3 Things You Probably Don't Know About TED Talks
I am not affiliated with TED or TEDx but served as a Speaker Coach for TEDx Breckenridge since 2020-2023 and as the Speaker Director for TEDx Franklin in 2022.
Over the last three years, I’ve had the joy of supporting speakers as they seek out and step onto the TEDx stage.
I love helping people develop their TED talk because each talk is unique and makes me think about the world differently. As a business strategist and TEDx speaker coach, I strongly believe your big idea is your competitive advantage, whether on the stage, in your business, or in life, and the more you talk about you big ideas, the bolder and braver you are in sharing them, the more you differentiate yourself from others.
That sharing of ideas is what continues to make TED talks one of the most powerful credibility markers for thought leaders and why so many people are seeking the stage.
So, let’s talk about a few things you may not know about TED, the big idea, and the application process.
There’s A Difference Between TED and TEDx
TED is a non-profit organization that began in 1984 as a conference where “Technology, Entertainment and Design converged.” The mission of the organization has been and continues to be the spread of ideas on a global level and welcomes people from all walks of life who are actively seeking a deeper understanding of the world.
The hallmark of TED is short talks about big ideas that are 18 minutes or less.These talks showcase powerful thought leadership and have done an amazing job of spotlighting previously unknown researchers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and best of all, ordinary people. As the popularity of the TED conference increased, more and more people wanted to be on the TED stage.
Thus TEDx was born. Similar to a business franchise model, TEDx events are independently organized and must follow the same format and guidelines as a traditional TED event. These events typically focus on local, geographical, or regional issues and are a great gateway to potentially landing on the big TED stage. There are currently over 3000 TEDx events worldwide, and competition to stand on those stages is fierce.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the myriad myths about who can and can’t speak on the TED or TEDx stage, so here’s the truth: You don't have to be asked. Anyone with a big idea can apply to speak on the TED or TEDx stage, so go nominate someone or apply for yourself!
As a reminder, TED/TEDx is not an industry or marketing conference. These events are not limited to one topic or industry, but under no circumstances is a TED event to be used for commercial or selling purposes, used to raise money, even for charity, and is not organized for any political, religious, commercial, or special interest group.
It’s all about the spread of big ideas.
Your story isn’t the big idea.
Chris Anders, curator for TED, said, “Everyone has an idea worth spreading.”
I wholeheartedly agree. As I mentioned above, “TED is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact.”
The foundation of a great TED talk rests on the big idea.
I often speak with people who want to share their story on the TED stage, and to be fair, those stories are powerful. They’re often life-changing and full of lessons.
But your story itself is not the big idea.
Your story amplifies the big idea.
Which means, you have to dig into the meat of that story and figure out what the real lesson, the new perspective, the shift in awareness is.
The vast majority of people who apply to TEDx events cannot articulate what their big idea is, and that’s why many don’t make it through the rigorous application process.
On a practical level, this means you need to figure out what makes your story simultaneously universal and unique. That may not make sense on the surface, but the goal is to get people to think about ideas in a new way, for them to connect on an emotional level, and wonder at how this might be applicable to them.
Your story is a powerful articulation of your idea. It’s a big part of the emotional connection that the audience will feel as you take them on this journey and encourage them to see the world differently. This is perhaps one of the most challenging parts of the process because it’s hard to see beyond your own story. Finding a mentor, a speaker coach, or someone who can help you dig in and figure out the core message will do wonders for you as you begin the application process and ultimately craft your talk.
Here are a few questions to get you started.
Using my story or on what topic can I:
Offer something new?
Present a surprising conclusion?
Reframe an old idea in a new way?
Challenge a common belief?
The Application Process Varies
Because each TEDx event is independently organized, the experience and process you go through will look similar but different. Without fail, every event has a speaker application and there are similar questions - what’s your big idea, why you… - but the details of the application will vary from event to event. This includes everything from the number of words and characters you can use to answer the questions, what the questions will be, whether or not there’s a theme for that particular event, and how they choose speakers.
This is perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of the process because there’s not a lot of uniformity. So, as you go through the application phase, pay close attention to the details and keep a document with all your answers for quick reference, so you’re not recreating the wheel each time you apply to an event.
The selection process and what event organizers are looking for shifts and changes each year. At the heart, they’re looking for really thought-provoking, powerful ideas. Beyond that, there’s significant variability.
If you’ve never been selected for a TED talk or attended an event, there are few things you might not know.
A live event is rooted around a theme, and as such, the talks are curated based on a story narrative. Often, I hear speakers say that literally everything about their idea is a fit for a given event, but they weren’t selected. This is because speaker committees are wading through hundreds of applications and building a story arc for the event. Each talk has to stand on its own… and fit the theme as a cohesive unit of talks.
Once you’re selected to speak at a TED/TEDx event, you’re provided a speaker coach free of charge. This is one of the best parts of the process because you’re actively working with someone to help you create the best possible talk you can. This means drafting outlines, talking points, practicing, practicing, and more practicing in front of someone. This person becomes your biggest cheerleader, helps keep you within the TED topic guidelines, and is there with you on the big day, watching you shine!
Once the event is finished, all talks must go through an approval process. This ensures that guidelines have been met, factual claims have been substantiated, and that it meets the standard that TED has set for sharing big ideas on their platform. I have seen a number of talks be rejected after all is said and done because the speaker didn’t stay within the guidelines. This is the absolute worst case, and it’s devastating for speakers who have gone through the hard work to speak on the stage. If you take nothing from this, make sure your talk doesn’t trip that wire. Your speaker coaching team can do a lot to help you here.
Everyone has a TED talk inside them. You have big ideas that are worth sharing, and I hope you’ll be bold and brave enough to give it a go, whether that’s the TED stage or a stage of your own making.
*Jessica Sato Consulting is not affiliated with TED or TEDx organizations, however, we have supported multiple TEDx events as a speaker coach in both a paid and volunteer capacity.
