Before delivering her first TEDx talk on curiosity as a practice, Dr. Julie Pham spent over ten weeks drafting around 30 different versions and practicing with more than 70 people. This post will help you learn some of Dr. Julie’s effective presentation tips for TEDx success. Let’s dive into her insights!
Effective Presentation Tips for TEDx Success
Getting Feedback
- Know What Kind of Feedback You Want
Determine whether you want general feedback, content feedback, or delivery feedback. This clarity helps you ask for what you need. For example, if you’re in the early stages of writing, you might say, “Please focus on my content, not my delivery.” Once you finalize your speech, you can shift to asking for delivery feedback. - Practice as Much as Possible
The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Many people watch TEDx talks and believe they’ll never give one. They often feel honored when you ask them to listen to your practice sessions. Sometimes, you can casually run your talk by a friend over the phone. - Organize Rehearsal Sessions
Schedule rehearsal sessions, whether in-person or virtual. Dr. Julie conducted four virtual rehearsals and provided feedback surveys to participants. This approach gathered a lot of feedback at once and made people feel involved in the process.
Content Development
- Stick to One Message
While you may have many ideas, focus on sharing just one key idea in your talk. Remember, you can share other ideas in different contexts later. - Create a Visual Model
Abstract concepts can be challenging to grasp in a short timeframe. Develop a visual model to clarify your message. Dr. Julie used a model representing the gap between expectations and reality, which was illustrated in her slides. - Cite Your Own Evidence
Instead of filling your talk with third-party research, rely on your own experiences and evidence first. This personal touch can make your message more authentic. - Use Your Own Words
Avoid quoting others unless their words perfectly express what you want to convey. Use your own language confidently—this is your talk.
Delivery
- Memorize the Talk
While memorizing can be challenging, internalizing your message boosts your confidence on stage. Strive to deliver your talk from memory. - Don’t Move and Talk at the Same Time
This can be distracting, so practice separating movement from speaking. If you need to move, do so first, then stop and deliver your message. - Use Your Body to Illustrate Your Point
Consider how to use body language to enhance your message. In her talk, Dr. Julie moved her body to illustrate the gap between expectations and reality.
We hope these ten TEDx tips will help you improve your public speaking and presentation skills. Let us know how it goes!
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