The Difference Between Inspiration & Motivation In Public Speaking

If you’re delving into the realm of public speaking, you’ve likely wondered about the difference between motivation and inspiration when speaking.

Key Differences

1. Stimulate emotions
2. Passion and pride
3. Emphasis on the “here and now”
4. Achieving feasible goals
5. Knowledge and strategic thinking about how to get it done

So, keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything to keep in mind about these two types of public speaking.

#1. Stimulate Emotions

Public speaking is a powerful tool in and of itself. So when people can use the art of spoken word to stir, move, or entertain an audience, they really deserve a round of applause!

Speaking to a group of people isn’t a straightforward task. And if you’re part of the 15% to 30% of the population that has public speaking anxiety, it’s even harder.

Take it from me. As a successful corporate emcee, getting here wasn’t necessarily easy. It took plenty of practice, late nights, and hard work.

But I always loved the journey and where it brought me!

Many public speakers brand themselves as either motivational speakers or inspirational speakers. And though many people use these terms interchangeably, they’re not the same thing.

I’ll review a few key differences between each type with the acronym SPEAK. So, let’s get started.

Inspirational Speakers Seek To Stimulate Emotions In Their Audience

Speakers have many goals once they step on stage. And a big goal for inspirational speakers is to inspire people.

That much should go without saying.

But how exactly can you inspire a crowd of people, all of whom likely have different backgrounds, cultures, and ways of thinking? The answer lies in something that we all share.

Emotions.

Inspirational speakers seek to evoke an emotional response from their audience. It can be anything from joy to anger. By creating this emotional connection, speakers can build trust and empathy between themselves and their audience.

They often do this by sharing personal stories, insights, or experiences. And this is one way to help people feel inspired!

#2. Passion And Purpose

Another aspect that inspirational speakers focus on is passion. This is another powerful emotion that can drive us to do amazing things.

When we feel a certain passion or purpose for something around us, it inspires us to take action.

An inspirational speaker shares their own passions with an audience to get them excited about their own. It can help awaken purpose inside the hearts of their listeners.

#3. Emphasis On Taking Action

I’ve established that inspirational speakers like to focus on the raw emotions of their listeners. But motivational speakers, on the other hand, like to draw upon the drive that lives inside their audience.

They’re more about taking action.

Motivation is more about short-term effects. Motivation is about the driving force pushing people to take action. It’s not necessarily a long-term solution to inner problems people may be facing.

What Motivation Is About

In fact, motivation can be incredibly unreliable in the long run. However, it is effective at helping people overcome prevalent barriers in their life.

Especially for self-imposed or societal barriers, motivation can be the thing that helps break them down. So it’s important to use motivation and inspiration for the right reasons at the right time.

They’re not interchangeable.

So let’s get into what motivational speaking is all about.

Motivation Is About Deliberate Action

The most notable aspect of motivational speaking is the focus on action. Motivation is about inspiring temporary drive and passion for taking deliberate action.

Motivational speakers help their listeners identify their own goals while providing practical strategies to master them. They often show them how to develop a plan while staying motivated along the way.

The primary focus is to help the audience to take practical steps toward meeting their goals. In addition, they want to give their listeners encouragement and the tools they need to succeed.

When it comes down to it, motivational speakers work to get their audience to move out of their comfort zone and toward action.

#4. Achieving Goals

Motivation is all about action. Motivational speakers aren’t just about talk (even though that’s how they motivate.) They want their audience to feel a pull toward action and meeting goals.

So, how do you meet these goals?

After helping your audience feel motivated, you must also help them understand how to set and reach goals.

That’s because goal setting is the somewhat-tangible part of any motivation that keeps that inner drive alive.

Oftentimes, motivational speakers also give their audience goal-setting tools. In addition, they encourage their listeners to set feasible and reasonable goals that will help them stay motivated even after meeting them.

We all know that warm, fuzzy feeling we get when we achieve our goals. It makes you motivated to set more!

#5. Knowledge And Strategy

Inspiration is about moving the heart, while motivation is about stimulating the mind. Motivation relies on cold, hard facts to give people purpose and passion.

And once that drive is present, it’s essential to help it along.

Motivational speakers use knowledge and strategic thinking to give their listeners practical tools for being motivated.

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you don’t know how to accomplish the tasks you set for yourself in a fit of motivation.

One of their goals is to provide their audience with actionable steps they can take to make positive changes in their lives.

Wrapping Up

Figuring out the difference between motivational and inspirational speaking can initially seem simple, but it goes deeper than that.

So keep that in mind the next time you’re looking at an inspirational or motivational speaking gig!