No, we're not talking about giving presentations that look and sound like a TED Talk. Obviously the TED style doesn't make sense for every kind of presentation, and even though such talks can be compelling to watch, you shouldn't aim to always emulate that style.
That being said, TED's curator Chris Anderson has some great tips that you'll want to apply no matter what kind of talk you give. These are fundamental, universal, and will help you understand what makes a great talk great.
Ultimately, presentations are about transferring an idea from your mind to the audience's mind. It's simple to do if you follow these tips. Jump to 4:55 in the video above for elaboration on each point.
- Center your talk on one major idea.
- Give listeners a reason to care, such as curiosity.
- Build your idea piece by piece with simple concepts.
- Make sure your idea is one worth sharing.
If you need help with the actual mechanics and experience of public speaking, check out Toastmasters International and get started with this introductory video of tips:
- Know your subject well and rehearse.
- Know your audience and location space.
- Never apologize for minor mistakes.
- Imagine yourself giving a great speech.
- Focus on your message, not yourself.
What's your biggest issue when it comes to public speaking? Have you tried Toastmasters? Got any other helpful tips? Let us know in the comments!