Over the years, over 2.3K TED Talks have been given, recorded, and shared on digital platforms. One that caught our eye a few years ago was Charlie Todd’s “The shared experience of absurdity.” Through a detailed account of a few projects he orchestrated with his organization – Improv Everywhere – the TED Talk speaker implemented the power of shared experiences in his presentation. What’s more interesting, however, is how he utilized shared experiences. First, he used it as a storytelling tool. But second, he used the influence of commonality that comes about as a result of shared experiences as an overall theme. Try these 3 practices below in your next presentation to develop a sense of commonality:
Have a mission
The beginning sentence of Charlie’s TED Talk clearly demonstrates the adherence to a mission. Through both its direct delivery and its role in his organization’s narrative, the mission of the presentation dictated direction. This led into a seamless transition between the introduction to the main section of his speech.
“Because I was new to the city, I didn’t have access to a stage, so I decided to create my own in public places.” – Charlie Todd
Give examples
Although Charlie only gave 2 examples – or rather told 2 stories – focused on his Improv Everywhere projects, he relayed them in a way that made the audience feel as if they had been a part of the action. By incorporating video into his TED Talk, he was able to provide a visual element for those listening. This served to transcend them to the same moment and time that the particular scene Charlie was describing was occurring. When a presenter can transport his or her audience to another place or time, the chances of achieving a greater impact increase.
Create a bigger message
At about the 11:19 mark of the TED Talk, Charlie connects his project examples and side stories together through nostalgia – a universal feeling.
Even if your presentation topic might not seem to warrant the constant repetition of a greater message in an obvious manner, you can conclude on an inspirational note. Oftentimes your storytelling can speak volumes compared to repeating the same phrase or word several times throughout your deck. Use your call to action as an avenue to drive a bigger message and rally your troops around an idea, concept, product, or service.
The implementation of commonality within your presentation can be many and varied. Test out some of the tips above and watch as you create a temporary – or permanent – community around your message. There’s so much more to learn from TED Talks too! Here are just a few of our favorites, along with actionable steps we’ve gathered from them:
Presentation of Possibility: An Analysis of Skylar Tibbits’ TED Talk
Watch Now! Baba Shiv’s TED Talk “Sometimes it’s good to give driver’s seat”
Storytelling Lessons from “The Agony of Trying to Unsubscribe” by James Veitch
