What’s perhaps funnier, in an ironic kind of way, is that the motivational speaker could not be any further from some sort of new fangled American sensation. Motivational speaking is not innovative by any means. Examples of the motivational speaker are present all through history; as far back as speech itself goes.

Not only in history is the motivational speaker common. All through generations of literature, the best commanders were always fantastic speakers. Fictional motivational speakers have long encouraged fresh generations of speakers. Which speaker hasn’t attempted to emulate the power, impact and drama wielded by Marc Antony in Shakespeare’s rhetoric-laced ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen’ speech?


The work of a good motivational speaker cannot be underestimated. A strong example is that of Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight them on the beaches’ speech. Morale has been boosted and conflicts have been won and lost by good motivational speakers.

It follows then, really, that their competencies in the corporate and academic sectors has been spotted. When morale is low and sales have plummeted, it is very easy for companies to find themselves stuck in a rut. Uplifting words uttered by supervisors frequently have an accusatory or warning tone, which hinders as opposed to helps the situation. Hardly surprising then that the motivational speaker is in more demand than ever.