By Douglas Kruger
Ever been to a TEDx event overseas? Well, in some cool local news, Jersey has just been granted a licence. For the first time in many years, TEDx St Helier will become a reality again.
The organisers are looking for sponsors right now, so if you’d like your brand associated with “ideas worth spreading”, this could be a good opportunity for you. Each year, the organisers pick a theme. For 2025 in Jersey, it’s slated to be: Your Voice, Our Story: Brave Ideas for a Shared Future.
I’ve been asked to speak at the first event, and although the date has not yet been finalised, I’m weighing up potential topics. The first option is my perennial favourite, “rule-breaking for productivity: how great leaders create freedom”. Option two: “Smart-cuts for changing your own story.” Or perhaps something more philosophical: “Remembering Britain: why you matter, from an outsider’s perspective.”
Whichever way, there’s something very satisfying about the short, focused TEDx format. The whole thing is 15 minutes flat, with a laser focus on a single important point. Zero waffle. Just one interesting notion in its purest, strongest form.
Care to try your hand at it? If you feel like you have an idea worth spreading, you may want to apply. Your insight could change the course of the Island’s culture. And it can relate to topics as diverse as engineering or emotion, science or sales, the history of Jersey or the importance of building a tunnel to France (ahem!).
The diversity of thought at these events makes them incredibly compelling. If you feel like this is your chance, here are some tips for constructing a first-class TEDx talk.
For starters, think of a compelling framing for your topic. How you wrap it up and present it. You don’t want to sound stiff, formal or academic, as though you were introducing a lecture.
Instead, make your first sentences short and casual, but punchy and fascinating. Something like this: “Have you ever been overlooked for promotion? Do you remember how that felt? What if there were one simple change you could make to become the most promotable member of your team? Today, I’ll show you what that is, and why it works.”
Metaphors and analogies can be your friend here. Instead of saying, “I’m going to speak about traffic congestion,” try an imaginary approach. Perhaps: “What happens if a hundred hamsters try to run on the same wheel? Is that what we’re doing here?”
Next, speak as visually as possible. There’s research to back this up, and if it interests you, I recommend a book called The Sense of Style, by Dr Steven Pinker. But here’s all you need to know: the most powerful speeches and presentations use language that enables the listener to “see moving imagery in the theatre of the mind”.
It’s not as complicated as you might imagine. Instead of saying “one-in-five mothers believes the following…” say: “If you gathered five mums in a room, and asked them this question, only one would raise her hand.” You can “see” the second one, with implied movement. The more you do that, the better.
Next, try to speak with an audience orientation.
You can do this in two ways. Firstly, select an idea that impacts the people in the room on the day. Can they do something about it? Can Jersey implement this? If not, the idea may be too abstract. Can you propose a change, or an action, that is directly relevant to our lives?
Secondly, address the audience in the singular, in the style of a conversation. It sounds like this: “Have you ever been in this situation? Here is how you can solve this problem.” The more you do, the better you “connect”.
Finally, make sure that you time your presentation. It’s crucial for a TEDx talk.
You will need to deliver it to a mirror several times. I recommend editing your own text as you go. Write and deliver, write and deliver, in order to get it down smoothly.
And don’t forget to smile from time to time, even as you rehearse in the mirror. Charisma is no small part of selling an idea.
These events can be big. Bigger than we initially appreciate, because they don’t end in the room on the day. And isn’t that an exciting thought? Instead, your presentation becomes part of TEDx’s online content, and, as such, your great idea can “live forever”, and be seen all over the world.
And why shouldn’t Jersey share ideas that change the world? It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I hope to see you there.
You can get hold of TEDx by emailing Ope Olaleye at tedxjersey@gmail.com or calling +447829801073.
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Douglas Kruger is a multiple award-winning speaker, and the author of several books, all available via Amazon and Audible.
