How can you create and deliver TED-style talks as a thought leader?

The only thing people ever listen to are stories. We have been telling stories to each other for millennia and it is the most natural way of getting important information across. Done well, telling stories allows you to paint pictures in people's minds. The language you use is important because that lets people in, or shuts them out. Timing is important because you are building an emotional connection - so don't rush it, take the time to pause and let things settle. Context also matters because it helps people find themselves in the story. Finally, make it personal. Demonstrating empathy is a very powerful way to connect. So, focus more on story telling rather than any particular format. Be natural and be yourself.

Focusing on your audience also stops you from feeling nervous. Change your focus to: → What can I do for THEM? → What do THEY want to learn? → How will THEY benefit from my experience? It will work magic on your presentation style, content and your own presence.

The biggest thing I do before I do any talk - ANY big stage - is ask myself 2 things: 1. What single idea sums up what i am saying? What's the one idea that, if everyone knew it, could make a difference in their lives right now today? 2. Is everything I say serving the idea? If not, take it out.

A good public speaker understands the audience and crafts their talk to connect with the people . They tell a story and take listeners on the journey with them. Taking along requires change in emotions, voice pitch, expressions, taking pauses or pacing based on the story and the mood of those on the journey. Story must be simple and easy to understand and use the medium (pictures/text/video/color scheme etc.) that is palpable to most if not all in audience. Audience should feel they (1) learnt something new to handle a need/situation they had (2) they are not the only one with that need and situation (3) leave with crisp, relatable, and actionable insights

Creating and delivering TED-style talks as a thought leader involves a combination of thoughtful content creation, effective communication skills, and engaging delivery. 1.Clearly define the main idea or message you want to convey. 2.Understand who your audience is and tailor your message to resonate with them 3.Craft a Compelling Story 4.Structure your talk logically. Divide it into sections with a clear flow. 5.Connect with your audience on an emotional level. Share your passion and enthusiasm for the topic. 6.Practice, Practice, Practice 7.TED talks are typically limited to a specific time frame. Practice within that timeframe to ensure you cover all essential points 8.Be yourself. Authenticity builds trust and resonates.

If your story is inspiring, relevant and delivered in a simple language it will bind audiences across different interests. If your talk can create ideas, stimulate imagination which can be adapted in their sphere it is bound to engage.

Don’t allow your story telling to get you too far away from your main message. Make sure your stories are relevant, relatable, concise, and impactful.

Be a thought leader, not a thought repeater! Have one unique idea and outline it as a contextual model to demonstrate the depth of your concept and your unique thinking so that the audience can understand and share it with others. I believe in what I call 'idea shaping' - if people can see your idea, they will hear your idea; if they hear your idea, they will share your idea. Contextual Models are vital.

In my experience, telling a story that engages your audience emotionally and intellectually is always great. Using anecdotes, examples, and personal experiences makes your message and talk more memorable.

In working cross-culturally, I find that getting a message across using an analogy that transcends country/culture gets the most impact. No matter the message nor the audience composition, an audience can absorb it provided it has a context to which they can relate. The simpler the analogy, the better. As for making it memorable, try to have the the analogy and the message intertwined in the opening headline!

Use the emotional leadership framework. People need to connect emotionally first, so don't lead with facts and figures. End with a strong emotional conclusion. Make sure people can summarize the talk in one clear sentence and have an action plan.

Your talk should be like a well-planned journey. Start with something exciting or interesting to grab their attention. This is your hook. Then, set the scene with some background info. After that, dive into your main points, using real-life examples and stories to back up your ideas. Finally, wrap it all up with a strong ending that makes them think or want to do something about what they just heard.

A clear structure involves three phases of audience experience. First, connect with the hearts and minds of the audience. That begins by illustrating relatability and demonstrating empathy for your audience. Next, share your connection to the message by showcasing your expertise and displaying your passion. Expertise is not how much you know, it is how well you've curated for your audience. Passion is going beyond the words, and delivering the words in a way to show your personal attachment to the content. Finally, create a connection between the audience and the content. This is achieved by focusing on audience comprehension and engagement.

I would also say that it can give you an extra boost to think about how to make a steep start to capture attention and make the hook engaging. An example would be to start directly with a story that illustrates the key message of your preso.

Especially since it's a TED talk- I recommend you focus on thought leadership first & structure later. Ask yourself these 3 questions to begin distilling your thought leadership's BIG IDEA or your YOUnique perspective into a message. Why you- Tell them the story of your personal disruption and why you are the voice they can trust Why the idea- Tell them how you adopted this new perspective or philosophy and how it empower you to transcend your old self Why now- Focus on what is wrong, missing or obsolete in the old way of doing things & why your BIG IDEA fills the gap and offers a newer, better, faster, cheaper, cleaner, healthier, way to solve the problem. Rest as they stay is Iconic storytelling that'll get the audience hooked.

Your talk should be like an interesting story telling. Its the narrative, irs the message. Dont be repetitive. Focus, plan, practice and be precise. Keep in mind what message you are giving the audience. Dont waver around. Keep it interesting.

After hearing 100s of TED talks (online & in-person), these are the 3 steps that almost all the talks follow: 1. Start with a story - this helps you connect with the audience in a human way 2. Show "proof" that what you're saying is legit - this is where data from self or 3rd party research helps legitimize what you're saying 3. End with a precise call to action - once you've done the audience research to understand who your allies & objectors will be, this is where you tell them exactly what you want them to do after hearing you This flow works nicely across various topics

Forget rambling - a TED talk thrives on a single, impactful message. Distill your topic into a laser beam of insight, leaving your audience yearning for more.

Simplify Complex Ideas: Break down complex concepts into simple, understandable language. Avoid jargon and explain any technical terms used.

Doing a TEDxtalk isn’t like doing 15 minutes of your best hour. It is a dance of words, ideas, visuals, audience interactivity, humor, insight, inspiration, and a little magic thrown in for good measure. If you want the best Talk you can possibly deliver, make every word count. And then do the heavy lifting if committing them to memory.

It’s not about ideas, it’s about attention. Even the most groundbreaking ideas frequently received lukewarm receptions. Use plain, everyday language when communicating. And make sure you focus on one idea, one thought. This will ensure your audience pays attention. Ideas are merely coins; attention is the true currency. Only when an idea captures undivided attention does it reveal its genuine worth.

Story telling with purpose. You must bring your audience with you as you journey to your premise/assertion. It can't be a speech. It should be captivating, revealing, and relevant.

I have so much I want to share, not because I’m the smartest but because I hope that by sharing what I wish I had known with others, they may avoid making the same mistake I did. That mindset, while not necessarily a bad thing, may present problems. Your conversations can seem distracting and chaotic, disorienting your listeners and leaving your discourse without a clear list of takeaways. Pick your top three points. Write out your discourse. Then highlights lines that don’t directly pertain to your point. Truncate, truncate, truncate, and then truncate some more. Then put it away for a week and come back to it. Does it still make sense? Is it clear? Have your three points been communicated? Do you reiterate the points?

We need to simplify to amplify the message and your impact as a thought-leader. TED talks are 1 idea that’s worth spreading. Keep it simple. The human brain can only focus on 1 item at a time.

Being concise and focused empowers your audience to easily absorb, retain and share your message. When the presentation is focused on a shared vision and shared values, the audience will invest their time and attention to your time on stage. In the content section, be a great curator. Select content that is essential for forwarding comprehension, calibrated to the values and expertise level in your audience, and from trusted sources of information. Mastering the art of being concise and focused allows the presenter to give a similar style invitation to the audience, a specific way for them to contribute to the achievement of the shared vision.

It’s not people’s attention span that determines if they listen, but it is their interest in what you are speaking about. Make sure to choose an interesting topic that can actually help and provide value to the listener’s lives. If they are interested, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say throughly. To ensure that you come off as an interesting individual, choose an interesting topic. Then, start with a strong hook or opening statement that pulls the audience in.

When Preparing for talks and getting peers to review my content, the main theme I learned is that Less is More. And in consulting, over the years, another valuable epiphany - “Learn to Tell a story”, and use supporting visuals to make a point in such a story. Some big points when considering in message delivery: - Get your narrative straight, what are the 3 [related] points what you make to put across. Don’t boil the ocean. - Context is key, ensure your audience is mentally aware of your context for pre-prep. Research your audience! - if it’s a Ted Talk - do ensure it’s a topic you’re passionate about, #1. - Use Short consider complete sentences which land best - Learn to pause appropriately, for audience to digest your point made

Be a great story teller. A good analogy is worth it's weight in gold. Analogies are especially helpful when explaining complicated materials to an audience.

Tell a story but be authentic, that is key. Whenever I do talks, I loop back to my own experience and show that I am just a normal person as everyone else, with my worries, celebrations and learnings.

Use Visuals Wisely: If you use slides or other visuals, ensure they complement and enhance your talk. Visuals should be simple, clear, and not detract from your spoken words.

The key thing to remember is that your slides are your co-star, and that you are the star. The idea audience experience is that they are able to take in your slide in under 3 seconds, and then give you their full attention. Great slides generate curiosity and interest from your audience, and propel you to go into "Show and Tell" mode to unpack your content with confidence and clarity.

The visuals or slides are just there to assist you to remember what you are going to say next and to help keep the audience engaged. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words and that’s exactly what it should be doing. Your slides should be images with minimal texts. You should use your slides as aids to help you convey your story.

Visuals aren't just eye candy - they're memory magnets. Use images, videos, or even props to illustrate your points and leave a lasting visual impression.

An example I’ve seen is the TEDx talk by Jen Fisher on the future of work. The emotion she evokes through telling her personal journey of being Chief Wellness Officer, then getting breast cancer, will change the way you look at burnout in your organisation.

When using data visuals remember the mantra of Visualizations should convey insights, not numbers. Another practical point to keep in mind is the room logistics - that will define how much to include in your slide. Who reads the fine print anyway?

People underestimate practice and try to wing it. I personally practice every presentation 100 times (with closed eyes imaging every click and every slide transition). Years ago I read a book in which the author told his personal story about how he presented to the CEO of P&G. He set up his projector but the CEO set with his back to the screen. Rehearsing with closed eyes helps you be prepared for everything. And it gives you new ideas how to improve the flow of your story.

Practice your pitch. The more your practice the more your realize what story you’re really telling and how you want to tell it – it’s the art of storytelling. Your story needs to have meaning and it has to resonate with the audience in an impactful manner so that they remember for a while.

There is absolutely no doubt that too many people practice too little! Here's the thing...you may be super confident, but you're internal alarms are going to start going off if you don't hit the right notes, get the right reaction, or stumble a bit. PRACTICE prepares you for any little hiccups and provides a foundation of confidence that all great speakers share. Think about piano rooms in music schools, driving ranges, and coaches -- all designed to promote (or force) practice. Don't be *that* speaker -- do the work and your audience will know (and love you for it).

The best presenters have a lifestyle habit of practice. They often come from a background in competitive athletics, performance arts or military service. An athlete would never take the field without time in the gym. A performer would never take the stage without time in the rehearsal room. A member of the military would never enter the field of battle without time mastering drills. For short form practices, like a TED talk, aim to reach 200 or more practice sessions. This allows you to go beyond memorizing content, and be available to fully engage the audience.

Embrace the grind of practice; it's through discomfort that we truly grow. For me, I like to practice outside, in the cold. Having a strict deadline for any goal creates a sense of urgency - without one we tend to flounder. Use the weather as a deadline. Practice outside in the cold. This creates a hardship that forces us to sacrifice other things (like warmth), in order to get the important things done. Practice all the time. If you want to give a great talk, you can’t let how you feel dictate when you practice. You can’t wait for the ideal time; you have to do it all the time. Why? Because we are finally called on to perform rarely are the conditions ideal.  Practice. There is no substitute.

Practice until you internalize the story. Rehearse then with someone who is NOT familiar with this topic area. Request feedback about: 1. if the message(s) was understood? 2. the storyline as such 2. the flow 3. recurring utterances Incorporate the feedback and rehearse again and again…

Knowing what you want to say and expressing things correctly are two different things. Practice helps you to feel comfortable with the material, the examples even the time. Asking somebody with good criteria that can give you constructive feedback will help to shape the talk better.

Nothing connects people more quickly than an emotional story and the same is true for the public speaking and story telling is no joke. Structuring your Talk in a way that it connects your facts to a story which connects to a fact again can make you stay focused but keep it real and emotional as well. Once we were working with a bunch of theatre artist to be better at story telling. We were provided with a bag consisting of unknown objects and each of us had turns to blinded folded pick 1 item and connect its relevance to our topic. We came up with a story to connect football how the game is similar to the professional challenges we faced a project. the First attempt seemed awful however practicing made it pretty amusing story.

I think the best way to deliver a meaningful message is to speak from the “I” perspective with clarity of purpose and intent. Practice is great and will support sharing a true, authentic message with the structure of a well organized story designed to achieved your purpose and intention. Setting a goal to help others grow from your learned and lived experience requires truth and vulnerability. We humans can all relate to that.

Only YOU have lived your story. Don’t underestimate the power of a compelling, personal story. I’ve seen this approach used in many start-up pitches for funding and it’s usually the most memorable part of a pitch.

A little humor, even self deprecation will help your audience relax, and show that you don’t take yourself too seriously. No one wants to be talked down to or lectured. You become memorable with the right dose of vulnerability.

Most keynote and speeches are boring. Less than 5% are mind blowing. The only way to be part of the 5% is to adapt to the audience which disqualifies people recting a text and think about the level of fun experience you want them to get instead of focusing on yourself. Be in their shoes if you want to get in their minds

When talking about animal welfare or food systems change, I've found the key is to be authentically myself. I don't mimic other speakers; it's my unique perspective and story that resonates. I openly share my experiences and emotions, inviting the audience into my journey. It's not just about conveying a message; it's about making a genuine connection and sparking curiosity. People can sense when you genuinely care about the thing you are talking about, and when you enjoy taking them on a journey.

Starting with a story that demonstrates your main point is a great way to start out. Even before you introduce yourself or say "I'm happy to be here, etc..." start with a story. It will help you get into the groove more easily, too.

This reminds me of a time long ago when my mentor nominated me to speak before a large audience on an important occasion. At the time, my mentor's advice became my guiding principle. She said: 'Be yourself.' In my experience, I've found that authenticity and humility are what truly matter. Of course, being well-prepared is crucial—it's an essential way of showing respect to your audience. However, the real energy in a talk comes from being yourself and staying humble.

If you are tense, follow the 478 technique of breathing - 4 seconds to inhale, 7 seconds holding your breath and 8 seconds to exhale. It will relax your nerves. Smile, smile, smile - it is the easiest muscle to exercise to have fun and be yourself

Embracing authenticity and vulnerability has been crucial in my stage presentations. As Maya Angelou said, people remember how you make them feel. Sharing my journey from $100,000 debt from a compulsive shopping disorder (recognized nationally as an addiction akin to drugs and alcohol) to a purpose-driven entrepreneur resonates nationally. I empower women entrepreneurs in mindset, time mastery, and sustainable business practices, aiming to impact 1 million lives. In each story shared, I aim to connect with the audience on a profound level. We all have our comeback stories, overcoming hardships and emerging stronger. Let's continue inspiring positive change and building legacies beyond titles and statistics.

“If you want me to give you a two-hour presentation, I am ready today. If you want only a five-minute speech, it will take me two weeks to prepare.” ― Mark Twain

Nothing here talks about what you really need. At the core. These are all mechanics. What you need is a topic that will capture an audience just like it has captured you. If you don't have something compelling to say, a TED talk is either not going to happen or it will be boring. Everything else here is just discussions on how to be a good speaker. If you have a topic you are passionate about, you can deliver it without visuals or props, and you will deliver it with an emotional intensity that will keep your audience in your grip the entire time. That is how to do a ted talk. Anything that is over rehearsed will suck because no on wants to see a performances, they want to see emotional expression. Get that right first. Then do all the other

As a former TedX advisor, I worked with many people in the development and preparation of their talks. I was able to see how entirely different people, possessing varying degrees of communications skills and experiences with different constraints around speaking overcame the number one thing every single powerful, highly shared talk around the world achieves: emotionally resonant authenticity. Successful TED speakers elevate their vulnerability and honesty to a truth that only they can share, finding the resonant underbelly of emotions that stir almost magical delight in audiences who experience the discovery of something totally new, but feels more like ancient wisdom. That’s the secret sauce to TED.

I worked last year to bring 6 TEDx speakers to the stage. I observed the corporate women have little or no access to this brand of vulnerability. No amount of coaching could and would get them there. No vulnerability was allowed at work so none would show up in their talks. As a coach, I could see how much “ego” or “fear” was keeping them from being coachable. The result was some relied on a “telenovelas Spanish soap opera” style of delivery to make up for the lack of a central hero, an obstacle the audience could identify with, and eventual resolution of the struggle. Things that create a great talk. The one entrepreneur could get there —-somewhat, but it may not be replicated again.

The talk should be solution oriented. There should be key takeaways and actionables which when implemented add value to the end result of the execution efforts. There needs to be (custom if need be) tools, techniques and practices that can be implemented and metrics that can measure its impact.

Craft a Story-Driven Narrative: Don't just present facts and figures – weave them into a compelling narrative. Use personal anecdotes, historical examples, or scientific evidence to illustrate your points and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

In my experience the most impactful talks leave the audience with something they can do quickly - within the next 24 hours - as a result of listening. There is no shortage of information in the world, its putting the information into action that drives value and helping the audience understand how they can implement a change - big or small- right away is the way to ensure they don't forget your message.

1. Start with a captivating personal or relatable story to draw in your audience, creating an emotional connection. 2. Clearly articulate the main message or idea you want to convey. 3. Use Engaging Visuals- minimal text but powerful images 4. Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for your topic. 5. Make your talk with a logical and easily digestible structure, including a clear introduction, main points 6.Utilize relatable analogies or metaphors to simplify complex concepts, making your ideas accessible to a broad audience. 7. Work on your Storytelling Techniques by weaving anecdotes and examples. 8. End with a memorable and impactful conclusion, leaving your audience with a call to action, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful takeaway.

Is what you are sharing worthwhile? Does your take move the conversation forward or explore a new direction? Will your words move your audience's hearts, minds and feet into action?

It’s not about you. It’s about the value in what you are presenting. Talk about singing you are passionate about and audience will feel it and connect with you more. Also, it has to be about a “big idea” or something under the radar. Watch TED Talks and see what they talk about, though each TEDx team does it differently and each event has a different theme.