How Motivational Speeches Can Change the Life of Teenagers

Posted by joelpenton on November 18th, 2014

Motivational speaking for the youth has come to the forefront recently, especially with the proven success of teen-oriented school assemblies discussing themes and topics that are relevant to older kids in this age range. To be a successful motivational speaker for teens, you need to know how to hold the attention of your listeners and make them feel connected to you. Here are some tips on how to do this.

1. Use your personal stories of achievement. Avoid abstract concepts because teens don’t relate to such theoretical statements. When using your own experiences, don’t be afraid to go small. You don’t always have to use stories that are larger than life. Smaller and more personal stories are often more relatable and interesting, especially to teens. Some topics that might be of interest to teens include how you went from being an F student to an A student, how you started your own small business while in high school, and the like.

2. Use the stories of inspiring people. Aside from sharing your own experiences, you can also talk about little-known facts and side stories about famous individuals—from Nelson Mandela to Oprah. You don’t have to make the whole speech about this individual; simply devote a minute or two for them, and then relate their stories to modern day issues teen face today.

3. Do a comedic take on serious topics. You can make any subject funny as long as you remember several rules. First, your jokes must never be directed at the victims. Second, your speech’s main purpose should be conveying information, not simply telling jokes. 
Some teen-specific topics that can be spun comically include: (a) Overcoming academic troubles, (b) Finding a good summer job, (c) Becoming more independent from parents (d) Coping with anxiety and depression, and many more.

4. Finally, be a ‘friend’ while remaining an authority figure. Teens are notorious for their short attention spans. They are more likely to sit for an hour listening to a friend than to a boring adult. Your job as motivational teen speaker is to be relatable without losing your authority. Your teenage audience should not feel like you are lecturing them, but they should also see you as an expert whom they can trust. Be sure to make for a question and answer session (open forum) after your speech. This makes your talk two-way and interactive, and therefore more memorable. 

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This resource is provided by Relevant Speakers Network. Contact if you are looking for Motivational Speakers for High School Assembly Programs.

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