10 tips to help you prepare for your future TED talk

If you had asked me a few years ago whether I’d ever consider giving a TED talk, I’d probably have laughed a little too much and said that you were out of your mind. In reality, I’ve always enjoyed public speaking, but as an academic, I was more used to sharing data than my personal experience. Lo and behold, one day I saw a social media post advertising a TED event at my former university, and I figured, why not?

Below are 10 tips from what I learned during the process of applying, preparing, and delivering a TED talk.

#1 Find a topic that you are passionate about

Passion is contagious and if you want to convince the organizers and eventually the audience of your vision, you are going to need to be passionate and knowledgeable about the topic you choose. Additionally, make sure that you have a clear understanding of the main goal of your talk. If you can’t summarize it in one sentence, you need to rethink it.

#2 Choose a few personal stories to emphasize your point

The reason people love TED talks as much as they do is simply because they relate to the speaker’s personal experience. To be a truly authentic speaker, you need to be vulnerable and share aspects of yourself with the audience.

#3 Tell a concise story

Keep in mind that TED talks are short (under 20 minutes). Given that most people have quite a short attention span, you want to make sure that your talk is both concise and has a logical flow. Like a story, it should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. If you need inspiration, you can always go on the TED website and browse through as many talks as you need.

#4 Find a TED event

There are many TED events across the world, and you can start by looking at the university or community level. Keep in mind that TED talks are unpaid; therefore, I highly recommend looking for one that is nearby. Alternatively, be financially ready to travel for the event.

#5 Properly do the submission

Although this one might sound obvious, it is one of the most important tips I can give you. Read the instructions multiple times and take notes if necessary. Double check that your application is complete before submitting, and verify that your proposed talk fits with the theme of the event. Remember that the organizers need to not only believe in the uniqueness of your topic, but they also need to believe in your capacity to prepare and deliver the talk.

#6 There is no “perfect” messenger for your topic of choice

If you are starting to feel like an imposter and believe that someone else might do a better job delivering your message, I’m here to tell you, that person does not exist. If you are knowledgeable and passionate about a topic–enough to be willing to stand on stage–you are the “perfect” person for the task.

#7 Practice is key

Once you have narrowed down the information that you would like to include in your talk, practice on the delivery and timing. To remain authentic, do not memorize your talk word for word, it should be slightly different every time you practice. Closer to the date of the event, make sure to rehearse in front of friends or family to better understand how it will feel when you will be on stage in front of real people. Finally, in the week leading up to the event, you should be practicing several times a day.

Note: I do not recommend bringing flashcards or notes on the stage as you might be tempted to look at them rather than engage with the audience.

#8 Being nervous is normal

I can assure you that you will feel like an anxious mess the day, if not the week, before your talk. This is completely normal and means that you care. Remember that the audience is there to hear new and interesting ideas, and no one is judging you more than you are judging yourself.

#9 Mistakes happen

You are human and regardless of how many times you practice, you could make a mistake on stage. Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes, acknowledge the mistake, and move on to your next point. Almost every single person that gives a TED talk stumbles on their words, forgets to say something, or pauses for too long. Does that affect the importance or impact of their message? Absolutely not–if anything, it makes it more relatable.

#10 HAVE FUN!

Giving a TED talk can truly be one of the most life changing experiences; embrace all the emotions and be proud of yourself.