how to give a ted talk style presentation

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How to Give a Killer Presentation

• Chris Anderson

For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED’s curator, shares five keys to great presentations:

• Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end).
• Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it—over and over).
• Work on stage presence (but remember that your story matters more than how you stand or whether you’re visibly nervous).
• Plan the multimedia (whatever you do, don’t read from PowerPoint slides).
• Put it together (play to your strengths and be authentic).

According to Anderson, presentations rise or fall on the quality of the idea, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker. It’s about substance—not style. In fact, it’s fairly easy to “coach out” the problems in a talk, but there’s no way to “coach in” the basic story—the presenter has to have the raw material. So if your thinking is not there yet, he advises, decline that invitation to speak. Instead, keep working until you have an idea that’s worth sharing.

Lessons from TED

A little more than a year ago, on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, some colleagues and I met a 12-year-old Masai boy named Richard Turere, who told us a fascinating story. His family raises livestock on the edge of a vast national park, and one of the biggest challenges is protecting the animals from lions—especially at night. Richard had noticed that placing lamps in a field didn’t deter lion attacks, but when he walked the field with a torch, the lions stayed away. From a young age, he’d been interested in electronics, teaching himself by, for example, taking apart his parents’ radio. He used that experience to devise a system of lights that would turn on and off in sequence—using solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box—and thereby create a sense of movement that he hoped would scare off the lions. He installed the lights, and the lions stopped attacking. Soon villages elsewhere in Kenya began installing Richard’s “lion lights.”

• CA Chris Anderson is the curator of TED.

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11 ways to prepare: How to give a TED Talk

Nancy Duarte

I’ve given all types of talks . And while all presentations take an investment to make them effective, the creation of a high-stakes, beautifully staged TED Talk often proves to be especially difficult. It takes work to craft the talk, and then even more to make the delivery sound natural.

How long are TED Talks?

A TED Talk is 18 minutes long — a length that was chosen by TED organizers based both on  neuroscience and strategy . They understood that 18 minutes was long enough for a speaker to flesh out an idea, but short enough that a listener could take in, digest, and understand all of the important information.

TED Talk format: What makes preparing for a TED Talk so tough?

TED curator  Chris Anderson explains :

“The 18-minute length works much like the way Twitter forces people to be disciplined in what they write. By forcing speakers who are used to going on for 45 minutes to bring it down to 18, you get them to really think about what they want to say. What is the key point they want to communicate? It has a clarifying effect. It brings discipline.”

In reality, creating a talk that is ONLY 18 minutes, instead of 45, is tougher than you might imagine. Woodrow Wilson summed up the process of giving a short, but effective speech best when he said:

“If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.”

Not only is the editing process for a TED Talk format (or an 18-minute speech) challenging, but the rehearsal process takes a lot of time, too. In fact, I discovered that the amount of rehearsal time required is inversely proportionate to the length of the talk.

True story: For the last 18-minute TEDx Talk I gave, it took me approximately 18 hours to rehearse.

Nancy Duarte’s TEDx Talk: The secret structure of great talks

How to do a TED Talk that gets a lot of views

While I’ve given a few TED Talks and TEDx Talks in my time, my firm has helped multiple TED speakers prepare for the stage. Whether it was for their TED Talk speech or just making sure folks sound smart in their TED talks, we’ve compiled a list for anyone to get started on their TED Talk journey.

Here are 11 preparation tips for how to give a TED Talk that fits within the TED Talk duration and results in a presentation that’s as effective as possible.

1. Make a TED Talk outline.

When making your TED Talk, the structure of your presentation matters. It’s actually what my original TED Talk was about, and I’ve since produced a book and training workshop on it called Resonate ®.

From there, you can set up your slides, and begin to outline your TED Talk speech.

2. Print your current slide deck as 9-up handouts.

You’ve made your slide deck, but now it’s time to prepare them for the TED stage . The  9-up format  is conveniently the same size as the smallest sticky note. When I prepared for  my TEDx Talk , I arranged and re-arranged my message onto sticky notes — adding sticky notes until I was happy with the flow.

If I’m whittling down my talk from, say, a 40-minute talk, I make sure I cut at least half of my slides. Keep trimming and trimming until you feel you are close to 18 minutes. During this process, it becomes clear that your Big Idea ™ can be communicated in a succinct, distilled manner.

3. Solicit feedback.

Assemble a handful of people who are effective presenters that you trust to give honest, unfiltered feedback on your narrative and slides. Verbally run the ideas by these folks (it doesn’t have to be a formal presentation). Have them look at all the slides at once so they give feedback on the “whole,” not the parts. And have them give you feedback on the content you’ve chosen, asking whether they think it will resonate with your audience.

Consider doing this a handful of times. When I did my TEDx Talk, I repeated this step four times, twice with my External Communications Manager and twice with my company President. After they added their insights, I was ready to have the slides designed .

4. Rehearse with a great (honest) communicator.

Choose someone you trust and also that understands how to give a TED Talk, and rehearse with them. In my case, I rehearsed with an Executive Duarte Speaker Coach . She would say honest things like:

• “When you say it that way, it can be interpreted differently than you intended.”
• “When you use that term, you come across as derogatory.”
• “I thought that when you said it last time it was better, you said … ”

She worked hard tracking phrases and rounds of what was said. When it comes to preparing for a TED Talk, honesty is the best policy. Make sure your communication coach is not afraid to speak up because 18 minutes goes by fast! You love your material and you want to include all of it, but if you want to master how to give a TED Talk successfully, you need someone you trust to help you murder your darlings .

5. Close the loop.

A lot of times, as the presenter, you know your material so well that you think you’re making each key point clear. Here’s a tip: You might not be. Your speaker coach should make sure you are telling people why . It’s the “why” around our ideas that make them spread, not the “how.” Articulate the why so your audience understands what’s magnificent about your Big Idea™.

6. Practice with your clock counting up.

The first few times, rehearse with your clock timer counting up. That’s because if you go over, you need to know how much you’re over. Do NOT be looking at the clock at this time. Have your presentation coach look at it because you don’t want to remember any of the timestamps in your mind. Finish your entire talk and then have your coach tell you how much you need to trim.

Keep practicing until you’re consistently within 18 minutes. Your executive speaker coach should be able to tell you to trim 30 seconds here or add 15 seconds there so that your content is weighted toward the most important information.

7. Practice with your clock counting down.

Once you’re within the timeframe, begin practicing with your clock timer counting down. This is a great strategy to really maximize your presentation rehearsal time . You need to set a few places in your talk where you benchmark a time stamp.

• Calculate where you need to be in the content in six-minute increments.
• You should know roughly where you should be at 6, 12, and 18 minutes.
• You should know which slide you should be on and what you’re saying so that you will know immediately from the stage if you’re on time or running over.

8. Be noteworthy.

Your executive speaker coach is there to jot down what you say well and what you don’t. They should work from a printout of the slides and write phrases you deliver effectively so they can be added to your script. They should help you capture phrases so you can type them into your notes. It goes without saying, but with an 18-minute time limit, they will also make sure you remove those pesky filler words , too!

9. Don’t be camera shy.

Videotape some of your final practices. It doesn’t have to be a high-end video setup — I’ve used my iPhone camera on a tripod in a hotel room before. You just need to feel like something’s at stake. Videotaping yourself helps you get used to looking at the camera, and you can review the video to look at your stage presence, eye contact, gestures , plus identify any expressions that need modification.

Also, if you do an especially good practice run, you can go back and listen to the audio and add the best snippets to your slide notes. The TED audience has only about 1,000 people in it, but the TED.com audience will have millions. So, talk to the camera like there are humans on the other side of it.

10. Do one more full-timed rehearsal right before you walk on the TED Talk stage.

Right before you go on stage (we’re talking the day of), do one more timed rehearsal. This will ensure that you know the speech and that you’re well aware of where you might need to slow down or speed up.

11. Have two natural ending points in your TED Talk speech.

I gave a TED-style talk in India with a head cold. Despite all my rehearsals and prep, I knew I’d possibly lose track of timing. To prevent this, give your talk two natural ending points. Pick two natural places you could stop in your talk, then demarcate those as possible endings. That way, if you’re running way over, you can stop at your first ending point, and while your audience may miss out on some inspirational or emotional ending, they’ll have heard all the most important information that matters.

How to give a TED Talk: The easy way

Preparing for a big stage moment doesn’t have to be a TED Talk. It can be a meeting with investors , or it can be an hour-long keynote on a really big stage. If you want a pressure-tested solution to nail your high-stakes moment, hire a Duarte Speaker Coach . They can help you with both your speech outline, delivery, and even overcoming a stutter.

And if you’d rather take things slow, an award-winning public speaking workshop like Captivate ™ is your best choice.

This article was originally published on April 5, 2018. It has been updated in August 2024 for relevancy.

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Tips for Preparing and Delivering a Ted-style Talk

Master the art of delivering engaging TED-style talks with these essential techniques and tips. Captivate audiences, share innovation, and inspire change.

• Release Date: 02 October 2023
• Update Date: 15 March 2024
• Author: Speaker Agency

Crafting Your Story: How to Create a Ted Talk-Style Presentation

Ted talk essentials: structuring your presentation for impact, the art of storytelling: engaging your audience in a speech, rehearsing for success: techniques for polished talk delivery, making your speech memorable: adding a personal touch.

In a world where ideas have the power to shape perspectives and ignite change, delivering a TED-style Talk has become a platform for sharing innovation, passion, and inspiration. If you're aiming to stand on the iconic red circle or simply want to infuse TED Talk elements into your presentations. This guide equips you with essential insights to craft and deliver compelling talks that resonate with audiences.

What is TED short for? TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, three major categories that together are reshaping our planet. A TED conference, however, is even more comprehensive, exhibiting significant findings and concepts from all fields and examining their connections. Graduate students and psychologists are frequently asked to address audiences.

Whether it's to lead a meeting, make a presentation at a conference, or give a talk in the neighborhood, some people are more naturally gifted at public speaking than others. Additionally, there are several classic traps to avoid. Such as coming across as chaotic. Or focusing on your notes instead of your audience.

Regardless of how experienced you are in public speaking, there are some highly powerful tactics to employ when giving speeches that are interesting and engaging. Try this advice on how to give a TED-style talk the next time you have a speaking engagement:

Discover Your Passion and Expertise

Start by identifying subjects that truly ignite your passion. Consider your personal experiences, interests, and areas where you possess expertise. Reflect on what topics you could talk about with enthusiasm and authenticity.

Identify a Thought-Provoking Angle

Look for an angle or perspective within your chosen topic that challenges norms, sparks curiosity, or addresses an unexplored aspect. TED Talks often thrive on presenting new viewpoints that intrigue the audience and stimulate their thinking.

Connect with Your Audience's Needs

Consider what matters to your audience and how your idea can address their needs or concerns. Successful TED Talks resonate with people's emotions, experiences, and aspirations. Connect your idea to a universal theme that everyone can relate to.

Craft a Clear and Impactful Message

Condense your idea into a concise and memorable message. What is the core takeaway you want your audience to remember? Craft a message that is easy to understand and resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impact.

Tell a Personal and Compelling Story

Weave personal anecdotes, real-life experiences, or relatable stories into your talk. These narratives humanize your idea and make it more relatable. Sharing your own journey adds authenticity and creates an emotional connection with the audience.

Structuring your TED Talks for impact is crucial to engaging your audience and effectively conveying your message. Here is a TED-style guide to help you structure your presentation:

1. Start with a Captivating Hook

Begin your talk with a compelling hook that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact, a powerful quote, or a relatable anecdote. A solid introduction establishes the tone for the remainder of your presentation.

2. Introduce Your Idea Clearly

After the hook, introduce your idea in a concise and straightforward manner. Clearly state the main point you'll be addressing throughout your talk. Your audience should understand the essence of your idea from the beginning.

3. Build a Logical Flow

Organize your content in a logical sequence. Each point should naturally lead to the next, creating a smooth flow of information. Use transitional phrases to guide your audience through your talk and connect various segments.

4. Support with Stories and Examples

Incorporate relevant stories, examples, and anecdotes that illustrate and support your idea. Personal experiences and real-life situations resonate with the audience, making your content more relatable and engaging.

5. End with a Memorable Conclusion

Summarize your main points and reiterate the core message you want your audience to take away. Conclude with a call to action, leaving the audience with something to think about or inspiring them to make a change based on your idea.

Amy TEZ , Frederik Haren , Aisha Iqbal, Jasper Taylor , Gareth Davies , Dominic Colenso , and Nikki Dean all have one thing in common. They are people who inspire the world through their gift of glib and structured storytelling. Practice your delivery to maintain a confident and engaging presence on stage, enhancing the overall impact of your TED-style Talk.

Absolutely, engaging your audience is essential for a successful speech. Here are five detailed points to help you captivate your audience effectively:

1. Connect with a Compelling Opening

Start with an attention-grabbing hook that piques curiosity. Use a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, a relevant anecdote, or a powerful quote to immediately draw your audience into your speech.

2. Tell Relatable Stories

Weave relatable stories and personal experiences into your speech. Storytelling humanizes your content and makes it more memorable. Share narratives that your audience can connect with emotionally.

3. Use Interactive Elements

Engage your audience by involving them in your speech. Pose rhetorical questions that encourage them to think, ask for a show of hands, or incorporate brief audience interactions that require participation.

4. Vary Your Tone and Pace

Keep your audience engaged by using vocal variety. Alternate between a slower pace for emphasis and a faster pace for excitement. Use pauses strategically to build suspense and let key points sink in.

5. Visuals and Props

Use visuals to make your speech more compelling, such as slides or props. Visual aids can reinforce your points and provide a visual break for the audience, keeping their interest alive.

Here are five key techniques on how to create a ted talk style presentation and delivery:

1. Practice and Rehearse

Dedicate time to practicing your speech multiple times. Rehearsing helps you become familiar with the content and enhances your confidence in delivering it.

2. Use Effective Body Language

Employ open and confident body language. Make purposeful gestures, maintain eye contact with the audience, and stand with a straight posture.

3. Control Pace and Pauses

Speak at a steady pace that allows the audience to absorb your words. Use well-timed pauses to emphasize points and let the information sink in.

4. Vary Vocal Tone and Volume

Keep your audience engaged by varying your vocal tone, pitch, and volume. This adds depth to your delivery and maintains interest.

5. Minimize Fillers and Articulate

Avoid overusing filler words like "um" and "uh." Enunciate clearly and articulate your words, ensuring your speech remains coherent and easily understandable.

Infusing a personal touch into your TED-style Talk involves intertwining your own experiences and emotions with the topic at hand. By sharing relatable anecdotes, you bridge the gap between the stage and the audience, forging a genuine connection. Reveal moments of vulnerability, illustrating challenges you've overcome and lessons learned, to evoke empathy and authenticity. Additionally, expressing your passion for the subject creates an infectious enthusiasm that resonates with listeners. When your personal journey intersects with the broader theme, your talk becomes more than a presentation—it becomes a shared exploration of ideas and emotions.

At the same time, it's crucial to strike a balance. The personal touch should enhance, not overshadow, your talk's central message. Every personal element should contribute to the audience's understanding and emotional engagement, elevating your speech from a mere presentation to a relatable, memorable, and impactful experience.

What is the best way to prepare a TED Talk?

Preparing a TED Talk involves understanding your idea's essence, crafting a compelling narrative, and rehearsing until you're comfortable and confident. It's also crucial to adhere to the TED-style Talk format and guidelines, ensuring your content aligns with their mission of spreading innovative ideas.

What are the preparations needed before presenting a TED Talk?

Before stepping onto the TED stage, meticulously refine your idea, craft a compelling story, and practice your delivery to achieve a seamless and impactful presentation. Familiarize yourself with the stage, lighting, and technology to ensure a smooth experience on the big day.

What are the top 5 elements of an engaging TED Talk?

An engaging TED-style Talk comprises a captivating opening, a clear and structured idea, relatable storytelling, authentic emotional connection, and a thought-provoking conclusion. These elements work together to create a lasting impact on your audience.

What are the steps in the TED Talk process?

The TED Talk process involves idea formulation, thorough research, crafting a compelling narrative, practice, refinement, and finally, delivering the talk with confidence and authenticity. Each step contributes to creating an impactful and memorable presentation.

Remember, making an effective TED-style Talk involves a balance of structure, authenticity, and engagement. This guide equips you with the tools to captivate your audience, ignite conversations, and leave an indelible mark on the world of ideas.

Also read: How To Become A Better Public Speaker?

How to give more persuasive presentations: A Q&A with Nancy Duarte

Stepping onto the TED or TEDx stage — or speaking in front of any group of people, for that matter — is truly nerve-wracking. Will you remember everything you wanted to say, or get so discombobulated that you skip over major points? Will the audience be receptive to your ideas, or will you notice a guy in row three nodding off to sleep?

Presentation expert Nancy Duarte , who gave the TED Talk “ The secret structure of great talks ,” has built her career helping people express their ideas in presentations. The author of  Slide:ology  and  Resonate , Duarte has just released a new book through the Harvard Business Review:  The HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations .

What would you say are the three keys to giving a great presentation?

The number one thing, I think, is to be audience-centric. To take the time to think through who the audience is and develop all your material from a place of empathy toward them. You’re asking them to adopt your idea, which means they may have to abandon a belief they hold as true — and that’s hard. So, know your audience — take a walk in their shoes. What keeps them up at night? How are they wired to resist your message? Most presenters are consumed with preparing their content rapidly, which makes the material about their own narrow perspective. By flipping that paradigm to an audience-centric approach, your material will resonate and the audience can feel a deeper connection to you and your material.

Number two, you need to understand your role in the presentation. So many people feel like they’re the central figure — kind of like the hero of the story — because they’re the one talking the most. But in reality, your role is that of a mentor — you should be giving the audience a magical gift or a special tool, or helping them get unstuck in some way. You have to defer to your audience. When you put your idea out there for an audience to contend with — if they reject your idea, your idea will die. You have to think of it as, “The speaker needs the audience more than the audience needs the speaker.” Then you’ll start to approach a material with your audience in mind – you’ll have more of a stance of humility than one of arrogance. That will help you create the kind of movement needed to get your idea to spread.

And then the third thing — wrap your content in story. A story serves like the sugarcoating on the outside of a pill in some ways — it just makes it go down easier. If you look at preliterate generations for thousands and thousands of years, stories would pass down for generation after generation after generation — and stay almost completely intact. Yet, a lot of people can’t remember the last presentation they sat through. So, using principles of story — the tension and release that happens in a story — that’s what will help persuade the audience toward your idea.

What do you feel like you learned from giving your own TED Talk?

I learned so much. Being the “Presentation Lady,” I knew I couldn’t suck at it. The hardest part was getting [my talk] to fit within this finite amount of time. So I trimmed and trimmed, keeping in mind that you still have to nail why this is important to the audience. I had a person coach me and point out places where I could trim. “You took too long here, and that made this part of emphasis too long.” I worked with the timer counting up until I knew I was within the time window — then what I did was work with the timer counting down so I’d know, “When I’m a fourth of the way through, I should be on this slide. When I’m halfway through, I need to be on this slide.” I created markers in my mind so I would know how I was running on time. Sure enough, I finished the talk and I had six seconds left on the clock.

It was a great experience for me because I hadn’t gone through it myself. I’d coached people through it but — wow — to actually be a victim was interesting. I learned the power of rehearsing. If you rehearse really, really, really well — it looks improvisational. Some people rehearse to a point where they’re robotic, and they sound like they have memorized their presentation and didn’t take it to the next level. Going from sounding memorized and canned to sounding natural is a lot of work.

So, the classic advice for stage fright is to imagine the audience in their underwear. What do you recommend people do to calm their nerves?

I don’t usually get nervous, but when I got on [the TED] stage, I was nervous because it’s pretty high stakes. I recommend doing some breathing exercises — breathe in as deep as you can, and then take a couple more big gasps. Then, release it really slowly. That calms my heart down. But my favorite piece of advice isn’t my own — it’s from a guy named Nick Morgan. He said, “What you need to do right before you walk on stage is think of someone that you love dearly.” Doing that, I felt the chemistry in my whole body change. My shoulders relaxed and my heart melted. That feeling of affection makes your body calm itself down. That’s a really great way to stop stage fright.

What is the best way to start creating a presentation?

My best advice is to not start in PowerPoint. Presentation tools force you to think through information linearly, and you really need to start by thinking of the whole instead of the individual lines. I encourage people to use 3×5 note cards or sticky notes — write one idea per note. I tape mine up on the wall and then study them. Then I arrange them and rearrange them — just work and work until the structure feels sound. And from that sound structure, you start to fill it in using a presentation tool.

[For visuals], I think people tend to go with the easiest, fastest idea. Like, “I’m going to put a handshake in front of a globe to mean partnership!” Well, how many handshakes in front of a globe do we have to look at before we realize it’s a total cliche? Another common one — the arrow in the middle of a bullseye. Really? Everyone else is thinking that way. The slides themselves are supposed to be a mnemonic device for the audience so they can remember what you had to say. They’re not just a teleprompter for the speaker. A bullseye isn’t going to make anyone remember anything. Don’t go for the first idea. Think about the point you’re trying to make and brainstorm individual moments that you’re trying to emphasize. Think to the second, the third, the fourth idea — and by the time you get to about the tenth idea, those will be the more clever memorable things for the audience.

One thing that is really different about giving a TED Talk is the fact that you know it will be filmed. How do you think about the difference between live presentations and ones that will exist on video?

On stage, it feels really awkward to do large movements because — normally in life — we’re talking to someone in a more intimate setting and moving your arms really big feels melodramatic. But on the stage, you have to move your body in really big gestures. It feels awkward at first if you’re not used to it, so you have to kind of close your eyes and get used to it. Say things and move largely. Take big bold steps forward, big bold steps backward. You have this grand stage and people don’t use the space enough. I think one of the great things that Jill Bolte Taylor did was how she used her body. Her arms stretched all the way up when she talked about nirvana. Then she when she talks about her whole soul feeling constricted, she brings her hands down and folds her arms down in front of her. She’s using her body as a prop. That’s an important way to create meaning.

Also, with video, a tech rehearsal is important. Your audience on video is exponentially larger than the people in the room. So by familiarizing yourself with the cameras, you can at least look in that general direction. You know how you’re supposed to look around the audience — look and hold for five seconds, look and hold for five seconds? You should look at the camera as if it’s a human. Get used to seeing that circular lens as a face. Feel like it’s a person you’re talking to, because that audience on camera needs to feel like they’re there and that you’re looking right at them.

To me, presentations are the most powerful device. You can’t really name a movement that didn’t start with the spoken word. TED was once this exclusive, amazing event where ideas were exchanged, but you’ve moved to treating presentations as a media type. You guys have been so refined at it, that what it’s done is created a movement. What TED has done is made a platform for introverts, for scientists, for inventors — to share their ideas in a way that’s clear and appeals to a broad audience so that their ideas spread and get adopted. It’s completely changed how people present. It’s created this desire to be excellent in communication.

When you look at even how businesses communicated in the ’30’s, ’40’s and ’50’s — they were so much clearer and well-crafted. I recently went to the Stanford Library and I got a bunch of old GE Board meetings from, like, 1957. And I thought, “These are so beautiful!” Their presentations referenced history, they quoted things, they crafted their words in such a beautiful way. Then PowerPoint entered into the mix and suddenly there wasn’t any desire to craft anymore. I think TED Talks have brought the desire for the craft back.

Your new book is from the Harvard Business Review. Is it intended for someone who is in business, or for anyone?

All of my books are for anyone who has an idea that they need to communicate! I loved working with Harvard Business Review and I think because of the publisher, business professionals may be more interested in this book. But anyone with an idea can benefit from it. It’s a guidebook, so that people can think, “Oh, I need to know how to do this specific thing. I’m going to go get this book and find that one thing.”

Want more advice on giving talks? Our curator Chris Anderson is writing the official TED guide to public speaking —to be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in spring 2016. Titled Talk This Way! , it will be packed with insights on what makes talks work.

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How to build a TED Talk-worthy presentation

If you’ve experienced the challenge of developing and/or delivering an important presentation to a good-sized audience, there’s a chance you hoped it would go as well as a TED Talk—those incredibly well regarded presentations first popularized by the TED Foundation in the mid 2000s. TED Talks are often considered the “Everest” of engaging, informative presentations. Killing it on the TED stage is significant.

So with the intention of acting as your presentation sherpa, this article offers 8 steps to give you the best chance of building and delivering a TED Talk-worthy presentation.

TED Talks. People listen.   ‍

TED is a nonprofit with a mission to “spread ideas.” It began as a one-off conference (on technology, entertainment and design) in 1984—eventually evolving to a point where it launched an audio and podcast series called TED Talks .

From the history page on their site:

“ The first six TED Talks were posted online on June 27, 2006. By September, they had reached more than one million views. TED Talks proved so popular that in 2007, the TED website was relaunched around them, giving a global audience free access to some of the world’s greatest thinkers, leaders and teachers.”

As a result of their success and popularity, TED Talks have inspired many other presentation-centric activities and events—such as conference keynotes and investor fundraising “demo days.”

What makes a TED Talk?

TED presenters arrive from all walks of life, and although their TED Talks span a wide range of topics, they all share a few characteristics:

• 18 minutes or less. This is a TED rule, initiated by their founder, Chris Anderson, and also backed by scientific research . The basic premise is 18 minutes is long enough to do the job, but short enough to avoid having your audience begin to lose interest.
• A big idea, worth sharing. Again, straight from TED. But expecting to deliver a compelling presentation that relays several meaty ideas in under 20 minutes is wishful thinking. By focusing on a single, compelling concept—you ensure maximum impact and can more successfully communicate key points.
• Large audience, sizable venue. One-to-one, or one-to-few presentations delivered in a meeting or conference room play by different rules. We’re not addressing those here.

8 steps to the TED Talk mountain top

TED Talks are so well done they can almost seem magical. But it isn’t wizardry that makes them so compelling. In fact, there’s a formula you can follow—8 steps that will allow your presentations to deliver similar impact:

Step 1: Know your audience

This is fundamental for maximizing the success of any communication. In order to relay your “big idea” in the most effective way, you need to understand what your audience knows and cares about. Then tailor your presentation appropriately.

If you’re presenting to a new or relatively unknown audience, there are some quick ways to gather intel—such as researching and reading an applicable Reddit thread, or having a quick conversation with someone who’s more familiar.

Step 2. Scout your venue

As a general rule, the background of your slides should match the room in which you’re presenting. It’s not uncommon for large venues to be darkened so the visual focus is on what’s on stage. In some instances, however, stage environments can be illuminated or even a specific color or color theme. Matching slide backgrounds to the specifics of your venue can be very effective—allowing eyes to be drawn to the presentation’s content, not the full outline of the slides themselves.

Keep audience viewing angles and distance in mind as well. You want them on the edge of their seats, but not because they’re leaning forward and squinting to try and make out your tiny words.

Step 3. Think about your presentation as a whole

Your presentation is a story. It should flow from start to finish, and you should understand the primary points you want to make along the way. Look for the “big opportunities” and use your slides to truly highlight them. Not every slide should “Wow!” Some should be supportive and lead up to your key points—just like scenes in a movie plot. If every slide (or every scene) is intense, nothing will stand out. Outlines, index cards or sticky notes can be helpful at the early stages when you’re planning the arc of your story.

Step 4. One concept per slide (okay, maybe two)

To successfully make a point, you need your audience to be able to focus in and “get it.” So instead of asking a single slide to carry the load of relaying multiple concepts, put the second (or third or fourth) on their own slides. It can even make sense to relay a single concept across multiple slides. This allows the speaker to spend more time on it without losing momentum.

In some instances, you may be starting with a recycled slide your presenter happens to love—although you can see it’s relaying too many things. In such a case, ask the presenter to literally present the slide to you, and listen for the one (or maybe two) key messaging concepts they’re trying to relate. Build the new slide content to support those, and put everything else in the speaker notes.

Working with a client to distill a keynote’s story down to a few big, clarified points can be difficult work. But if we’re successful, the result is truly transformative. David Mack Co-founder, SketchDeck

Step 5. Minimalize

The slides are there to support your presenter—not to steal the show. The focus should be on speaker. Think single graphics and/or few words over phrase. Think phrase over sentence. Sentence over… (don’t even THINK about multiple sentences). You don’t want the audience to start reading, and stop listening.

The slide content is supporting the message, not relaying it. Everything on your slides should be meaningful. No placeholders, watermarks, headers or footers. If you haven’t determined this already, using your standard company presentation template probably isn’t a good idea. (Looking for an event or presentation specific presentation template? SketchDeck can help with that!)

Step 6. Maintain top quality

This is a premium presentation, and it needs to look and feel that way. No grainy photos, watermarked stock images, family snapshots, placeholder text or clip art. Just. Don’t. Do it. This is a day for Tiffany’s, not Target.

Step 7. Consider motion

Videos and animation can add a different and engaging dimension to your presentation. If done well, they offer a level of cinematic drama that can enhance the magic of a live performance.  But keep the previous steps in mind if you go this route. Every visual element needs a reason to be there. Everything must help tell the story.

Step 8. Get a great presenter

The reality is a speaker can make or break a presentation. A bad presenter can ruin a perfect presentation. And as much as it pains us to write this, a great presenter doesn’t really need slides (see Step 5 above). Therefore, if you’re presenting, practice—ideally in front of someone who will be brutally honest. You should also consider hiring a coach.

SketchDeck recommends taking the presentation to a small, controlled audience a week or so before the event to see how it delivers. Not only is it a great practice opportunity, it allows time for last minute adjustments.

And most importantly, hear feedback and adapt accordingly. If you’re not the presenter, ask whoever is to do the same. Great presenters are not born. It takes work, and the vast majority of that work is done before a speaker steps on stage.

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. Mark Twain

The big day

The audience is rapt… pin drop silent. Elegant slides flip in perfect timing behind your delivery. You pause—at just the right point—confidently adjusting the cuffs of your black turtleneck.

“They’re mine,” you think. And you’re right.

Fired up to blow away your next audience? So are we. SketchDeck would love to partner with you to help make your next presentation TED Talk-worthy.

Additional resources

https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks

https://synapsiscreative.com/5-best-slide-decks-tedx/

https://blog.ted.com/10-tips-for-better-slide-decks/

Rob Lewczyk

• Originally published on January 30, 2020

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6 dos and don’ts for next-level slides, from a TED presentation expert

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Want to prevent yawns and glazed-over eyes? Before you deliver your next speech, pitch or address, learn how to create exceptional slides by following these rules (with real before-and-afters).

Slides are an expected and crucial part of most speeches, presentations, pitches and addresses. They can simplify complex information or messages, showcase relevant images, and help hold an audience’s attention. But quite often, the best slides aren’t those that make people sit up and comment on how good they are; instead, they’re the ones that people take in without really noticing because the content is effortlessly conveyed and matches the speaker’s words so well.

These days, showing high-quality slides is more important than ever. “We’re living in a visual culture,” says Paul Jurczynski , the cofounder of Improve Presentation and one of the people who works with TED speakers to overhaul their slides. “Everything is visual. Instagram is on fire, and you don’t often see bad images on there. The same trend has come to presentations.”

He says there is no “right” number of slides. However, it’s important that every single one shown — even the blank ones (more on those later) — be, as Jurczynski puts it, “connected with the story you’re telling.” Here, he shares 6 specific tips for creating the most effective slides. ( Note: All of the examples below were taken from the actual slides of TED speakers. )

1. Do keep your slides simple and succinct

“The most common mistake I see is slides that are overcrowded. People tend to want to spell everything out and cover too much information,” says Jurczynski. Not only are these everything-but-the-kitchen-sink slides unattractive and amateurish, they also divert your audience’s attention away from what you’re saying. You want them to listen to the words that you slaved over, not get distracted by unscrambling a jam-packed slide.

“The golden rule is to have one claim or idea per slide. If you have more to say, put it on the next slide,” says Jurczynski. Another hallmark of a successful slide: The words and images are placed in a way that begins where the audience’s eyes naturally go and then follows their gaze. Use the position, size, shape and color of your visuals to make it clear what should come first, second and so on. “You don’t just control what the audience sees; you have to control how they see it,” says Jurczynski.

BEFORE: Too crowded 

After: easy to absorb.

2. Do choose colors and fonts with care

Colors and fonts are like the herbs and spices of your presentation. When used wisely and with intention, they’ll enhance your slides; but when tossed in haphazardly, they’ll make it an unappealing mess.

Let’s start with color. “Color is a key way to communicate visually and to evoke emotion,” says Jurczynski. “It can be a game changer.” Your impulse might be to pick your favorite hue and start from there, but he advises, “it’s important to use color with a purpose.” For example, if you’re giving a presentation about a positive topic, you’ll want to use bright, playful colors. But if you’re speaking about a serious subject such as gun violence or lung cancer, you’d probably go for darker or neutral colors.

While it’s fine to use a variety of colors in your presentation, overall you should adhere to a consistent color scheme, or palette. “The good news is you don’t need a degree in color theory to build a palette,” says Jurczynski. Check out one of the many free sites — such as Coolors or Color Hunt — that can help you assemble color schemes.

With fonts, settle on just one or two, and make sure they match the tone of your presentation. “You don’t have to stick to the fonts that you have in PowerPoint,” or whatever program you’re using, says Jurczynski. “People are now designing and sharing fonts that are easy to install in different programs. It’s been an amazing breakthrough.” Experiment. Try swapping a commonly used font like Arial for Lato or Bebas , two of many lesser known fonts available online. Most important: “Use a big enough font, which people often forget to do,” advises Jurczynski. Your text has to be both legible and large enough to read from the back of the room, he recommends — about 30 points or so.

BEFORE: Weak and hard-to-read font, muddy colors 

AFTER: Strong font, color that’s striking but not jarring

3. Don’t settle for visual cliches

When you’re attempting to illustrate concepts, go beyond the first idea that comes to your mind. Why? The reason it appears so readily may be because it’s a cliché. For example, “a light bulb as a symbol for innovation has gotten really tired,” says Jurczynski. Other oft-used metaphors include a bull’s-eye target or shaking hands. After you’ve come up with your symbol or idea, he advises people to resist the lure of Google images (where there are too many low-quality and clichéd choices) and browse other free image sites such as Unsplash to find more unique visuals. One trick: If you do use stock, amp it up with a color overlay (as in the pic at the top of this article) or tweak it in some other way to counteract — or at least muffle — its stock-i-ness.

One potential source of pictures is much closer at hand. “If it fits the storyline, I encourage people to use their own images,” says Jurczynski. “Like one TED Talk where the speaker, a doctor, used photos of his experience treating people in Africa. That was all he needed. They were very powerful.” Major caveat: Any personal photos must support your speech or presentation. Do not squander your audience’s precious time by showing them a gratuitous picture of your children or grandparents — beautiful as they may be.

BEFORE: Fake-looking stock photo to illustrate teamwork 

After: eye-catching photo of nature to illustrate teamwork.

4. Don’t get bogged down by charts and graphs

Less is also more when it comes to data visualization. Keep any charts or graphs streamlined. When building them, ask yourself these questions:

What do I want the audience to take away from my infographic?

Why is it important for them to know this?

How does it tie into my overall story or message?

You may need to highlight key numbers or data points by using color, bolding, enlarging or some other visual treatment that makes them pop.

Maps are another commonly used infographic. Again, exercise restraint and use them only if they enhance your talk. “Sometimes, people put a map because they don’t know what else to show,” says Jurczynski. He suggests employing labels, color schemes or highlighting to direct your audience where to look. He adds, if you have the skill or know an artist, “you may even consider a hand-drawn map.”

BEFORE: Yikes! What’s important?!? AFTER: The takeaway is clear

5. don’t be scared of blank slides.

It may seem counterintuitive, but at certain points in your speech or pitch, the best visual is … no visual at all. “At the beginning, I was not a fan of blank slides,” says Jurczynski. “But the more talks I’ve seen, the more a fan I am of them, because sometimes you want all the attention on yourself and you don’t want people distracted by what they see in the slides. Or, you might use them to give the audience a visual break from a series of slides. Or maybe you want to shift the mood or tempo of the presentation.”

The blank slide is the visual equivalent of a pause, and most stories could use at least one. And with blank slides, Jurczynski has one main “don’t”: “You cannot use white blank slides, because if you do, people will see it and think something is broken.”

6. Do remember to practice

The easiest way to figure out if your slides really work? Recruit a colleague, friend or family member, and run through your entire presentation with them. Sometimes, people can get so carried away with rehearsing their delivery and memorizing their words that they forget to make sure their slides complement and synch up with what they’re saying.

“Even if you have the best visual s in the world, you need to practice in front of someone else. Once you start practicing, you may see, ‘I’m talking about a sad story, but on the slide behind me, I have something funny and that doesn’t make sense,'” says Jurczynski. “Or, ‘Oh, this could be a good place for a blank slide.’”

About the author

Amanda Miller manages curation for partner events at TED.

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• data visualization
• idea visualization
• presentation literacy
• public speaking

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Moxie Institute

7 Ways to Prepare for a TED Style Talk – How To Give A TED Style Talk Series

Is your goal for 2021 to step onto that red circle and give the speech of your life?

Stay tuned for 7 tips on how to give a TED talk here in the Moxie Talk blog.

Table of Contents

HOW TO GIVE A TED TALK SERIES: PREPARATION

Hey everyone, I’m Fia Fasbinder, welcome to the Moxie Talk blog, where we help you find your voice, share your message, and lead with confidence.

Today we’re talking about TED talks. I have so many clients that ask me— How to give a TED talk?  If not how to give a TED talk, how to give a  TED-like  talk?

TED has really taken the world by storm. We now give talks differently, we create slides differently and our intentions spans are different all because of TED. Now, as a TEDx speaker coach for over 5 years, I have a ton of knowledge on the best practices of TED, why people love TED talks, and what makes a successful TED talk.

I want to share 7 of those tips with you so that you can create TED talks or TED-like talks for yourself.

TIP 1: CONTENT – AIM FOR TRANSFORMATION

The first idea is  transformation.  TED talks are not about sharing knowledge, they’re not about sharing information—they’re about transformation. A good TED talk really changes an audience’s perspective on the situation.

We have talks that are about really common subjects. A speaker I worked with talked about malaria. Hundreds of thousands of scientists have talked about malaria, but her unique perspective on how to cure malaria is what made this talk so special.

So if you want to give an amazing TED talk or TED-like talk ask yourself—  How do you want to transform that audience?

Really imagine them  at the beginning of the talk  when they’re coming into the theater and  at the end of the talk.   H ow have they changed?   how are they thinking, behaving differently ? So that’s tip number 1.

TIP 2: CONTENT – FOCUS ON ONE ASPECT OF YOUR SUBJECT

Because a TED talk is under 18 minutes long, we always go deep instead of wide. That means you can’t talk about everything with your subject. You have to pick one aspect of a subject that you know well and go deep. This is how we give a talk and under 18 minutes that really transforms behavior.

One thing we say to our TED talk speakers all the time is to  murder your darlings.  You might have a ton of ideas that would make a great TED talk, but you have to pick  one.  And every piece of evidence you use and every story you tell in that TED talk has to lead directly to that one aspect of your topic.

One idea I share with my TED speakers is to imagine a tree and the tree trunk is the main topic of your TED talk and every piece of evidence or story is like a branch that leads into that trunk. So that is tip number 2—go deep not wide.

TIP 3: CONTENT – TELL AT LEAST 3 STORIES

Tip number 3 is to  tell stories.  One of the reasons we fall in love with TED speakers is that they tell stories. They tell authentic stories, vulnerable stories, stories that make us angry, stories that make us laugh, stories that make us cry.

Good TED talks are infused with so much stories and not just the story of the TED speaker but stories from across the world it’s what connects us with that speaker.

So if you want to give a TED talk or a TED-like talk you must make sure that you have at least 3 stories in your TED talk.  At least  3 stories—that is our golden rule for TED talks—3 stories and they could be stories of clients, they could be stories of patience, they could be stories from your family or people you’ve worked with. But make sure that you are telling stories and know that is what will connect that audience to you as the speaker.

TIP 4: VISUALS – USE SLIDES WITH FEW WORDS AND IMPACTFUL GRAPHICS

Tip number 4 is  your slides.  Now  TED has really transformed the way people view and create slides today. TED has a hard and fast rule that there are only 6 words per slide.

6 words per slide, so the slides used in TED talks are highly visual—amazing graphics with very few words and we always ask our speakers:  Do you need the slide ? If not, just talk to the audience.

If you have a slide, it should be to amplify your message, to add visual perspective and visual impact to your talk. This means—you ready for this?  N o bullets.

You will never see a TED talk with a slide riddled with bullets. We do not do that. Hence, if you want to give an engaging talk TED talk or TED-like talk, take a look at your slide deck and make sure that your slides are highly graphic, highly visual with very few words. That’s tip number 4.

TIP 5: DELIVERY – PRACTICE A CONVERSATIONAL STYLE

Let’s move on to some tips for  delivering your TED talk.  So far we’ve talked about the content, we’ve talked about the slides, now—W hat about your delivery will make your talk TED-like?

Now we consider TED talks to be what we call  couch talks . What does that mean? That means as a speaker your delivery should be like you are sitting on a couch and talking to 2500 of your closest friends. That means your delivery style is authentic, personable, and conversational.

A lot of the work we do with TED speakers around the delivery simply is taking away bad habits, removing filler words, or making sure they’re not speaking too fast or they’re not mumbling.  This really allows those speakers to be authentic in their delivery style. Make sure if you want to give a TED talk or a TED-like talk that you’re conversational and casual in your delivery style.

TIP 6: DELIVERY – PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY LANGUAGE

Tip number 6 has to do with  your body language.  If you are giving a TED talk, you are on the red circle. If you’re giving a TED-like talk, you’re probably at the front of a board room, at the front of a meeting room, or on the front of a stage. One thing we see with a lot of TED speakers is what I call  spider feet .

Now if you can imagine a spider going back and forth, this is what speakers are doing with their feet. They’re taking 3 steps this way, 3 steps this way, 3 steps to the right, 3 steps to the left and it is extremely distracting.

In fact,  any  repetitive movement that you make with your body will distract your audience from your message and this is even amplified in a TED talk because of the camera—it picks up any movement. Even if you’re swaying from left to right, it distracts from the message. Therefore, make sure that you ground yourself.

One of the techniques that I give to my speakers is to imagine that they’re growing roots from their feet from the soles of their shoes and it’s actually rooting them to the ground so that when they move, they move with purpose. That’s tip number 6.

TIP 7: DELIVERY – PERFORM FOR YOUR LIVE AND VIRTUAL AUDIENCE

The seventh and final tip is to remember that when you’re giving a TED talk, even though you’re working the stage, you also have to  work the camera.

Why? Because most people see your TED talk on YouTube. They’re not in the theater seeing it live. This is a really strange juxtaposition because you have to be large on that stage to engage the audience that is in that theater with you, but you also have to connect with the camera.

This is so the thousands of people that watch your TED talk afterward see you in the camera and see you performing and presenting into the camera. You have to make sure that you’re presenting both to the people in that theater and to the camera itself.

There you go: seven tips to give a TED talk or TED-like talk. I hope you all apply to give TED talks in the new year.

I hope that this helped you. Stay tuned for more talks about TED and TED-like talks on Moxie Talk. For more information on everything from soup to nuts presentations check out our other  blogs .

I hope you liked this. Please share it with friends and subscribe to our newsletter and  YouTube channel . See you on the next blog.

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Present TED-style: Six Things TED Presenters Do That You Can Copy And Use In Your Next Presentation

It’s a harsh reality of the digital age: capturing and maintaining another person’s attention is becoming increasingly difficult. While there is minimal factual information on the typical person’s attention span during a presentation, savvy presenters are well aware that audiences are an impatient lot. As a result, it is more vital than ever for every one of us to think carefully about how we convey information.

Certain types of business presentations provide a chance for executives to demonstrate their knowledge while also providing audience members with useful and exciting information. TED and TEDx talks (which are organized locally and independently) have come to symbolize the peak of high-caliber business presentations.

• What is a TED Talk?
• Understand Your Audience 
• Explore The Venue Where You Will Be Delivering Your Presentation
• Connect With Your Audience
• Explain One Concept Per Slide
• Keep The Presentation Content Precise
• Inspire Your Audience
• A Few TED Style Template Examples

What is a TED Talk? 

TED Talks are brief, powerful presentations of ideas presented by experienced speakers at TED and TEDx conferences across the world. What distinguishes TED Talks is that they are generally recognized as highly impactful, motivating, inspiring and insightful. These presentations are easily digestible due to their brief nature. Their carefully selected speakers give them credibility.

A TED Talk is 18 minutes long, a duration set by TED organizers based on neuroscience as well as strategy. They recognized that 18 minutes was long enough for a speaker to flesh out a topic while remaining short enough for a listener to take in, assimilate, and understand all of the crucial information.

The concept of TED Talks was developed in 1984 during the inaugural TED conference. The TED acronym refers to the initial focus of these lectures, which was Technology, Entertainment, and Design. 

The first TED conference established a good tone, with talks on the compact disc (a novel idea at the time), the e-book, and other cutting-edge technical concepts. The second TED conference was conducted in 1990 and was so well received that it became an annual event.

6 Tips Inspired By Ted Talks To Give A Killer Presentation

TED Talks are so well-done that they almost symbolize authority and perfection. Let’s look at what makes them so appealing from an audience’s viewpoint.

1. Understand Your Audience 

This is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of any communication. To effectively communicate your “big idea,” you must first grasp what your audience understands and cares about. Then customize your presentation accordingly.

If you’re giving a presentation to a new or relatively unfamiliar audience, there are several quick ways to collect information, such as researching and reading a pertinent Reddit discussion or having a quick interaction with someone more knowledgeable.

Most TED speakers do substantial research about their audience, sometimes calling them out by name. This makes them fully grounded in the reality of the stage they are standing on.

2. Explore The Venue Where You Will Be Delivering Your Presentation

As a thumb rule, the background of your slides should match the room in which you’re speaking. In TED talks, typically, large arenas are frequently used. The hall is darkened so that the visual focus is on what’s on stage. 

Matching the backdrops of your slides to the details of your location can be quite successful, drawing attention to the presentation’s content rather than what is happening around

Keep the viewing angles and distance of the audience in consideration as well. You want people to be on the edge of their seats, but not because they’re squinting to make out your tiny text.

3. Connect With Your Audience

It’s tempting to imagine that the value of a TEDx talk is in the performance. After all, TED talks are regarded for being both motivating and engaging, and TED presenters are at the pinnacle of their profession. However, focusing on the performance overlooks what truly distinguishes these presentations: the connection.

Consider your favorite TED talks and why you hold them in such high regard. I’m guessing your solution has something to do with the speaker’s passion, conviction, and ability to connect with their audience. This is something that successful corporate presentations have in common with TED-style talks. So, how can you ensure that your next presentation connects with your audience?

Creating a connection involves many aspects- an important one is an authenticity. An authentic business presentation is not a spontaneous act. It is anything but. It takes careful thinking. Authenticity necessitates dedication to writing and editing until the content is perfect. Delivery is important in addition to content. Authentic presenters, in addition to their content, pay close attention to how they physically come across to their audience: their facial gestures, hand movements- everything is in focus.  

With proper preparation, they reach a point when they are able to speak to the audience as if they were chatting to a dear friend over a favorite beverage; the real them shines through. This level of authenticity generates connection, trust and leaves a lasting impact on your audience.

Yet, it is not necessary to have everything flawless for a good presentation. It all comes down to being prepared, wanting to connect, and sharing frankly with people. Remember to practice aloud to get there!

4. Explain One Concept Per Slide

To effectively deliver a message, your audience must be able to focus on and “understand it.” Instead of relying on a single slide to convey many concepts. It may even be appropriate to spread a single notion across numerous presentations. This permits the speaker to focus on it for a longer period without losing momentum.

From an audience’s perspective, less is more. If you need a reference for yourself, use the speaker notes by all means but keep the slide content to a minimum so the audience can focus and comprehend.

5. Keep The Presentation Content Precise

The purpose of the slides is to assist the presenter, not to steal the thunder from the presenter. The speaker should be the center of attention. Consider using single visuals and/or a few sentences rather than phrases. Consider the phrase over the sentence. You don’t want your audience to begin reading and then quit listening.

The content should be supported by the slide content rather than being relayed by it. Everything on your slides should have a purpose. There will be no placeholders, watermarks, headers, or footers without good reason. If you haven’t already decided, utilizing your normal business presentation template is generally not a smart choice.

6. Inspire Your Audience

Finally, as a corporate communicator, you may not be as big a known authority on your subject as a TED speaker. Yet you can get attention with your clarity, drive, and enthusiasm.

Regardless of the topic or how many times you’ve given a presentation on it, it’s critical that you express your thoughts with excitement. Keep in mind that your audience will pick up on your cues. You can bet your audience will be bored if you appear uninterested. To present a memorable message, you must demonstrate your passion for the subject.

Once again, this best practice is about cultivating the mentality that will enable you to be a good presenter. Your passion for your subject fuels an interesting, real delivery that will resonate with listeners.

A Few TED Style Template Examples:

Lamp Business Strategy

Source: Lamp Business Strategy by SlideUpLift

30 60 90 Day Plan

Source: 30 60 90 Day Plan by SlideUpLift

Corporate Highlights

Source: Corporate Highlights by SlideUpLift

The Bottom Line

Some people find public speaking easy, while others find it difficult. You can create a great impact with the correct framework, planning, slides, and practice. The world is inspired by TED Talks. They are a source of inspiration for our most creative and innovative minds.

TED has taught us many lessons: For example, Sharing data and numbers doesn’t have to be boring, Storytelling has and will always work, Once the lights are on, it is all about the presenter and their connection with the audience. Nothing else matters. So let your genuineness and enthusiasm flow through as you present. People will feel inspired and educated.

Use these TED talks to improve your presenting skills and become interested in sharing your knowledge. Be brave and speak up. In case you are looking for TED Style templates, check out the vast collection of free PowerPoint templates to get started.  Your presentation will be worth sharing as well.

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Why and When to Give a TED-Style Talk at Work

Imagine you were asked to give a TED-style talk to your company tomorrow. Would you be nervous? I know I would – and I’ve been working on speaking for years! 

In this article, you’re going to learn what a TED-style talk is, how it’s different from business presentations, and why and when you should deliver this kind of presentation at work. 

At the end, I’ll give you ways to start creating a TED-style talk today so you can gain visibility for yourself and your team. 

What is a TED-style talk? 

First, let’s define a TED-style talk. 

A TED-style talk brings a different approach to normal business presentations. It also brings a new level of engagement that a normal business presentation does not. 

For example, they can take a case study presentation and make it sound like a story. It can take a normal concept we’ve known for years and flip it on its head. 

Here’s a quote from Simon Sinek’s TED talk : “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.”

It’s not about just sharing numbers or about what you did, but instead about a new perspective that resonates with the audience.

Why and when to give one

Keep in mind that TED-style talks aren’t just for executives in your company. You can and should push yourself to create one so that you can bring in a personal topic or something you are well-versed in. This will help elevate you beyond your job role and expose you to other teams within the company. I still remember the talks that employees gave during “Lunch and Learn” sessions at one of my previous companies because they were unique, personal, and relatable. 

As to when to give the talk, if you’re giving team presentation updates on a weekly basis, then creating a TED-style talk for them wouldn’t be worth your time invested. For a team update, maybe just a basic presentation is okay.

However, if you have a big presentation coming up that may be worth making it a TED-style talk. 

Here are some examples of presentations that may be worth investing the time to make it a TED-style talk:

• Presenting a project you’ve been working on for months
• Pitching a new idea to leadership
• Speaking to the entire department
• Giving an update to the whole company
• Being a speaker at an in-person or virtual event
• Giving a presentation to earn a new client’s business
• Pitching your company to investors
• Tips on productivity and time management 

In those situations, it may be worth putting in that extra effort to make that presentation stand out with a TED-style talk.

What gives a TED-style talk a “wow” factor?

There have been dozens, hundreds if you include TEDx, of TED talks now and even among the best, there are those that stand out. But why? How?

If you try to make a TED-style talk be viral you may likely fail. This is because all you can do is your very best. You can’t create a TED-style talk at work, for public, personal, or any other reason with the purpose of it having a “wow” factor because that’s not up to you to decide, it’s up to the audience. 

However, we can look at how some TED-style talks have a “wow” factor and try to emulate them.

One common theme that comes up with popular TED talks is the speaker has a level of understanding of the subject matter that’s unparalleled. They have deep subject knowledge and have been working on it for years or decades. 

Another theme is a story they might tell that takes humanity on a different journey that most people have never thought about. Or about their philosophy that’s so different it shatters belief systems. 

An example is Sam Berns’ TEDx talk he gave which has 43 million views on YouTube. He was diagnosed with Progeria, a rare rapidly aging disease, but that didn’t stop him from living the most full life he could, and then sharing that with us. 

A final theme I’ll leave you with that gives TED-style talks a “wow” factor is they are authentic and share reflections, feelings, and thoughts of that individual that isn’t normally conveyed in most day to day conversations. 

How to create your TED-style talk

To create your TED-style talk, I recommend taking the topic and breaking it down into 2-4 subtopics or “buckets”. This is part of the “Bucket system” we teach in the Messaging Bootcamp to make a presentation and preparation a breeze. 

For example, if you were doing a talk on why your company’s products mean so much to your customers, you could break it down into 1) Your company’s story 2) Powerful customer success stories and 3) why you care about the company’s products. This would be informative, personal, and compelling. 

Now before jumping into your first bucket, I would create an “Introduction” bucket as well. This is where you answer why you’re there, why your topic is important, and what you’re going to cover (more in the Messaging Bootcamp ). If you want to make it more like a TED-style talk, you could add a story in the beginning as a “hook” to grab your audience’s attention. 

And last, make sure to create a “Closing” bucket, where you repeat why you were there, why it was important, and how the audience can move forward. A clear call to action, if possible, will differentiate you from the hundreds of talks the audience has probably heard. 

Remember, a TED-style talk is not just for executives or known thought leaders. You can start creating a TED-style talk today and create opportunities to deliver it at work. It’ll give you real-world experience sharing something you are passionate about and help you be known as a confident speaker within your organization. 

If you’d like help building your TED-style talk, work with one of our coaches with 1-on-1 coaching. Book a free consultation today.

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Giving a TED-Style Talk? Here’s How They’re Different from Business Presentations

by Jezra on March 18, 2014

In the past few years, TED , TEDx, and TED-style talks have become so pervasive and so popular that, even in business settings, speakers are often asked to give “a TED talk.” (And BTW, TEDx   refers to independently organized events held for local communities, or communities of interest.)

If you have a TED, TEDx, or TED-style talk coming up, here are the ways in which your talk will be different from a standard business presentation.

What Makes a Talk Be  a TED-Style Talk, Anyway??

First, let’s look at the superficial differences:

• TED-style talks are delivered without notes, from memory . THEY ARE NOT, as some people think, spontaneous; far from it! They are scripted and carefully rehearsed, often for months (or famously, in Susan Cain’s case, for a year). In contrast, most business presenters use notes to deliver their speeches. Unfortunately for us in the audience, those notes are often on their slides .

• TED-style talks are professionally visualized , meaning that someone who knows that they’re doing created your slides or video. This isn’t as true in smaller, TEDx venues — but if someone’s speaking at the mothership (TED), their slides, videos, or animations are generally well-crafted. If they bring props onstage with them — a Teddy bear; a suitcase; or, as neurologist Jill Bolte Taylor really did, a brain! — those props look good, and are well-lit. In fact, the whole stage is well lit. This is called having “high production values,” and it’s something that the vast majority of business speakers have to do without.
• The talks that you see on TED.com have been  videotaped from several different angles  and skillfully  edited . You can see what I mean on  this video of Anne-Marie Slaughter  speaking about the path to true gender equality for both men and women, or on virtually any other TED video

When most people think about “giving a TED talk,” this is what they picture: a scripted, polished, well-designed, well-produced and edited presentation.

Want Speechwriting or Coaching Help?

But before you start looking for a videographer to make the movie you’ll show during your talk…  or for a forklift that can raise you into the air while you’re speaking, like Al Gore in his TED-style movie  An Inconvenient Truth , let’s back up and look at some of the  easier-to-achieve   distinctions between TED-style talks and run-of-the-mill business presentations.

TED Talks Are Also “TED Talks” Because of Their  Approach

Most B-flat  — that’s music-speak for “average” — business presentations are… well, flat! They’re about conveying facts and expectations, not passions and possibilities. And because business speakers represent their organizations instead of themselves, they tend to be cautious not only in  what  they say, but in  how  they say it.

In contrast,

• TED-style talks are  personal . The only reason to give  a TED talk is that you feel passionately about something, and your sense of purpose creates an energy boost for both you and your audience.
• TED talks often take us on a journey.  As the speaker shares his transition from ignorance to understanding of some important truth, we follow along in his footsteps. Where business speeches generally focus on a desired outcome,  TED talks are also about the process  of realizing  how you’re going to get there.
• TED talks are  concise.  Because their times is short (generally, 5-18 minutes), TED speakers have generally done the hard work of cutting out any extraneous ideas. Ideally, every word of a TED talk counts — and that’s very different from the public speaking most of us are used to!

And last but not least,

• TED-style talks feel important. Almost every speech presents an “ah-hah!” moment (the TED organization uses that phrase), and recounts with great intensity what it feels like to break through a problem in your mind. The problems themselves are often weighty — but even when they’re not, hearing about a breakthrough moment makes you feel that something  big is at stake.

Craft Your TED-Style Talk with These Differences in Mind

Instead of thinking about multimedia, or memorization, or how you’ll look on video, start planning for a TED-style talk by focusing on the differences that matter:

• Choose a topic you’re personally passionate about;
• Play with different ways to narrate (take us on) your journey of discovery around that topic;
• Stay focused on your most important point; and
• Understand what makes all of this important to your audience.

Are you ready to create a talk that you’ll enjoy giving? Here is a step-by-step process for how to do it!

And if you’d like coaching or speechwriting help with your TED-style talk,   contact me !

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You May Also Want to Read...

• TED Has Eliminated Two Things That Used to Be Said In Most Speeches: Hello and Thank You. Should You?
• Public Speaking the TEDx Way: Young TEDx Speakers Make It Look Like Child's Play
• Which TEDx Coaching Plan is Right for YOUR Talk?

7 TED Talks on how to improve your presentations

It’s a hard truth of the digital age: Capturing and keeping another person’s attention is getting more difficult. While the empirical evidence on the average person's attention span during a presentation is limited, the phrase "death by PowerPoint" rings all too true. IT leaders know from experience that audiences lack patience for ineffective speakers. That’s why it’s more important than ever for all of us to be thoughtful about how to deliver information.

[ Which IT roles are vanishing? Read our article,  4 dying IT jobs . ]

Thankfully for CIOs and other leaders in training, there are abundant tips from skilled presenters on how to elevate your performance before your next appearance – on stage at a conference, before the board or executive team, or even in front of your own organization. This no-nonsense advice will help you win – and keep – your audience.

1. The secret structure of great talks

Speaker: Nancy Duarte

Why do we sit with rapt attention listening to a compelling story yet find ourselves nodding off during most presentations? Communication expert Nancy Duarte spent time digging into the best stories from history, cinema, and literature – and also suffering through some of the worst presentations she could get her hands on – to explore the differences and come up with a winning model for great presentations. In this talk, Duarte explores the secrets and structures of the greatest communicators and their public speaking efforts – from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to Steve Job’s public unveiling of the iPhone. She shares with the audience the common storytelling structure utilized by compelling presenters that you can apply to your next effort.

2. The beauty of data visualization

Speaker: David McCandless

Data is the lifeblood of IT, the business, and many an IT leader presentation. But on its own, data can be lifeless – or worse, ineffective or misleading.

British data journalist David McCandless is skilled at transforming complex data sets into engaging data visualizations that are not only lovely to look at but also instantly bring to life the stories within the data. Data is not the new oil, he says, but the new soil – “a fertile, creative medium” – if you know how to manipulate and design it. McCandless shares his tips for visualizing information so that an audience can see the patterns and connections that matter.

3. How to speak so that people want to listen

Speaker: Julian Treasure

The first thing IT leaders consider when preparing for a presentation might be the visuals, the words, or even the best outfit to wear – all important components. But they may be overlooking one of the most important instruments in their toolkits: Their voices. Sound and communication expert (and five-time TED speaker) Julian Treasure argues that what you say may be less important than how you say it, and outlines some of the most important aspects of vocal delivery.

4. Your body language may shape who you are

Speaker: Amy Cuddy

With nearly 50 million views, social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s now well-known TED Global 2012 Talk can help IT leaders harness another important aspect of presenting: body language. Her talk is not simply about how body language impacts how others see us, but also how we see ourselves. In this video, IT leaders can learn all about the “power pose” – a way of standing confidently like Superman or Wonder Woman. While there was some criticism of the science behind Cuddy’s research about power positions and their impact on hormones, which she has since refuted, IT leaders can try the posing advice out for themselves before stepping on the stage or into the boardroom.

Related content

Give a TEDx talk as a psychologist

Supercharge Your Presence

August 2021

• Slides (PDF, 1MB)
• Transcript (DOC, 39KB)

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With the right idea, 15 minutes is all you need to change the world. That’s the vision behind TED talks. Find an idea worth spreading, distill it down into a compelling 15-minute speech—and you have a TED talk.

Of course, only a few people each year are invited to the main TED conference. But the TED organization allows local groups to organize their own TED conferences, called “TEDx events.” Speakers at TEDx events can reach a large local audience and have their talk published online where it can be viewed globally.

As a psychologist, your insight and knowledge gives you a unique opportunity to deliver an incredible TEDx talk. By taking the TEDx stage, you might inspire your audience, share important psychological truths, and supercharge your own career.

In this presentation, Daniel Wendler, PsyD, a two-time TEDx speaker whose TEDx talks have been viewed by over half a million people online, shares strategies for getting invited to a TEDx stage, figuring out your “big idea,” and delivering a talk of a lifetime.

This program does not offer CE credit.

Daniel Wendler, PsyD

Best-selling author and nationally recognized keynote speaker on topics including neurodiversity, loneliness, and leadership. Daniel built a life of deep connection despite the social challenges of his autism diagnosis, and went on to found ImproveYourSocialSkills.com and become a clinical psychologist so he could help others find social success too. He is also the founder of Marketing for Therapists , a leading online marketing agency for private practice therapists featured by Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. Learn more about Daniel Wendler .

More in this series

Learn how to become a public speaker as a mental health professional.

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Learn about search engine optimization, what is it and how do you find SEO success when you're not super tech-savvy.

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