{"id":61456,"date":"2021-02-24T17:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T17:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explore.local\/2021\/02\/24\/tips-from-ted-presenting-ideas-to-engage-your-teams\/"},"modified":"2025-04-04T19:44:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T19:44:56","slug":"tips-from-ted-presenting-ideas-to-engage-your-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/degreed.com\/experience\/de\/blog\/tips-from-ted-presenting-ideas-to-engage-your-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips from TED: Presenting ideas to engage your teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve watched Sir Ken Robinson\u2019s 2006 TED Talk \u201cDo Schools Kill Creativity?<\/a>\u201d at least 20 times, and I still<\/em> laugh at his jokes. I could recite the stories alongside Sir Ken but I still<\/em> find myself totally delighted by their clever endings. And every time someone wants to debate about education, I always <\/em>cite his wisdom.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is that? What is that X factor that makes someone else\u2019s words stick to your brain and alter the way you think? How can you present ideas in ways that really truly engage your teams? I realize I\u2019m biased (I\u2019m a speaker coach and speechwriter), but from my perspective, that X factor is really more like a communication superpower. And lucky for all of us, it\u2019s a superpower we can learn to wield.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many tried-and-true (and heavily researched) tools that can help make your next speech, presentation, 1:1, board meeting, sales call \u2014 or any other communication \u2014 engaging, persuasive, and memorable. Here are some of my favorites and, not coincidentally, many of the same tools that make TED Talks so sticky.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience before content. Always.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of us actually communicate in the wrong direction. By wrong direction, I mean we draft our talking points, we build our Powerpoint slides, and fire off emails before<\/em> we stop and ask ourselves, \u201cWhat does my audience expect out of this communication? Why are they taking time out of their busy days to listen to me?\u201d Here\u2019s the deal: If your audience doesn\u2019t see themselves in your presentation, or doesn\u2019t care about your meeting or, worse yet, if they don\u2019t understand how your pitch applies to them, then there\u2019s no point to opening your mouth! That\u2019s why the best communicators always<\/em> think about their audiences before their content.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The acronym A.B.C. for Audience Before Content originally came from Jim Wagstaffe, a former colleague of Briar’s at Stanford. While TED uses this concept frequently in their work with speakers, TED does not claim it as their original idea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here at TED, we always ask our speakers to identify the \u2018gift\u2019 they want to give to the audience. If you want to knock your next communication out of the park, ask yourself that same question.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frame your communication around a unique idea.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll never forget the moment I realized everyone in business was saying the same thing. I was reviewing draft talking points for three different CEOs from three different companies and each one was planning to talk about how culture eats strategy for breakfast. <\/em>I remember thinking this was so funny at the time.  But it\u2019s no laughing matter.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s so much content out there and as a result, everyone’s attention spans are practically below zero. So, if your audience thinks they\u2019ve already heard what you have to say, they\u2019ll move on. Or let\u2019s say you\u2019re on a sales call with a potential new vendor, and they don\u2019t articulate why their <\/em>offering is unique or helpful to your specific needs. Would you buy? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, to identify your<\/em> unique idea, it\u2019s helpful to think about the difference between an idea and a topic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n