Technology, Entertainment, Design, also known as TED, is the name of a non-profit organization with the goal of spreading interesting ideas via short presentations called TED talks. The first TED conference was held in 1984. Since then it has taken place every year in the United States.
Since 2005, another conference called TED Global has taken place in different parts of the world. Since 2009, TED has been offering licenses to organize local conferences called TEDx. Some of them have been held in the Czech Republic as well. TED conferences and talks no longer include only topics on technology, entertainment and design, but cover a wide range of areas of human activities. TED talks are available online in more than a hundred languages. They have undoubtedly become a worldwide phenomenon.
As a public performance format which is popular throughout the world, TED talks represent a model for every speaker. That's why we're bringing you the following practical recommendations from Gina Barnett, a long-time coach for TED speakers.
1. Drink in good time
If you have problems with dry mouth, start drinking water 15 minutes before your performance. Your speech will sound much better on the microphone. Be careful not to keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
2. Think positively
Don't tell yourself that something will go wrong. You should give yourself some positive motivation before speaking. You should think about the great idea you want to share. You can also take a physical pose that will give you confidence and energy. You can find inspiration in the concept of "power posing" which became famous thanks to a TED talk by psychologist Amy Cuddy of Harvard Business School (read more here).
3. Breathe
When you start panicking, you tend to breathe rapidly and shallowly. It's necessary to consciously slow down your breathing. Inhale and exhale deeply three to four times.
4. Think of something other than yourself
Before entering the stage, choose something to focus on, for example a color, and then look around to spot the color. This simple exercise will help distract you and let you relax.
5. Don't shuffle around
When we're nervous, we unconsciously move in various unnatural ways, such as repetitive movements like shuffling from one foot to the other. These movements literally put the audience to sleep. You should also be careful not to walk too quickly or make other hasty movements that may disturb the audience.
6. Change your voice
The tone of your voice should correspond to the content of your words. Great news should not be said in a monotone. If, on the other hand, you are speaking about something serious, you shouldn't sound too enthusiastic.
6. Remind yourself that the audience is on your side
The people who are there have come to see you and are looking forward to listening to you. They want to hear your speech and do not want you to fail.
7. Don't be afraid of unexpected situations
Even if you prepare very well for your performance, something unexpected may happen. You may forget what you want to talk about or there may be a technical difficulty. Don't worry about it. Breath and move on with a smile.
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