How do you interview a man like Chris Anderson? 🔴 What do you ask him that he hasn’t been asked before? 🔴 How do you show a side of him to the audience they may not have expected? 🔴 How do you run along side him as an equal rather than follow like a excited young pup?! That’s what I strived to do last week, during my 10 minute onstage interview with Chris at TED. I honestly have no idea how it went. I remember walking onstage and sitting down. The rest is a blank. For days I scratched around for ideas for questions, witty one liners and stories of his work could I playback to him. And then on the day, I threw it all out. I came up with ONE question. “Why did TED change its slogan from Ideas Worth Spreading, to the new mantra ‘Ideas Change Everything’. And from then, I just listened to him. And as he spoke, I decided in the moment what felt interesting… …and then just asked him to tell me more about it. And as I say, I have NO IDEA if this worked 😂. The only metric I have is that I know enjoyed the conversation, and I know I committed to doing and saying what felt and came naturally. Which is important! Because it’s also what I always ask our speakers to do too. To be honest, truthful, themselves and never to try remember what to say, but simply go up there and DECIDE what they want to say. If you were there and you want to share some feedback from my ‘big moment’ onstage, I’d love to hear it. If you’re an experienced interviewer and want share any tips for how to do this stuff well, I’d also REALLY like to hear this. Tobes x
I know it will have been great - can't wait for the recording
It sounds like you did a great job and approached the interview in a similar way to how I try to...Never go in with a script, an agenda and listen and watch the interviewee...acutely. The pieces of gold are often found in the nuances. Well done Tobes!!
I loved that question, because it gave us fans fresh information. But I don’t understand how you came across so calm through the show. There were these giant cameras (they were so cool!) all the pumped up speakers, THE Chris Anderson… and then you were jumping about like Tigger and made it all feel joyful and jolly and light-hearted and chill! That seems like a magical skill
You were brilliant mate.. It was an incredible conversation 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well done Toby! I’m sure it was great 👏 where can we find the video recording?
Wasn't there but know that feeling when I've moderated panels.... Get myself in a right od mess and them 9/10 I just got with what feels natural!
cant wait to hear this!! im sure you were incredible
Loved it. It was a totally natural conversation - that flew by!
It was great, Toby! It truly felt like a normal conversation you'd have with a friend. Also, I loved how you ended up answering questions from Chris at the end.
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4dYou genuinely did an excellent job, Tobes. The entire evening was a huge success. But the interview segment felt natural and connected. It seemed like you were good friends having an earnest chat. The audience was engaged. And you drew out insight that didn't let Chris get away with rhetoric and jargon.