AN ARCHITECTURAL HACK FOR YOUR TED TALK DESIGN. (Building your Message Temple?)

AN ARCHITECTURAL HACK FOR YOUR TED TALK DESIGN. (Building your Message Temple?)

Using TED Talk design secrets to “architect” a focused and result-driven message.?

You wouldn’t present at a board meeting with random Post-it reminders and in boxers, would you??

Unlike “Boxer Boy,” you know your center stage moment is an opportunity to shine.?

But confidently leading a high-stakes presentation (whether an investors pitch or a TEDx Talk) is best done through systemized preparation.?

After all, a solid delivery gives you a chance to position yourself as a leader in the minds of others — someone who drives ideas and results.

A not-so-great delivery... (Uhmmmmm, let’s move on.)

The best TED talk speakers are legendary for delivering clearly-focused and action-igniting messages. Granted, you may not be stepping on a red TED rug in front of conference ticket holders next week. But even on a Zoom preso, there will be a camera and digital viewers. And that’s an audience you want to connect with and compel to action.?

So there’s a lot we can glean from the experience of TEDsters that applies to any “high stakes” context.

For example, one of my clients, Harvard’s Dr. Robert Waldinger had a message to craft based on his longitudinal research focused on health in the lives of men and families. Complex stuff: data, charts, trends. (Boring even.)?

Yet to date, 40 million viewers have responded to his clearly-focused, action-inspiring talk. (In fact, give his talk a viewing here.)

As I just pointed out, using TED design secrets to shape your talk isn’t something to trust to last-minute notes and half-dressed measures.

Instead, build your message like it matters.?

(Because it does.)

Construct Your Message Temple

Let’s borrow an architectural model to think through your message. In fact, let’s design your talk by imagining an ancient Greek structure. Call it your Message Temple.

Picture it with me, an arched roof, supporting pillars, and steps.

The temple's interior is wrapped in tapestries (a progression of stories). It even boasts an overhead fresco akin to the fabled Sistine Chapel's ceiling (the meta-story).?

Arranged throughout the sanctuary are illustrations, research examples, and more.

But exploring the interior of Your Message Temple? is for another time. Now, let's focus on the primary architectural structure of your talk.

1. Build The “Roof” of Your Message Temple

First, let’s consider the roof of your message: The Big Idea.?

This represents the main, overarching insight you want to get across to your viewers.?

Concise, pithy, and clear — put it in a sentence or two. Hint: This will likely begin as an ill-formed, unwieldy, and wordy summary. That’s fine. Some of the most memorable and powerful messages began that way. (BTW, The BIG IDEA Mill? can help. Click here to RSVP for the next cohort.)

For example, let’s briefly examine Dr. Waldinger’s “Good Life” talk that you just watched. The good doctor’s Big Idea was eventually refined to 8 words:?

The good life?

is built with?

good relationships.?

Next, we’ll consider the supporting pillars, or key points, of your message.?

2. Build The “Pillars” of Your Message Temple

Second, let’s consider the supporting columns of your message: The Key Points.?

Consider ways you may want to expand on that Big Idea. To do so, use three key points.?

Why three? TEDsters know that no audience can process and remember 5, 7, or 11 points.?

The latest neuroscience and psychological research prove that we really only recall three things (or fewer) when we hit the next elevator conversation or close our browser window.?

And beyond science, we know we are culturally drawn to a minimal series: The 3 Little Pigs; The 3 Wise Men; "I came, I saw, I conquered!" (Our world is brimming with examples of The Rule of Thirds.)

So work to ensure that your Big Idea is supported and expanded by three points. These are mini-ideas that point in the direction of your overarching idea.?

Return to Your Message Temple and individually consider each “pillar” as a concept undergirding the triangular “roof” of the Big Idea.?

As before, make those points memorable in clean, crisp, clear wording. Also, balance them in terms of word count and structure. Later, within each key point, you’ll add your stories, analogies, data sets, research findings, and the like — one set per point pillar. Let’s call this your evidence set. (We can unpack that approach in more detail another time.)

Consider how Dr. Waldinger approached his three key points:

1. Social connections are good for us.

2. Quality-close relationships matter.

3. Good relationships protect our brains.

Finally, consider the action steps leading from your Message Temple.

3. Build The “Steps” of Your Message Temple

Third, let’s consider the action steps of your message: The Application.

Return to your Big Idea and ask, “What clear and defined next steps (actions) do I want my viewers to take after this talk concludes??

In other words, this presentation needs to drive actionable results. What will those applications be for your viewers?

Returning to your 3-pillared Message Temple, visualize a set of “stairs” descending from the structure. Each is an action tied to your key point pillars. And naturally, these walkaways are geared to support your Big Idea in specific, practical, actionable ways.?

The number of steps is up to you. I suggest though fewer than six, that’s two (or fewer) per key point.

Let’s turn to the TED stage a final time and see how Dr. Waldinger approached his recommendations for viewers:?

1)? Replace screen time with people time.

2)? Long walks together.

3)? Date nights.

4)? Reach out to that family member you haven't spoken to in years.

Step Back And Admire Your Handiwork!

Congratulations! You’ve just architected a TED-styled message design that is clearly-focused and action-igniting. (That said, naturally, the whole structure will benefit from being wrapped in story. So stay tuned...)

I’ll bet you can see how this will help you design any high-stakes presentation, right?

This 1-3-6 building model will ensure your message is balanced and show where you may need to slot in content.?

Naturally, your work on your talk isn’t complete. You’ll need to fill Your Message Temple with data, stories, research and more. That’s what will be “painted” inside the dome of your temple and what will be detailed on tapestry sets.?

By applying this time-tested TED Messaging Method?of Leadership Communications to your preso prep, you’ll have the tools you need to ensure your logic and flow are set for success, well in advance of your due date.?

Now then, will it get you into pants??

I hope so. But even if you opt for a “Boxer Boy” outfit delivery, at least you can be confident you’re sharing a focused and result-driven message.?

In the minds of your viewers, that will position you as an on-stage and on-screen leader — perhaps even a TEDster.

.

DEVIN D. MARKS is known as?The TED Talk Whisperer.?His firm,?CONNECT to COMPEL, has represented hundreds of TED, TEDx, and TED-style speakers with millions of views. His team helps leaders,?just like you, catalyze insights.

You can call Devin at 617-804-6020; or DM him by?clicking here?here.

FIND YOUR TED TALK TYPE.

Ever wonder what?category?of talk you are best suited to deliver? There are?8 distinct types?of TED Talks that take center stage. To get clarity on which one could be yours,?click here.?

In just?12 questions?you’ll have your answer and a 15-page PDF with worksheets, TEDster examples, and ways to begin shaping your?idea worth spreading!

Want one example of a talk type? Here’s a brief look at one of the 8 classics:?

The “Knowledge Builder” Talk.?

Your primary goal in your future TED Talk is best categorized as a “Knowledge Builder” due to your focus on the education of others and building upon previous ideas to develop a stronger knowledge base!

Some attributes of a Knowledge Builder TED Talk tend to include the following:

[??]?Includes research findings

[??]?Introduces a complementary insight

[??]?Expands on an existing knowledge set

[??]?Is evidence-based or experience-based

[??]?Includes an understanding of the audience

[??]?Is soundly grounded in an academic tradition

Do this,?click here?to learn what form your BIG IDEA worth spreading will take!

PODCAST MOMENTS.

Ever wonder what The TED Messaging Method? of Executive Communications has to do with...

- TED Talks

- Short Talks

- Sales Pitches?

- Board Room Presos

- Center Stage Keynotes

And even...

- Your next Zoom session?!

Check out this throwback episode of @Barry Moltz’s Small Business Radio Show. (Click to the 2nd segment in Ep. 616.) We chat about high-stakes leadership presentations via Zoom and how TED TALK messaging skills dovetail into exec communications.?Listen here.

A BREAKAWAY TALK: >1M <1Yr.

It is said that 100K views make for a "viral" talk, and I'm not quibbling there. (Pre-Pandemic I wasn't a fan of the word viral either!) But those are a dime a dozen.

What marks a BREAKOUT in my way of thinking is a talk with?1M views.

I love to highlight and celebrate talks (whether from my clients or otherwise) that have?just recently?surpassed the one-million-view mark. They are special.

This October 2021 talk from The Countdown Summit by Susan Ruffo ("The ocean's ingenious climate solutions") is a great standout with a critical message for our world.

Here's the TED description:

The ocean is often thought of as a victim of climate change, in need of human protection. But ocean expert Susan Ruffo says that mindset needs to shift. From storing carbon to providing protection to coastal communities, Ruffo highlights the ocean's ready-made solutions to the climate crisis and asks: With more than eighty percent of the ocean still unexplored, what new solutions are waiting to be discovered?

Great stuff, right? THAT is TED at its finest. Timely. Provocative. Leading. What's more, when a talk like this one hits that 1M marker?within the first year (and this will)... powerful stuff!

Many so-so talks can accumulate an impressive view count over time. But hitting the 7-figure marker within a concentrated timeframe is a signal that there's something truly extraordinary going on in the talk and around the topic. It is truly an?idea worth spreading!

So my equation is as follows:

BREAKAWAY TALK = >1M + <1Yr

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