How to deliver speeches that inspire
This is a complimentary lesson from my Club 12 communication series, Words the Work: 5 Skills to Become a Dangerously Effective Communicator.
How to deliver speeches that inspire
Your ability to express an idea is just as important as the idea itself. Think about it: even if you’re the smartest person around, even if you’ve got a mind bursting with incredible ideas, insights, and information… If you’re unable to move those ideas from your mind into someone else’s, what good are they?
- How can you teach your children if you can’t simplify and express your ideas?
- How can you explain something to a co-worker if you’re unable to articulate it properly?
- How can you hold an interesting conversation or pitch an idea if you have difficulty organizing your thoughts into something that makes sense to other people?
You can’t.
The good news is, being an effective communicator isn’t something people are born with.
It’s a learned skill.
And today, I’m going to share a simple framework with you that makes the entire process a whole lot easier.
It’s the very same framework I use to craft my own speeches, talks, and training programs.
And it’s based on a very simple five-stage sequence.
Once you learn how to use it, you’ll enjoy a noticeable difference in your ability to explain and articulate your ideas to others.
You’ll be able to inspire, inform, and entertain people with your words.
Folks will remember what you say, they’ll take action after you’ve said it, and you’ll develop a reputation as an expert communicator who knows what they’re doing.
The framework I’m about to show you is called Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
It was developed in the 1930s by a Purdue University professor named Alan Monroe. It’s now known as the gold standard for persuasive speaking, especially when you need inspire action in others.
And guess what?
I’m using it right now – to introduce this fourth installment of the Words that Work training series.
Now, let’s talk about how you can start using it in your own life…
The framework:
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
This framework moves the audience through five sequential emotional states:
- Attention. Capture attention immediately with a powerful story or statement, a scroll-stopping statistic, or a thought-provoking question. The goal is to capture their focus so they are receptive to what comes next.
- Need/Problem. Create a sense of urgency or expose a problem or pain that directly affects them. This step should evoke an emotional response (a desire to change, frustration, worry, concern, etc.)
- Satisfaction/Solution. Now that they feel the weight of the problem, offer a solution. Outline your game plan and show how it solves the problem/need you established in the previous stage. Make the steps to success feel practical and achievable.
- Visualization. Help the audience envision the future. Contrast what the world will look like if they adopt your solution versus what they’ll experience if they do nothing. Make it emotional, make them “feel” the success.
- Action. Close with a specific call to action. And don’t be vague about it—be as clear as possible. Whether you’re asking for a click, a signature, or a habit-change – end with a direct and simple call to action.
Examples of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in action
Here are three examples of how you can apply Monroe’s Motivated Sequence across three different scenarios: work, community, and a product sales pitch.
Example 1:
A pitch to eliminate useless meetings at work
Context: A manager pitching the VP of Operations to implement a strict “No-Meeting Wednesday” policy.
Attention
“I reviewed our entire department’s calendars this past week, and between the 12 of us, we spent a combined 127 hours sitting in meetings. That’s the equivalent of three full-time employees doing nothing but staring at each other on Zoom every day.”
Need
“We’re paying brilliant people six-figure salaries, but we’re not creating the conditions that allow them to do their jobs effectively… Their calendars are packed with mandatory ”status“ meetings and check-ins. And because of that, the actual deep work (coding, writing, problem-solving) gets stalled. Many people are working nights and weekends to get everything done. Our people are exhausted and resentful. And we’re missing our targets because nobody has enough time to sit down and work.”
Satisfaction
“I propose that we begin to implement ‘No-Meeting Wednesdays’ department-wide. We can move all of our weekly status updates to Slack and have everyone check-in on Tuesday afternoons.”
Visualization
“Imagine each of us walking into work every Wednesday knowing we’ve got eight full hours to focus on moving our most important priorities forward. It’ll lead to faster turnaround times and an immediate drop in burnout. But if we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re just going to keep paying six-figure salaries for professional meeting-attenders, and our best talent is going to quit for a company that respects their time.”
Action
“I’ve already drafted the memo. All you need to do is approve it, so I can send it to the department and officially declare tomorrow our first ‘No-Meeting Wednesday.’”
Example 2:
Inspiring neighbors to partner with you on a community initiative
Context: A resident speaking at a neighborhood association meeting, in hopes of convincing the majority to contribute toward building a local garden.
Attention
“All of us drive past that empty dirt lot on 4th and Harrison every day. For the last three years, all we see on that lot is a bunch of weeds, trash, and broken glass…”
Need
“That lot is an eyesore that drags down everyone’s property values. But even more importantly, it’s a wasted opportunity in a neighborhood like ours, especially when the closest grocery store with fresh produce is 10 miles away. We’re disconnected from each other and disconnected from our food…”
Satisfaction
“I genuinely believe we can transform that ugly old lot into a beautiful community garden. I’ve already spoken with the owner of the lot, and she’s agreed to lease it to us for $1 a year if we maintain it. We can build raised beds, plant fresh vegetables, and assign plots to each of the families in our community…”
Visualization
“Now, just imagine what that lot will look like this time next year: full of beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs — with children learning how to grow their own carrots, and neighbors actually talking to each other over the fence. Friends, we’ve got a real opportunity here to transform our neighborhood. And if we don’t do something about it now, I’m sure you can imagine what it’ll look like if it stays the way it is—nothing more than a dumping ground for windblown trash.”
Action
“I’ve got a signup sheet right here, and I need ten of us to commit to a cleanup this Saturday at 9 AM, and I need five of us to sign up for the initial planting committee.”
Example 3:
The sales pitch
Context: An entrepreneur pitching a new “HydroBottle” directly to consumers in a video sales letter.
Attention
“You’re probably dehydrated right now… In fact, 75% of adults walk around every day in a state of chronic dehydration…”
Need
“Think about that 3 PM brain fog you experience or that splitting headache you get in the afternoon. Think about your sudden cravings for sugar. You might think it’s because you haven’t slept or because you’re stressed… But the reality is, your brain is begging you for hydration, and relying on yourself to ‘just remember to drink more’ hasn’t worked…”
Satisfaction
“Meet the HydroBottle. It’s not just another water bottle; it’s a smart hydration system. A sensor in the base tracks exactly how many ounces you drink, syncs to your phone, and gently glows when it’s time to take a sip based on your body weight and activity level…”
Visualization
“Imagine going through your entire workday with sustained energy, and zero afternoon crash. Think about how much more productive you’ll be when your brain and body are truly hydrated. With it, you’re locked-in and focused, healthy and energized. Without it, you’re just going to keep reaching for that third cup of coffee, which leaves you crashing before dinner…”
Action
“So click the link below to order your HydroBottle today… Place your order within the next 24 hours, you’ll get 20% off and fast, free shipping.”
Actionable insights
Practice using the Monroe Motivated Sequence next time you’re presenting your ideas. This framework is adaptable to almost any scenario, regardless of whether you’re in a meeting, a conversation, behind a camera, or on-stage.
All you need to do is…
- Capture attention.
- Establish the problem (need.)
- Present your solution (satisfaction.)
- Show what life could look like afterward (visualization.)
- Ask for immediate action.
