team to work in synergy towards achieving a goal, all team members must stay committed. Sometimes, team members could lose interest along the way and in turn, lose commitment.

Motivating your team will generally increase commitment within them and cause them to put in their best efforts towards any tasks assigned to them.

2. Improved Satisfaction

According to NCBI , the success of productivity improvement strategy in a team depends on employee commitment, job satisfaction, skills, and motivation.

Job satisfaction is simply how team members feel towards their current job condition. If your team members are always motivated, then they are more likely to be satisfied with the job/tasks assigned to them.

3. Facilitates Personal Development

A lot of times, motivation works as a tool for self-development of your team. When the motivation level in your team is fever-pitch high, it facilitates the development of your team members.

How? Help your team members reach their personal goals, and can, in turn, facilitate the self-development of an individual. Once a team member meets some initial goals, they realize the clear link between effort and results, which will further inspire them to do more even at a high level.

>>Free feedback tool: Constructive

How to Use Motivational Speeches

Regardless of the fact that these speeches are meant to motivate, there are ways to use them to bring fast and effective results else they wouldn’t have any effect on your team.

It’s not just about having a library of motivational speeches but knowing how to use them to get maximum effect. Here are a few ways to use motivational speeches.

1. Be Sincere : If you don’t sound sincere, your team would probably no take it seriously. Abraham Lincoln was never the best speaker in the history of American presidents but his first inaugural speech was historic for its heartfelt sincerity and honesty.

If sarcasm, insincerity, deception or manipulation is perceived in your speech, your team aren’t stupid or dumb because they can sense these and you end up worsening the situation.

2. Keep it Short : No matter how good the speech is or how engaged your team are into listening to you, once you overdo it, they will definitely lose interest. Sure! There are places for long speeches but what happens when your team members decide to bail out in the middle of your lengthy speech? You don’t want that right?

Then keep it short. One way to ensure you don’t overstretch your speech is to be straightforward and hit the nail on the head.

3. Be Smart : You don’t want to spill sensitive information about your organization while trying to motivate them. An example of bad use of motivational speeches is informing them that the company’s finance is in the red while trying to motivate them at the same time.

This sensitive information will counter the effect of the motivation as they might feel there’s no need to work hard if you can’t pay them because of the financial issues. Be careful with sharing sensitive information that could have a negative effect.

>> Read more: 4 Steps to Develop a High-Performance Team

Examples of Motivational Speeches to Engage Your Team

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”- Michael Jordan.
“Fight till the last gasp.” – William Shakespeare
“If something is wrong, fix it now. But train yourself not to worry, worry fixes nothing.”- Ernest Hemingway
“Do what you do so well that they want to see it again and again and bring their friend.”- Walt Disney
“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.”- Salvador Dali
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”- J.M. Barrie
“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.”- Truman Capote

>> Read more: 5 Habits of Successful People

All these motivational speeches can be used in times when your team is down in motivation probably because they failed at a task and have lost the inspiration to try again, or other related causes of lack of drive.

You can also search online for other speeches or quotes you could use to drastically improve team efficiency and productivity.

Motivate by innovating

You can offer work inspiration for you team giving them the right technology tools for them to reach their best performance. Runrun.it is a management software with time tracking which gives you data about productivity, time invested and costs of your projects and clients. It also allows you to organize and standardize your team’s workflow. Try it for free: www.runrun.it .

16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches and What You’ll Gain From Them

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f0nIhDpXuU

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQmqLwNtho

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuHZC-ObA8

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzGPwY40Cw

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl3CQXMRVo

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

Motivational Speech from CEO to Employees

Inspiring people and keeping them motivated is one of the most important attributes of a leader. It’s not always easy to motivate your employees. But as a leader, it’s your job to do so—and you should never give up on that mission. Here are some tips for giving the best motivational speech as a CEO to employees for inspiring people.

3 Tips to write the best Motivational Speech from CEO to Employees

If you’re here, you’re probably looking for motivation or preparing to inspire your team on a big day. Let’s look at some of the influential and persuasive tools used by these CEOs.

1. Inspire your team members by acknowledging and celebrating wins, big and small.

It helps to establish a culture where everyone who works for your company feels like they are part of something bigger than themselves.
If a project succeeds, it’s important to recognize that success and give credit where credit is due. Celebrate small wins along with big ones.
Be sure to recognize any employee who goes above and beyond their job description or makes an effort to help others out of the kindness of their heart.

2. Building a culture of recognition is an effective means of motivating employees to regularly exceed their goals.

Recognition is a powerful motivator. It’s not just about patting someone on the back, but rather it involves letting people know that their efforts are valued.
In order for recognition to be effective, it should be done in a public way, in a timely fashion, and be meaningful. Use your speech to recognize the efforts of your employees.

3. Inject wit, humor, and empathy into your words to build trust, create bonds, repair relationships, and create joy in the workplace.

As you know, humor is a great way to connect with people . It builds trust, creates bonds, repairs relationships, and creates joy in the workplace.
It can also motivate your employees and make them feel good about themselves. And if you want to make someone feel special or important—or even just lighten the mood at a tense moment—a joke is often just what’s needed!
Telling personal stories also works wonders.

Best CEO speeches to employees

Great CEOs rely on various communication tools to inspire their teams and influence others to take action. Here are some of the CEOs who have successfully found the courage to show their true selves through inspirational speeches added to their presentations.

1. Howard Schultz:

Howard Schultz, CEO Starbucks gives a great motivational speech to his employees

If you go and ask any presentation expert about who, according to them, is one of the best storytelling executives in the business currently, they’ll probably say former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

Schultz often returned to his story about how he rose from rags to riches, from being a child of often unemployed parents in Brooklyn public housing to becoming the CEO of the world’s most successful coffeehouse chain. He’d use the story as a starting point to describe the history and mission of Starbucks and to explain many decisions he made regarding the company.
He mentioned in his speeches how he took inspiration from his father , who was injured and unable to work, which gave him the urge to launch a company that took care of its workers and provided them with benefits, like insurance and adequate time-off.
By framing his business goals in a personal story about his values , Schultz made his corporate mission understandable and described his strategic decisions in a way that made sense to anyone.
Check his complete speech here .

I love Starbucks. Many of you do, too. We all have a stake in our future. It is something we all share. And this serves as an invitation to come build it. Howard Schultz:

2. Sheryl Sandberg:

Sheryl Sandberg is known for her motivational speeches to employees.

Not everyone is comfortable sharing their stories from their struggling period, just like Sheryl Sandberg once felt reluctant to share her tale of tragedy in her public speeches.

Today, the Facebook COO masterfully reveals deeply personal stories in her talks, and these make her messages powerful and brings hope.
One of Sandberg’s most effective uses of personal storytelling happened during her 2016 UC Berkeley commencement speech after tragically and suddenly losing her husband Dave Goldberg in 2015. Sandberg chose not to mourn but to harness that painful tragedy to deliver a talk that was profoundly affecting and inspiring. She described her experience of losing her husband, then explained how she was able to rise from her unbearable grief into a stronger, more resilient person.

When life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again…you can choose joy and meaning.” Sheryl Sandberg:

Sandberg’s exhortation was powerful and uplifting despite its origin in a tragedy. She figured out how to unlock the power of a personal setback story for a presentation message that fosters endurance and drives the forward movement.

3. Rowan Trollope:

Check Rowan Trollope motivational speech given to employees.

Five9 CEO Rowan Trollope never fails to use firsthand anecdotes in his speeches. These stories make him feel relatable rather than like an untouchable executive who seems significantly snobbish and highly professional, not having a moment to listen to his employees’ needs and impulses.

As a leading SVP at Cisco, he delivered the 2016 Cisco Keynote at Enterprise Connect. He opened the speech with the story of his first experience with weightlessness at the “Zero-G Experience” when his instructor warned him he would laugh when he was finally weightless (all people do), he resolved to remain stoic. However, once he got up into the air and floated, he burst out laughing uncontrollably—reminding him that he was human, just like everyone who’d been weightless before him (even professional astronauts).
Trollope’s story not only showed his humanity but also endeared him to the audience , giving him an understandable jumping-off point to explain to listeners what he wanted to do with Cisco products. He wanted to create products and devices that delighted users, whether they were professionals in the industry or just picking up the technology for the first time.

Like his weightlessness story, most of Trollope’s tales are entertaining and full of humility. They work to demonstrate his “humanness”—taking him down off any “executive pedestal” and making him approachable and accessible. This results in a message that feels relevant and understandable to everyone listening. Read Trollope’s complete speech and be inspired.

“Organizations are spending $275B a year as an industry to deliver an experience that a lot of times, most people don’t like. That feels like an opportunity to me.” Rowan Trollope

Motivation is something that everyone needs, and it’s up to you as a leader to inspire your employees. If you want people to surround themselves with positive energy every day, then you have to do the same for them. It’s easy for leaders to get caught up in their own personal issues and forget about the people who rely on them for support. Remember: it’s all about building relationships with others because without them, what would we have?

Motivational Speech from CEO to Employees

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How To Give a Team Motivational Speech to Boost Morale

microphones for funny motivational speakers

Few leaders are exceptionally good at rallying the troops. They want results, but their words don't inspire action.

A team motivational speech will temporarily inspire teams. Yet, As stress continues to pile up back at work, the motivation will eventually fade. However, if a speech motivates action, it builds momentum that builds on itself.

What makes any speech motivating is positive energy and enthusiasm. The speaker is lending their buoyant, positive attitude to lift the group.

Enthusiasm is contagious.

WE ALL CRAVE MOTIVATION

People don't just work for a paycheck; they want to feel purpose and meaning. The need for motivation is about balance. Throughout the day, teams feel bombarded by problems (customer complaints, cutbacks, limited resources); this weighs them down. Over time, negativity can surround our problems and be a drag on morale. Left unmonitored, this workplace can turn toxic.

Uplifting, motivational moments serve to buffer negativity. However, motivation needs to be regular and consistent to have a lasting impact. Workplaces that suffer from low morale don't have enough positive messages to keep people engaged and happy.

Leaders who deliver regular team motivational speeches ( one on one and as a group) will keep spirits high. Focus the message on group accomplishment, the overall significance and meaning of the work, and moments to be proud. Overall, bringing up a spirit of enthusiasm.

A leader's most significant role is to inspire hope in others. There is no better way to do this than by motivating the troops with an inspirational speech. Below are some ideas on how to accomplish this heightened sense of hope and inspiration.

Remember, every motivational speech should take the audience from where they are now, to a new, better reality.

Start writing a motivational speech by taking your audience's current situation and comparing it to a better future. Best selling author and keynote speaker coach, Nancy Duarte suggests, a great speaker will make the gap between the two realities as dramatic as possible.

Throughout the talk, take people from the present to the future, and from the problem to the solution. The motivational speech should continue to be an ebb and flow from what is and what could be.

If you are trying to convince people that a new policy is good, clearly outline how we work now (and all the inefficiencies) and how down the road ( once all the kinks are worked out), this will improve our work situation. Also, appreciate people for the work and effort they put in.

Finally, every speech should end with a call to action that cements in the new, better reality.

THREE TYPES OF PERSUASION TO USE IN YOUR TEAM MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH

Reporting facts and information is only one part of creating a compelling motivational speech. A successful keynote speaker has to strike a balance between analytical and emotional content.

Aristotle argued that to persuade, we must employ three types of argument: ethical appeal( ethos), emotional appeal(pathos), and logos(logical appeal).

Consider each element below as you craft a team motivational speech to persuade:

Ethical persuasion

By sharing your values, experience, and goals, you build credibility with an audience.

The audience will feel connected to you when they appreciate you share similar values.

Logical persuasion

Develop a compelling message supported by a structure that logically supports your premise. State a claim and provide evidence to support it.

Emotional appeal

Appeal to people's feelings by weaving stories and experiences evoking pain or pleasure. Emotional connection with the audience is critical to persuade. Funny keynote speakers use humor to engage emotion, while inspirational speakers use motivational stories to engage passion.

I've seen a lot of guest speakers focus entirely on facts at the expense of emotion and ethical persuasion.

Team Motivational Speech Activities

Take a meeting from good to great or from average to amazing, with interactive activities to reinforce ideas and solidify engagement.

I was a funny keynote speaker for a healthcare organization recently where the program planner organized some fun, lively games to engage the crowd. Audience participation and interaction kept people engaged and involved in the meeting.

Here are a couple of activities the guest speaker facilitated:

The Telephone.

In this team motivational speech activity, start a message at the beginning of a row and have it be verbally communicated progressively down the row to the last person. Once it hits the final person in the row, have them compare the final information with the original message. Peels of laughter result as people find the message is drastically different as it passes down the line.

Tie the lesson to how messages get distorted, misinterpreted, and altered as they move through different people.

To further amplify the activity, tie the messages to content reinforced in the meeting.

Innovation builders.

Organize teams around Tables of 6 to 8 people. Each table gets a bag of marshmallows and a bag of straight pretzels. Instruct teams to build something innovative, preferably related to the meeting theme. Give the groups 5 minutes to make something when time is up, vote on the most innovative design.

A variation to the motivational speech activity is to instruct groups to build the highest freestanding structure.

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Use These Employee Appreciation Speech Examples In 2024 To Show Your Team You Care

The simple act of saying “thank you” does wonders.

Yet sometimes, those two words alone don’t seem to suffice. Sometimes your team made such a difference, and your gratitude is so profound, that a pat on the back just isn’t enough.

Because appreciation is more than saying thank you . It’s about demonstrating that your team is truly seen and heard by thanking them for specific actions. It’s about showing that you understand and empathize with the struggles your team faces every day. And it’s about purpose too. True appreciation connects your team’s efforts back to a grand vision and mission.

According to Investopedia ,

“Appreciation is an increase in the value of an asset over time.”

So it’s time to diversify your portfolio of reliable tips and go-to words of wisdom for expressing your undying appreciation. After all, you diversify your portfolio of investments, and really, workplace appreciation is an investment.

Let’s set aside the standard definition of appreciation for a second and take a look at the financial definition.

In the workplace, appreciation increases the value of your most important assets—your employees—over time.

Here are some ways appreciation enhances employee relations:

Appreciation makes employees stick around. In fact, statistics suggest that a lack of appreciation is the main driver of employee turnover , which costs companies an average of about $15,000 per worker .
Appreciation reinforces employees’ understanding of their roles and expectations, which drives engagement and performance.
Appreciation builds a strong company culture that is magnetic to both current and prospective employees.
Appreciation might generate positive long-term mental effects for both the giver and the receiver.
Appreciation motivates employees. One experiment showed that a few simple words of appreciation compelled employees to make more fundraising calls.

We searched through books, movies, songs, and even TED Talks to bring you 141 amazing motivational quotes for employees you’ll be proud to put in a Powerpoint, an intra-office meme or a foam board printing cutout! Find plenty of fantastic workplace quotes to motivate any team.

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in American business built companies, and lasting legacies, by developing employees through the simple act of appreciation.

Charles Schwab, founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation, once said:

“I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticism from superiors. I never criticize anyone. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So I am anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything, I am hearty in my appreciation and lavish in my praise.”

Boost your ability to arouse enthusiasm by learning how to deliver employee appreciation speeches that make an impact. Once you master the habits and rules below, sincere appreciation will flow from you like sweet poetry. Your employees are going to love it!

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The Employee Appreciation Speech Checklist

Planning employee appreciation speeches can be fast and easy when you follow a go-to “recipe” that works every time. From a simple thank you to a heart felt work anniversary speech, it all has a template.

Maritz®studies human behavior and highlights relevant findings that could impact the workplace. They developed the Maritz Recognition Model to help everyone deliver the best appreciation possible. The model asserts that effective reward and recognition speech examples touch on three critical elements: the behavior, the effect, and the thank you.

Here’s a summary of the model, distilled into a checklist for your employee appreciation speeches:

Talk about the behavior(s). While most employee appreciation speeches revolve around the vague acknowledgment of “hard word and dedication,” it’s best to call out specific actions and accomplishments so employees will know what they did well, feel proud, and get inspired to repeat the action. Relay an anecdote about one specific behavior to hook your audience and then expand the speech to cover everyone. You can even include appreciation stories from other managers or employees in your speech.
Talk about the effect(s) of the behavior(s). What positive effect did the employee behaviors have on your company’s mission? If you don’t have any statistics to share, simply discuss how you expect the behaviors to advance your mission.
Deliver the “thank you” with heartfelt emotion. Infusing speeches with emotion will help employees feel your appreciation in addition to hearing it. To pinpoint the emotional core of your speech, set the “speech” part aside and casually consider why you’re grateful for your employees. Write down everything that comes to mind. Which aspects made you tear up? Which gave you goosebumps? Follow those points to find the particular emotional way you want to deliver your “thank you” to the team .

Tips and tricks:

Keep a gratitude journal (online or offline) . Record moments of workplace gratitude and employee acts you appreciate. This practice will make you feel good, and it also provides plenty of fodder for appreciation speeches or employee appreciation day .
Make mini-speeches a habit. Try to deliver words of recognition to employees every single day. As you perfect small-scale appreciation speeches, the longer ones will also feel more natural.
When speaking, pause frequently to let your words sink in.
Making eye contact
Controlling jittery gestures
Acting out verbs
Matching facial expression to words
Moving around the stage
Varied pace. Don’t drone on at the same pace. Speak quickly and then switch to speaking slowly.
Varied volume. Raise your voice on key points and closings.

Employee Appreciation Speech Scripts

Build on these customizable scripts to deliver employee appreciation speeches and casual meeting shout-outs every chance you get. Each script follows the 3-step approach we discussed above. Once you get the hang of appreciation speech basics, you’ll be able to pull inspirational monologues from your hat at a moment’s notice.

Swipe the examples below, but remember to infuse each speech with your own unique perspectives, personality, and heartfelt emotions.

All-Purpose Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience..

I feel so lucky to work with you all. In fact, [insert playful aside: e.g. My wife doesn’t understand how I don’t hate Mondays. It drives her nuts!]

Thanks to you, I feel lucky to come to work every day.

Talk about behaviors you appreciate.

Everyone here is [insert applicable team soft skills: e.g. positive, inspiring, creative, and intelligent ]. I’m constantly amazed by the incredible work you do.

Let’s just look at the past few months, for example. [Insert bullet points of specific accomplishments from every department].

Finance launched an amazing new online payroll system.
Business Development doubled their sales last quarter.
Human Resources trained us all in emotional intelligence.

Talk about the effects of the behaviors.

These accomplishment aren’t just nice bullet points for my next presentation. Each department’s efforts has deep and lasting impacts on our business. [Explain the effects of each highlighted accomplishment].

The new payroll system is going to save us at least $20,000 on staff hours and paper.
Revenue from those doubled sales will go into our core investments, including a new training program .
And I can already see the effects of that emotional intelligence training each time I’m in a meeting and a potential argument is resolved before it starts.

Say thank you.

I can’t thank you enough for everything you do for this company and for me. Knowing I have your support and dedication makes me a better, happier person both at work and at home.

Formal Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by explaining why you were excited to come to work today..

I was not thrilled when my alarm went off this morning, but I must admit, I’m luckier than most people. As I got out of bed and thought about doing [insert daily workplace activities that inspire you], I felt excitement instead of dread. It’s an incredible feeling, looking forward to work every day, and for that, I have each and every one of you to thank.

Just last week, [insert specific anecdote: e.g. I remembered, ironically, that I forgot to create a real-time engagement plan for TECHLO’s giant conference next month. As you all know, they’re one of our biggest clients, so needless to say, I was panicking. Then I sit down for my one-on-one with MEGAN, worried that I didn’t even have time for our meeting, and what does she say? She wants to remind me that we committed to submit a promotional plan by the end of the week. She had some ideas for the TECHLO conference, so she went ahead and created a draft.]

[Insert the outcome of the anecdote: e.g. Her initiative dazzled me, and it saved my life! We met our deadline and also blew TECHLO away. In fact, they asked us to plan a similar initiative for their upcoming mid-year conference.]

[Insert a short thank-you paragraph tying everything together: e.g. And you know what, it was hard for me to pick just one example to discuss tonight. You all do so many things that blow me away every day. Thank you for everything. Thank you for making each day of work something we can all be proud of.]

Tip! Encourage your entire team to join in on the appreciation with CareCards ! This digital appreciation board allows you to recognize your colleague with a dedicated space full of personalized well wishes, thank-yous, and anything else you want to shout them out with! To explore Caroo’s CareCard program, take this 60-second tour !

Visionary Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by explaining why you do what you do..

Here at [company name] we [insert core competency: e.g. build nonprofit websites], but we really [insert the big-picture outcome of your work: e.g. change the world by helping amazing nonprofits live up to their inspiring visions.]

I want to emphasize the “we” here. This company would be nothing without your work.

Talk about behaviors and explain how each works toward your mission.

Have you guys ever thought about that? How what you do [recap the big-picture outcome at your work: e.g. changes the world by helping amazing nonprofits live up to their inspiring visions]?

[Insert specific examples of recent work and highlight the associated outcomes: e.g. Let’s explore in terms of the websites we launched recently. I know every single person here played a role in developing each of these websites, and you should all be proud.]

The launch of foodangel.org means that at least 500 homeless people in the greater metro area will eat dinner tonight.
The launch of happyup.org means thousands of depressed teenagers will get mental health counseling.

Now if that’s not [recap the big-picture outcome], then I don’t know what is.

Thank you for joining me on the mission to [big-picture outcome]. With any other team, all we’re trying to do might just not be possible, but you all make me realize we can do anything together.

Casual Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by discussing what upcoming work-related items you are most excited about..

I’ve been thinking nonstop about [insert upcoming initiative: e.g. our upcoming gallery opening]. This [initiative] is the direct result of your amazing work. To me, this [initiative] represents [insert what the initiative means to you: e.g. our true debut into the budding arts culture of our city.]

You’ve all been pulling out all the stops, [insert specific example: e.g. staying late, making 1,000 phone calls a day, and ironing out all the details.]

Because of your hard work, I’m absolutely confident the [initiative] will [insert key performance indicator: e.g. sell out on opening night.]

Thank you, not just for making this [initiative] happen, but also for making the journey such a positive and rewarding experience.

Funny Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by telling an inside joke..

I want to thank you all for the good times, especially [insert inside joke: e.g. that time we put a glitter bomb in Jeff’s office.]

Talk about behaviors you appreciate and highlight comical outcomes.

But seriously, you guys keep me sane. For example [insert comical examples: e.g.]:

The Operations team handled the merger so beautifully, I only had to pull out half my hair.
The Marketing team landed a new client, and now we can pay you all for another year.
And thanks to the Web team’s redesign of our website, I actually know what we do here.

Talk about the real effects of the behaviors.

But for real for real, all your work this year has put us on a new level. [Insert outcomes: e.g. We have an amazing roster of clients, a growing staff, and an incredible strategic plan that makes me feel unqualified to work here.] You guys made all this happen.

So thank you. This is when I would usually tell a joke to deflect my emotions, but for once in my life, I actually don’t want to hide. I want you all to know how much I appreciate all you do.

That was hard; I’m going to sit down now.

Appreciation Speech for Employee of the Month

Greet your audience by giving a shout-out to the employee of the month..

Shout out to [insert employee’s name] for being such a reliable member of our team. Your work ethics and outstanding performance are an inspiration to all of us! Keep up the amazing work!

Talk about behaviors you appreciate in them and highlight their best traits.

It’s not only essential to work diligently, but it is likewise crucial to be kind while you’re at it–and you’ve done both wonderfully!

Talk about the effects of their behaviors on the success of the company.

You bring optimism, happiness, and an all-around positive attitude to this team.

Thank you bring you!

Appreciation Speech for Good Work

Greet your audience with a round of applause to thank them for their hard work..

You always put in 100% and we see it. Proud of you, team!

Talk about behaviors you appreciate in your team members.

You work diligently, you foster a positive team environment, and you achieve or exceed your goals.

Talk about the effects of your team’s behaviors on the company.

Your dedication to the team is commendable, as is your readiness to do whatever needs to be done for the company – even if it’s not technically part of your job description. Thank you.

No matter the situation, you always rise to the occasion! Thank you for your unwavering dedication; it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Q: What should I do after giving an appreciation speech?

A: In order to drive home the point of your employee appreciation speech, it can be effective to reward your employees for their excellent work. Rewards are a powerful tool used for employee engagement and appreciation. Recognizing your employees effectively is crucial for retaining top talent and keeping employees happy. To make your search easier, we sought out the top 121 creative ways that companies can reward their employees that you can easily implement at your office.

Q: Why should I give an employee appreciation speech?

A: Appreciation and employee motivation are intimately linked together. A simple gesture of an employee appreciation gift can have a positive effect on your company culture. When an employee is motivated to work they are more productive. For more ideas to motivate your team, we’ve interviewed leading employee recognition and engagement experts to curate a list of the 22 best tips here !

We hope adapting these tips and scripts will help you articulate the appreciation we know you already feel!

Free Download: Download this entire list as a PDF . Easily save it on your computer for quick reference or print it for future team gatherings.

Employee Recognition & Appreciation Resources:

39 impactful employee appreciation & recognition ideas [updated], 12 effective tools & strategies to improve teamwork in the workplace, your employee referral program guide: the benefits, how-tos, incentives & tools, 21 unforgettable work anniversary ideas [updated], 15 ideas to revolutionize your employee of the month program, 16 awesome employee perks your team will love, 71 employee recognition quotes every manager should know, how to retain employees: 18 practical takeaways from 7 case studies, boost your employee recognition skills and words (templates included).

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10 Comments

great piece of work love it, great help, thanks.

great tips !!!!

Helpful piece. LAVISH MAYOR

Enjoy reading this. Nice work

Thank you. Very helpful tips.

This is the most helpful and practical article I have found for writing a Colleague Appreciation speech. The Funny Appreciation Speech section was written for me 🙂 Ashley Bell, you’re a rock star!

Very nice speech Well explanation of words And very helpful for work

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3+ Sample Motivational Speeches Templates with Example

Sample motivation speech is written for the purpose of inspiring the audience to whom you will give the speech. Everyone needs motivation in their lives for some reason or the other. A student might require a motivational speech for preparing for his upcoming exams. An office-goer might require a motivational speech to inspire himself to achieve his targets at the office.

So here we have provided you with the sample motivational speeches for addressing various groups such as students, employees, and life in general. We might be required to give a motivational speech addressing to the employees, students, or any group in general. So to help you prepare your motivational speech, we have provided you here examples of a motivational speech for students , employees, etc. So you can find here the motivational speech for any occasion and download and print them from here to create a compelling motivating speech of your own.

Sample Motivational Speeches For Students

Students are at an influential stage where a positive story or anecdote can inspire them. Students might feel disheartened if they don’t get good marks or are not able to balance their studies with extracurricular activities. There are many motivational speakers and influencers whose powerful stories can instill new enthusiasm among the students.

So here we have provided you with motivational speech for students in a printable format. So you can edit these templates and add any information you like.

Sample Motivational Speeches For Employee

Employees are an important human resource for any company and it is the responsibility of a company to keep on inspiring them from time-to-time. A motivated employee not only performs better but also feels connected to the company. Hence a good motivational speech about a leader or an influencer will help the employees realize their potential and provide them the inspiration to take on more challenging opportunities career-wise.

So if you are planning to give a motivational speech or conduct a motivational session for your employees, you can use these motivational speeches for employee templates. These can be downloaded and printed so you can directly use them or take ideas from them to create your own speech.

Sample Motivational Speech About Success

Success is subjective and everyone has their own definition of success. People from all walks of life want to achieve success, being a student or an adult. We are never satisfied with what we have and always want to achieve more. But sometimes due to some reasons, we might feel demotivated and lose focus on our goals.

So if you want to inspire your near ones or give a motivational speech , you can use these motivational speeches for success templates which can be downloaded and printed. These speeches will surely inspire you and your audience and guide them to the path of success in life.

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What employees say matters most to motivate performance

The past few years have been a confounding time in performance management. Disruptions of long-standing workplace norms have led many employees to rethink their expectations of employers regarding remote work, employee burnout, and work–life balance. Compounding these challenges, an inflationary economy and a slower hiring market have put pressure on employers to “do more” with the talent they already have.

Organizations have responded to this volatility by seeking new formulas to motivate talent, including rethinking their approaches to performance management. Of course, tweaking performance management is not new: McKinsey’s prepandemic research found that most companies had made at least one major change to their approaches in the prior 18 months. But recently, we have seen companies consider more sweeping changes. Some have streamlined goal setting and formal review processes, separated performance and compensation conversations, or simply done away with ratings altogether.

Yet as organizations weigh changes to performance management, it’s difficult to understand what will yield the highest ROI. Leaders are often forced to rely on anecdotal case studies and success stories from others’ experiences to help boost employee motivation to perform. While a plethora of books and articles have been published on the topic in recent years, a “data desert” remains, with a lack of quantitative insights derived from what employees say most inspires and motivates them.

McKinsey’s 2024 performance management survey

Our survey of more than 1,000 employees across the globe sought to shed light on what matters most to employees and offer a new fact base for employers to weigh varied performance management methodologies (see sidebar, “McKinsey’s 2024 performance management survey”). We tested a range of options to understand employee perceptions, including approaches to goals, performance reviews, ongoing development, and rewards.

The survey responses in some cases confirm what intuition has long suggested. In other cases, responses indicate ways to tailor performance management to the unique needs of an organization. Overall, the responses point to essential areas of focus as organizations weigh performance management redesigns. New data helps to better identify options most worthy of investment, based on sources of employee motivation.

A consistent and clearly articulated performance management framework wins the day

The most resonant overall survey finding was this: performance management is most effective when it features strong, consistent internal logic that employees understand.

In recent years, some companies have shifted away from results-based performance management goals and metrics in favor of measures that balance what an employee achieved with how they achieved it. The rationale is partly to make employees feel they are assessed in a more holistic way that considers external factors that contributed to their ability to deliver on a result. The holistic approach also measures how well employees adhered to company cultural norms and leadership expectations. However, the survey results revealed that respondents did not view results-based assessments particularly negatively. Instead, what worked less well were systems without clear and easily understood structures, which respondents viewed as significantly less motivating and fair.

These findings stress that when it comes to building the overall framework for performance management, consistency and simplicity win the day (Exhibit 1). Approaching each element of performance management separately had a lower effect on motivation to perform. Instead, the way the four pillars work together made a difference for respondents. Approaches with a coherent, connected framework across goal setting, performance reviews, feedback, and rewards correlated with the highest motivation to perform. Each company can design a fit-for-purpose approach tailored to the needs of its organization , ensuring core elements are well connected and articulated to employees.

Goal setting has impact when goals are measurable and clearly linked to company priorities

Goal setting has long been accepted as a critical tool for improving performance. The survey puts some hard data behind the decision to invest time and energy into goal setting: 72 percent of respondents cited it as a strong motivator. However, the “what” and “how” of setting those goals are less definitively understood. The survey results shed light on both questions.

What makes an effective goal? The survey revealed that employees felt more motivated when their performance goals included a mix of both individual and team-level goals and when their goals were clearly linked to their company’s goals. Respondents also reported feeling more motivated by goals that felt measurable (Exhibit 2).

However, the survey also suggests that just as important as the content of a goal is the process by which it is set. Employees tended to be more motivated and perceive the performance management approach as fair when they were involved in the process and the goals were updated throughout the year to align with team and company priorities.

These findings suggest high ROI when managers spend time throughout the year counseling employees on updates to align goals with current business priorities and articulating the connection between individual and team goals.

Performance reviews with skilled managers are crucial to employee performance

As employers meet evolving employee expectations, many have rethought their approaches to performance reviews by focusing on changes to ratings. Some have shifted from numerical scales (for example, one through five) to word-based systems (for example, from “underperforming” to “exceeds expectations”) or have done away with ratings altogether.

But the survey showed that different ratings scales (for example, those that measured results versus behavior) yielded negligible differences in how much motivation employees reported.

There was also no significant difference between receiving no rating and receiving a rating on a two-point scale (such as a “pass or fail”) or a three- or five-point scale.

Instead, the survey responses suggest employers may be overemphasizing ratings frameworks and overlooking the criticality of how ratings are given. Our survey indicated employees were significantly more motivated by performance reviews when they were offered by a skilled manager and reflected the individual achievement of a performance goal. This was especially true when managers were involved in setting goals and, therefore, well informed when it came time to assess performance (Exhibit 3).

Investments in manager training to foster meaningful development discussions pay dividends

The survey data also shows how big a difference ongoing development discussion outside the review cycle can make. Only 21 percent of respondents who had no development conversations felt motivated by their companies’ performance management, compared with 77 percent of those who received ongoing feedback.

When it comes to providing feedback, manager training is critical, given that nearly 25 percent of survey respondents said their managers or feedback providers did not have sufficient skills or capabilities to conduct their performance reviews. At large companies (with 10,000 to 50,000 employees), 34 percent of respondents cited this lack of skills. Large companies in particular could designate more power and resources to middle managers —traditionally the most passionate and capable coaches within an organization.

But how can employers empower managers without creating excessive workloads? Because both managers and employees often find the process of providing and receiving feedback taxing , some companies try to limit these exchanges to only once a year. However, given the decisive benefit of regular feedback that our survey revealed, a better approach may be to equip managers with the right tools. Generative AI can make it easier for managers to deliver better feedback —for example, by synthesizing insights from the colleagues who work closely with an employee.

Rewards that include nonfinancial incentives provide a boost

Money matters, of course. But the survey also suggests that, as work–life expectations continue to shift, nonfinancial rewards, like opportunities for upskilling or professional development, can play an increasingly important role in performance management strategies.

The survey showed a strong relationship between employers’ use of both financial and nonfinancial rewards and employees’ perceptions of their personal motivation and performance improvement. The survey also shed light on a unique distinction: employees were more likely to perceive that their organizations’ performance management systems were improving company performance overall when nonfinancial rewards were used. Taken together, these findings suggest that nonfinancial rewards can serve as a critical booster for the success of a cohesive performance management system (Exhibit 4).

Previous McKinsey research has found that nonfinancial incentives should appeal to five sources of meaning : society, client, company, team, and self. These findings align with abundant social science research. 1 Jena McGregor, “What companies get wrong about motivating their people,” Washington Post , November 25, 2016. Nonfinancial incentives could include an immediate manager’s praise, a step-up opportunity to lead a high-profile project, greater autonomy, or more workplace flexibility.

Nonfinancial incentives, like other aspects of an effective approach, should be both frequent and explicitly tied to desired behaviors. They can be used to reward progress toward large, company-wide goals; small, private goals specific to individual employees; or career moves, among other things. Thoughtful deployment of these rewards can help reinforce elements from across the four pillars of a cohesive system.

Economic volatility and shifting workplace norms have sparked many employers’ renewed interest in creating the right performance management formula. Our survey suggests that cohesive overall design and effective execution are the most important focus points.

As organizations consider their approaches across the four performance management pillars—goal setting, performance reviews, ongoing feedback, and rewards—we urge them to pay close attention to the “what” and the “how” to motivate and inspire employees.

Asmus Komm is a partner in McKinsey’s Hamburg office; Brooke Weddle is a senior partner in the Washington, DC, office, where Vivian Breaux is an associate partner; Dana Maor is a senior partner in the Tel Aviv office; and Katharina Wagner is an associate partner in the Berlin office.

The authors wish to thank Karla Martinez and Katherine Boorstein for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Katy McLaughlin, an executive editor in the Southern California office.

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The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard
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Motivational Speech to Inspire Hope in Uncertainty. Lately, times have been tough. We have seen resources go down and workloads go up, we have seen uncertainty rise. We have all sacrificed. We have given up time with our families; our work has cut into our personal lives, we have lost our sense of balance. I know some of us come to work every ...
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