If you’re not familiar with Ignite Talks, then prepare to be impressed and inspired. These short presentations are comparable to TED Talks in terms of the value they deliver, but they must adhere to a set of distinct rules: Every Ignite Talk is exactly five minutes, has precisely 20 slides, and those slides automatically advance every 15 seconds.
It’s truly amazing what presenters can do within those constraints, and folks who are looking to get better at their own presentations can learn a lot from ‘em. Check out five of our all-time favorites below.
Flash Mob Gone Wrong by Tom Scott
It’s no secret that the Internet is one powerful beast, but this talk from Tom Scott really drives home the sometimes-disturbing power it has over us as a people. In his uniquely compelling presentation, Scott demonstrates how quickly a seemingly innocuous post on social media can take an unexpected and disturbing turn—and just how susceptible humans are to adapting to the disturbances we formerly thought were impossible.
How to Get 5 Million People to Read Your Website by Matthew Inman
If you’re not familiar with the hilarious site that is The Oatmeal, then do yourself a favor and check it out ASAP. In his equally motivating and funny presentation, Matthew Inman takes us through the creative tactics he used to draw over five million people to his website. Watching this five-minute talk will make you laugh, show you surprising ways to shine a light on your brand, and generally make you a better marketer.
The Pomodoro Technique by Greg Head
With social media constantly begging for our attention, new emails popping up every minute, and our phones regularly pinging us with various alerts, there’s no doubt we live in a distraction-infused world. In this valuable presentation, Greg Head shares his technique for finding concentration and focus in our ever-distracted world. If you struggle to find your focus amid all the distractions, then you need this talk in your life.
Getting Past Hello… How to Talk to Anyone by Bethany Marzewski
Whether you’re in high school or you work in an office, for most of us, our social group is pretty much set and we don’t tend to stray too far from it. This, of course, can lead to a lot of awkwardness when we do stray and try to strike up conversations with strangers. In her engaging presentation, Bethany Marzewski shares her tips and techniques for talking to anyone, anytime. And they’re actually a lot simpler and more straightforward than you might think.
The Illusion of Speed by Steve Souders
Did you know that a massive number of the crosswalk buttons you press to get across the street faster are actually placebos? Or that the Houston airport stopped getting complaints about baggage claim delays when they simply increased the length of the walkways to get to baggage claim? Steve Souders gives an eye-opening presentation about just how much our perception of speed shapes our reality and how that can inform our lives, both personally and professionally.
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