The New Public Speaking Toolbox

3 Ways TED Talks Redefined Keynotes

By Devin D. Marks | Published Feb 14, 2025

TED forever changed how we spread ideas from stage and screen.

In discovery calls with potential clients, I regularly reference 3 ways that TED Talks have improved the public speaking toolbox:

1.  CUSTOMIZED TOOLS

2.  3D PRINTED TOOLS

3.  DISCARDED TOOLS

Let’s briefly unpack what I mean by those three and touch on some actionable next-level examples...

CUSTOMIZED TOOLS

a) TED CUSTOMIZED the scripting process to emphasize minimalistic content. A flabby “big” idea is best when disciplined into a trigger phrase of 10 or fewer words.

b) TED CUSTOMIZED rehearsals to push deliveries beyond Dancing With The Stars to the Cirque du Soleil level. The norm became “Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can never get it wrong.”

c) TED CUSTOMIZED storytelling by story-wrapping key points. Mistaking a vignette, example, illustration, or anecdote for a sticky story has become today's center stage party fail.

For related TEDster best practices, click here and here.

3D PRINTED TOOLS

a) TED 3D PRINTED (i.e., introduced) the countdown clock as a conference norm. The days of going over time limits and feeding an audience with a firehose are long gone.

b) TED 3D PRINTED the red dot rug. It helps keep the speaker in a fixed place without creating a physical barrier (lectern)with the audience.

c) TED 3D PRINTED camera saturated rooms. The norm became 5+ camera feeds per event (or more!) to give the video editing team as much content as possible. The goal is a rock star or movie star shot from every angle.

For related TEDster best practices, click here.

DISCARDED TOOLS

a) TED DISCARDED PowerPoint norms. The old standby of pairing an image with 7 bullet points with 7 words — content that’s italicized, bold, colored, and “enhanced” with fading transition... Dead.

b) TED DISCARDED the stylized deliveries of Dale Carnegie and Toastmasters. Like an old, discolored toupee, those approaches come across as artificial and formulaic.

c) TED DISCARDED the stentorian “sage on stage” and preaching pulpit approaches. The “expert” voice was exchanged for the conversational voice of a peer.

For related TEDster best practices, click here and here.

With that context in mind, ask yourself...

Q. What's one new presentation approach that you can begin using in your next Zoom presentation?

Q. What familiar delivery habits are now outdated?

Q. What 3 ways can you use these tools in a non-TED environment like boardroom presentations, funding pitches, or good old keynotes?

DEVIN D. MARKS is known as The TED Talk Whisperer. His firm, CONNECT to COMPEL, has served 100s of TED, TEDx, and short-talk speakers — including Harvard’s Dr. Robert Waldinger for his all-time Top 10 TEDx Talk. The result: 100s of millions of views for clients. He helps niche experts, authors, and leaders spread world-changing ideas. 

You can reach Devin at 617.804.6020, or DM him here. His newsletters are here.

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