Speeches are supposed to inspire. But more than that, if you’re going to get everyone together in a room in this virtual age, you should change the world. That’s why I started my first book with the words, “The only reason to give a speech is to change the world.”
So how do you do that? I give a much longer answer in my book, but here’s the short one. Basically, our minds are constructed to want to solve problems. Give me a problem, as an audience member, and I’ll get to work solving it. But there’s a caveat. If it’s your problem, I won’t necessarily be motivated to solve it. I’ll be concerned, perhaps, and I might even donate some time, attention, or moolah, but I won’t get really worked up.
If it’s my problem, on the other hand, you’ve got me. I will be motivated to solve that problem. I will get to work changing the world.
So that’s the secret. As a speaker, ask yourself, what’s the problem the audience has for which my information is the solution? Then, talk about that problem. First, before you offer your solution. If you can convince the audience that it does indeed have that problem, then it will move heaven and earth to work with you to solve it.
The only reason to give a speech is to change the world. No excuses. Get to work.
Nick,
Stellar post! Short and SO sweet!
I too agree that we should be intentional about our speeches and anything else that deserves our attention. I struggle with assuming that my audience has the same issues I do or sees the world how I see it so your post is a good reminder to uncover what the audiences issues are and connect there!
Thanks as always!
Nick, your grand statement that the only reason to speak is to change the world is mind awakening. However, I will say about 90% of speeches are such type. After all, there are entertaining speeches.
I just completed a workshop on presentation skills and so many participants thought their objective is only to inform the audience. I told them that if it’s just to share information, why not just send an email? A presentation got to have deeper objective. A presentation at least needs a call for action in the end.
Thanks Ryan and Warwick for the great comments. Agree that some speeches are “merely” entertaining — but that raises the question: why? And is that a bad thing? Sometimes entertaining people changes the world, after all.