Tips from TED: How to Give a Great Talk By Paul Crow

If you haven't heard of TED by now, chances are you've been living off the grid... on another planet. But just in case, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, and is a non-profit that's been around since 1984. TED's mission is simply to spread ideas and build a free knowledge base from, "the world's most inspired thinkers." In the last decade especially, TED talks have revolutionized public speaking and the way presentations are given. Forbes.com recently reported that TED talks have been translated into 90 languages, TEDx (an international version of TED) has put on events in 145 countries and top TED presentations have been viewed online around 20 million times. What is it that makes these 18-minute or less wonders so wildly popular? Author and expert speaker, Carmine Gallo, has identified several specific elements that every successful TED talk must have and has translated them into tips that are extremely doable. No matter if you're giving a presentation to a packed auditorium or to a living room, these tips will help elevate your public speaking not just to the next level, but to the TED level.

• Unleash your passion. If you're not genuinely passionate about your speaking topic, that will come across in your presentation. But what's more, Gallo points out that passion leads to mastery and mastery is at the heart of an extraordinary presentation.
• Tell stories......at least three of them. Why? Scientific studies have shown that human brains are more engaged and stimulated by stories. Not only that, but stories connect audiences with speakers and generally make audiences more likely to agree with the speaker.
• Practice, practice, practice. Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor, a Harvard brain researcher, practiced her TED talk no less than 200 times before giving it publicly. That practice paid off because her talk has been viewed 15 million times. Practicing your presentation over and over internalizes it and makes it possible to talk to your audience like you would a good friend.
• Teach something new. Human brains crave novelty. Give your audience a new way of looking at the world and you will inspire them.
• Make their jaws drop. "Emotionally competent stimulus" is what scientists call it but in layman's terms, jaw dropping moments are those that elicit a strong emotional response. Fear, joy, surprise, shock - these are all things that your audience will remember long after your talk is over.
• Don't tell jokes but do use humor. Humor does several useful things. First, it lowers your audience's defenses. This makes the audience more receptive to your message. Humor also makes you seem more likeable, which in turn makes people more inclined to do business with you or support your cause. The great thing about humor is you don't have to tell a joke to be funny. Humorous anecdotes are often more effective than a straight up joke.
• Stick to the 18-minute rule. Scientists have discovered that too much information can actually prevent ideas from being transmitted successfully. The TED standard of 18 minutes is just about perfect for getting your point across.
• Pictures are better than text. People simply like pictures and animations better than text. That could be because your brain is more likely to recall an idea when it has a corresponding picture to go with it.

Try these strategies the next time to need to give a presentation. The great thing is, with meeting analytics services like MeetingMetrics, you can actually measure the impact these strategies are having on your public speaking.

About the Author: Paul Crow is a public speaking expert and contributing writer who enjoys helping people improve their presentation skills.

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