The first TED conference in 1984 brought together a large number of people from the fields of technology, entertainment, and design. After two decades, TED has grown and has held its second annual conference, TEDGlobal, as well as other programs such as TED Fellows and the more local TEDx, as well as the TED Prize which is held annually. TED also provides various recorded videos from conferences and other programs. The videos contain many speeches or presentations from speakers from various fields who present their respective ideas. If you have an idea worthy of being shared and known by the whole world, you might want to host a TED Talk or try hosting an event or conference in a similar format.
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Part 1 of 4: Deciding the Topic to Bring
Step 1. Choose a topic that interests you
TED Talks always revolve around “ideas worth spreading”. This means that you yourself must really like and be interested in what you bring. Delivering a speech or presentation about something that excites you will motivate you to prepare and perfect your TED Talk and will certainly inspire those who listen to you when you deliver it.
Step 2. Choose a topic that you know deeply
You don't have to be the best expert on your topic. But you must know enough about the topic and be able to provide accurate information in the field, and be able to find out things you don't know or understand about the topic, either from an expert or another source.
Step 3. Evaluate whether your choice of topic fits the audience who will be listening
Your TED Talk should focus on the needs and interests of those present and listening at the time. Look for things that you and your participants are interested in, then create a topic from that. Also think about the following:
- Your idea should be something your participants have never heard of, or at least have never heard of in the form you are going to present.
- Your idea should be realistic, something your participants can apply in real life, either individually or after gathering a few people they know.
Step 4. Define and refine your rationale or premise
Once you've found the right ideas and topics to share, create a premise for your presentation or speech. Your premise should be able to be conveyed in just a sentence or two. You may need to revisit your idea several times to clearly define your premise.
Step 5. Know the duration of your talk
TED Talks currently have a time limit of no more than 18 minutes. You don't have to use all 18 minutes. Some ideas can be conveyed briefly even in less than five minutes. But remember, you can't talk more than 18 minutes.
If you find that you are given a shorter length of time at a TED event you will be attending, use that time limit
Step 6. Review some TED Talk videos to develop your understanding of the TED format
You're doing this not to copy the ideas or styles of other speakers, but to get the big picture of what delivery styles can be delivered that might work for you. Watch some TED Talk videos that discuss the same ideas or areas as you will be presenting as well as videos that you find interesting even though they are outside the topic or field you will be presenting.
Step 7. Determine the main goal of your TED Talk
While TED Talks are generally a place to share ideas, you will generally present your ideas in three ways:
- Education. A TED Talk like this will provide information about the world around us. Topics covered include biology, physics, or social science, as well as information about new discoveries or technologies and how these new things can impact people's lives. Although not absolute, the speakers who bring this usually have a high degree in one of these fields of science.
- Entertainment. This TED Talk usually discusses creative arts, be it writing, music, fine arts, or performing arts, and explores the deep processes behind the art they create.
- Inspiration. This TED Talk aims to change our perception of ourselves and the world around us and invites us to think in new ways, and apply this information and knowledge in our daily lives. Speakers who deliver TED Talks like this usually bring their own experiences as an example.
Part 2 of 4: Setting Up Your TED Talk
Step 1. Create and develop outlines and outlines
Once you've determined the premise and purpose of your TED Talk, start creating a big picture and outline that will explain your idea in an interesting way and understand deeply, either process or impact, so that they will appreciate and apply it.
- Your outline should be something that is visible but not too obvious. In other words, don't say what you're going to say before you explain it (don't use "I'll bring …") and don't say what you've said after you've explained it (don't use "so the conclusion…").
- If you are appointed to present a TED Talk, your big overview and outline or full text must be sent to the organizer two months in advance of the day you are due to present it. This allows the organizers to provide some feedback or criticism and suggestions and improvements that you need to make.
Step 2. Create a strong opening
Your opening should attract the attention of your audience by introducing your idea or topic as quickly as possible without drawing attention to yourself as the speaker.
- If your idea is relevant to your participants, state it clearly from the start. If your participants are not aware that your topic is relevant to them, point it out and/or explain how this topic could be relevant.
- If your topic is emotional, start with an outspoken approach. Let them feel your topic without having to control their emotions directly.
- Avoid using statistical bursts. One relevant fact can have a better impact on your material, especially if it's surprising enough for them.
Step 3. Identify evidence that can support your premise
Find out and record what your participants already know and what they don't and need to know. Then organize the information you've gathered into a series of points, each point providing information that will help your participants understand your next point. While doing this, delete any unnecessary information even if you think it is important.
- Allow more time to pass on information that is new to your participants and remove or reduce time for any information they have already heard.
- Use more evidence supported by observations and experiences of you and your participants (empirical evidence). This would be better than relaying what happened to someone else (an anecdote).
- Minimize the use of special terms that are not familiar to everyone. Also, if you do have to introduce some terms, introduce them in such a way that your participants can understand their meaning contextually.
- Admit all forms of apparent doubt and contradictory evidence.
- Save your source of information until after you have made your point, or place it in the corner of the slide that conveys the information.
- Ask several people to help you collect and select your supporting evidence.
Step 4. Find the right way to create slides that can visually support your material
Slides are not really needed in a TED Talk. But you can still use simple slides to reinforce your key points without distracting your participants. You can create your own slides using PowerPoint or Keynote, or hire a designer to create them for you. Pay attention to the things below when you will create a slide:
- Contact the organizers and find out about the resolutions and slide ratios you can make. If the organizer does not provide detailed information regarding technical matters, use a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a ratio of 16:9.
- Use each slide to support only one point of your material. Don't use lists to show multiple bullet points of your material on one screen at once.
- Make sure the slides are clear in just one look. Don't enter long text explaining your slides or take the time to explain the content of your slides. If your side uses graphics, make sure they are simple.
- Use images that you own or that you have permission to use. If you're using an image under a Creative Commons license, for example, list the source of the image at the bottom of the slide.
- Don't put content at the edge of the slide. Fill the slide screen, or use the center.
- Use a sans serif font (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana), with a size of 42 or larger. These typefaces are easier to read from a distance than serif fonts like Times New Roman. If you use another font, contact the organizer first. Presentation software can usually only display the letters installed on the computer used to display the slides. So if the organizer doesn't have the font you're using, it won't look like it should.
Step 5. Close at the climactic moment
Instead of closing your material with a conclusion, close it when your participants are in a positive mood about your idea and how it would have a big impact on your life if they applied it.
Your closing can be a call to action. But don't let the call to action sound like you're selling something
Part 3 of 4: Practice Your TED Talk
Step 1. Practice using a time limit
Since you have limited time to present your material, practice with a time limit so you can determine the pace of your delivery and figure out what to shorten your material.
Step 2. Practice in front of a wide variety of people
TED invites speakers at their conferences to practice their TED Talks as often as possible in front of a wide variety of participants. You can practice in front of some or all of the following:
- Yourself in front of the mirror. This can help you evaluate your body language.
- Friends and family. They can provide basic critique and advice, but are usually more useful as a source of moral support.
- Personal trainer.
- Speaker groups like Toastmasters.
- Classes or groups that delve into the topic that you will bring. For example, if you want to present something related to marketing, you could practice in front of a management or marketing student.
- Company, whether it's your own company or an affiliated company or relevant to the topic you bring up.
Step 3. Practice in front of the organizers
Most TED events provide an opportunity for you to practice your TED Talk in one of these ways:
- Online via Skype. This will allow the organizers to provide criticism and suggestions regarding your material, both in content and delivery. These online rehearsals are usually scheduled a month before the event.
- Rehearsal directly at the venue. This will give you an idea of the stage and venue, so you can get used to it and can anticipate certain things that you wouldn't have predicted if you practiced elsewhere.
Part 4 of 4: Bringing Your TED Talk
Step 1. Get to know your participants
Talk to the audience at TED events at a time when you don't have to go on stage yet. This will give you insight into how knowledgeable your audience is and will allow you to recognize some of the faces in the audience seats when you're on stage (so you're less nervous).
Step 2. Present the material in the style of delivery you have planned
While you may change and adjust some of your content and delivery several times based on the criticism and suggestions you receive during practice, once you find a delivery style that suits you and is comfortable for you, stick with it. Don't make sudden changes.
Step 3. Remember why you gave the TED Talk
Even if you've spent a fair amount of time creating and perfecting your material, always remember that you're on stage to spread the information and ideas and enthusiasm you have to your attendees.
