TED 3: Have a Conversation

Rehearse until your talk sounds like a relaxed chat with a friend.

Practitioner wisdomGallo, 2014 · Talk Like TED, secret 3

Practitioner advice drawn from interviews with TED speakers about how much they rehearsed.

Why it works

Gallo found the best speakers rehearsed many times, which freed them to sound natural. A talk read off notes sounds stiff. Practice lets your voice, face and hands match your words.

How to do it

  1. Rehearse out loud many times, not just in your head.
  2. Record and watch for stiff or rushed parts.
  3. Practise in front of one honest person.
  4. Learn the flow, not every word.

What to say

Let me start with something that surprised me last month.

Here's what I'd tell you if we were having tea.

Avoid

Memorising word for word. You will sound like a recording and freeze if you lose a line.

Example

Before a seed industry conference in Hyderabad, Shalini rehearsed her ten minutes twelve times. On stage she looked up from notes the whole time and spoke like she was chatting.

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