10 Ideas on How to Listen to Ted Talks to Sharpen Your Critiquing Skills
Do you love watching Ted Talks to learn something new from industry and topic experts? After I found this site many years ago, I now share specific talks with many of my clients so that they can learn and see from the experts on how to master specific communication skills that they are working on. Here are some questions that may help you listen differently if you are interested in sharpening your own presentation and delivery skills:
1. How does the speaker make the presentation interesting with his voice? Think about pitch and loudness changes that you hear.
2. Pay attention to rhythm and pacing. Is the speed fast or slow? Does the presentation sound choppy or conversational (smooth and natural like the speaker is having a conversation with you?)
For #1 and #2. Laura Snyder: The Philosophical Breakfast Club
3. How did the speaker start the talk?
4. Outline the speaker’s content—what are the main points? Is it clear and obvious or hidden behind vague examples? How were her main points made? How many times are the main points reiterated?
5. What strategy did the speaker use to end the talk?
For #3-5, Jacqueline Novogratz: Inspiring a life of immersion
6. Evaluate the use of humor. What type of jokes or stories made the audience laugh?
7. Do you connect with the speaker? If so, why? If not, why not?
For #6 and #7, Dan Meyer: Math curriculum makeover? and Emily Levine: The theory of everything
8. How does the speaker show enthusiasm through his body language and speech/voice control?
For #8, The Good News of the Decade? Hans Rosling
9. How did the speaker make technical information easy to understand?
10. On a scale of 1-10, where would you place this speaker’s delivery of the message? As you become more and more astute at listening and critiquing, your scale may change and adjust. That’s great because you are developing your ear-training skills.
For #9 and #10, William Li: Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?
Next time you watch a talk that is of interest to you, pay attention these ten points and determine for yourself what you like (or dislike) about a speaker. Although these speakers are amazing, they aren’t necessarily perfect. But there is a lot of beauty to that fact because it makes them seem more human. It is also important to point out that you may differ from others in terms of what you like/dislike about a speaker. I have gone to many talks and left thinking that I loved the speaker but my friend who was with me did not!
Share with us some Ted talks that you like and your own critique.