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How to Create Your TED Talk: An 8-Step Process

by Jezra on March 9, 2017

First, A Little Background on TED

The TED conference (which stands for  technology, entertainment, design ) began life in 1984 as a yearly and very expensive conference where industry leaders and creative types gathered to exchange “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Back then, it was all about the live experience, and speakers were expected to bring some quirky spontaneity to the stage.

But fast forward more than 30 years, and TED has become an institution, spawning countless local “TEDx” events, putting hundreds of speeches online each year, getting millions upon millions of views, and changing the way we all think about public speaking!

So, What  IS  a TED Talk?

According to Chris Anderson, the owner and global curator of TED, every TED talk starts with an idea :

“You have something meaningful to say, and your goal is to re-create your core idea inside your audience’s minds.” —from TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking

Anderson calls this idea “the gift in every great talk.” Your idea may:

• Be common-sense (“Every kid needs a champion”) or counter-intuitive (“The way we think about charity is wrong”)
• Describe a scientific breakthrough (“How bacteria talk”) or your own experience (“I am the son of a terrorist, here’s how I chose peace”)
• Motivate people to action (“We need to talk about an injustice”) or greater self-awareness (“Your elusive creative genius”)

But in every case, your TED talk will begin with an idea.

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And whether or not your talk actually builds a model of your idea in your listeners’ brain — Anderson takes that literally, and research on “neural coupling” backs him up — your TED talk exists to communicate this idea to your listeners.

That is your talk’s one and only goal.

Other Qualities of Successful TED Talks

In TED’s secret to great public speaking (an eight-minute video that’s worth watching), Anderson offers three guidelines for creating your TED talk:

• Focus on one major idea

Ideas are complex things; you need to slash back your content so that you can focus on the single idea you’re most passionate about , and give yourself a chance to explain that one thing properly… Everything you say [should link] back to it in some way.

• Give people a reason to care

Stir your audience’s curiosity. Use intriguing, provocative questions to identify why something doesn’t make sense and needs explaining. If you can reveal a disconnection in someone’s worldview , they’ll feel the need to bridge that knowledge gap.

• Build your idea with familiar concepts

Build your idea, piece by piece, out of concepts that your audience already understands … A vivid explanation… delivers a satisfying ah-hah! moment as it snaps into place in our minds.

These are important best practices, but they don’t tell you what to  do  to create a TED talk.

For that, try this…

8-Step Process for Creating Your TED Talk

Step 1. find an idea you want to share.

To hone in on your idea worth sharing, it can be useful to ask yourself things like:

• What’s one assumption I’d like to challenge?
• What’s a belief of mine that has changed, and why?
• What does everyone miss when they think about my area of interest or expertise?

And remember, you’re looking for an idea . As Jeremey Donovan says in How to Deliver a TED Talk ,

…an idea is not a theme, a general truth, a platitude or a big goal. “Everyone wants to feel included” is not an idea, it’s a general truth. “Empowering women” is not an idea, it’s a topic.

Step 2. Develop an unexpected and/or catchy way to state your idea

If your idea can be stated in a catchy way, listeners will pay more attention and remember it more easily. Here are some examples (with more conventional versions of the same idea in parentheses):

• We can solve malnutrition now (vs. Malnutrition is a problem that is finally, in our day and age, able to be resolved by advances in science.)
• Almost dying saved my life (vs. A near death experience created the motivation for me to face and overcome problems that otherwise would have slowly killed me.)
• Never, ever give up (vs. Cultivate the ability to commit without wavering; it’s an essential component of your lifelong success.)

Step 3. Collect anything and everything that relates to your idea

To re-create your idea in the minds of your listeners, you’ll need vivid examples, illustrations, stories, facts, questions, comments, etc.

So take a few days to notice anything and everything that relates to your idea, and collect these materials by writing them down, taking photos, recording your thoughts as sound files, etc.

Examples of things you might collect include:

• a snippet of conversation
• a quote you heard in high school
• a story that relates to your idea
• a fact, or cluster of data that supports it
• a metaphor or analogy that helps explain it
• a personal moment in your relationship with the idea
• a physical object that will help your audience understand it (here, my client Erika Frenkel presents an anesthesia machine )

Basically, anything that comes to your mind at this stage should be collected.

And don’t worry yet about which materials will end up in your talk.

You can’t collect  things and evaluate  them at the same time, so just collect for now; you’ll have a chance to evaluate later.

Step 4. Start imagining how you might open and end your talk

While it’s too soon to choose your opening and close, it’s not too soon to start playing with ideas for these important parts of your talk.

An effective way to begin any speech (not just a TED talk) is to grab your audience’s attention — often with a human interest story, a surprising statistic, an unexpected observation, or a thought-provoking question.

There are probably some great attention-grabbers in the material you collected for Step 3. Pick one that you particularly like, and flag it as a possible  opening for your talk.

As for the close , you’ll probably want to end your talk in a positive, forward-looking way . This is often done by:

• calling the audience to action;
• painting a hopeful picture of the future; and/or
• “paying off” (finishing, resolving) a story or discussion that has run through your talk, so that listeners get a sense of closure.

With your provisional opening and close in mind, you’re now ready to…

Step 5. Put the rest of your materials in a reasonable order

The middle of any speech is tricky, and a TED talk is particularly so, because TED talks can take just about any form you’d like.

So to tackle this part of your TED talk, take the materials you’ve collected and shuffle them until you find a good arrangement. To do this, you can:

• Create a high-level outline (leave out most of the detail, just arrange the big points or elements)
• Write each element (story, comment, observation, fact) on a 3 x 5 card and physically shuffle them to see different possible orders. (You can do this on a table, or digitally, by creating one slide per element and shuffling them with PowerPoint’s “slide sorter” feature)
• Use sound (speaking out loud) instead of writing to put your talk elements into different sequences (Ask: Does it sound right if I tell that story first, then give the fact? How about if I give the fact first, then tell the story?)
• Try any other method that works for you.

How will you know when the order is good?

Keep in mind that your goal is to create an understanding of your idea in the minds of your audience members , and try to arrange your explanations, comments, and stories in a way that leads to that goal. (You’ll get to test this on real people in Step 7.)

Trust your instincts: If something seems out of place to you, it probably is. Try moving it to a different part of your talk or even skipping it, and see if that works better.

And don’t expect to find the best organization for your talk the first time you try, because that almost never happens!

Step 6. Talk your way to a rough draft of your script

This is where your “speaking plan” becomes a “speech.”

Take your outline or list of ordered elements and talk about each item in turn.

When I’m writing a speech, I like to literally talk it out loud and type up what I’m saying as I’m saying it — but you can also use your computer’s voice recognition software to capture your words, or talk into the voice memo feature on your phone (this used to be called “dictating”) and type up the sound file later.

Why  record yourself talking  instead of just writing out the speech?

Because most of us get all formal and stiff when we write, and the ideal for a talk is that it sounds like you’re…  talking !

And here’s a hint:

As you do this step, pay particular attention to the way different elements (materials) that you’ve used in your talk are connected.

If, for example, you tell me that:

• The river flooded, and
• Some people moved out of the neighborhood…

I’ll want to know: Did people move  because  the river flooded? Did most people stay even though  the river flooded? Did the river flood  after  people had already moved?

When you spell things out clearly, people will form a clear picture of your point.

Step 7. Try out your Ted talk draft on a volunteer listener

The point of this step is to get feedback on how to improve the structure and clarity of your draft.

Ask someone you trust — a smart 10-year-old is perfect — to listen to your talk.

Read it to them (because you haven’t finalized, let alone memorized, it yet), and then ask them:

• Did I explain my idea clearly?
• Was there anything in my talk that you didn’t follow?
• Was there anything you didn’t understand?
• Did anything seem out of place?
• Did I lose your interest anywhere?

If your listener wants to discuss the 6,000 facts you left out, or how your talk should really be about X instead of Y, gently lead them back to these questions.

The point is not to  change  your talk. The point is to  improve  it’s effectiveness.

Step 8. Repeat the following steps as needed

• Based on your listener’s feedback, make changes that will improve your draft. But don’t get carried away editing; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! (And keep your old drafts in case you want to go back to something you did earlier; I number mine v1, v2, v3, etc.)

2. Practice delivering your new draft out loud.

3. Try out your new draft on a volunteer listener, get their feedback , and repeat these steps as often as needed until your talk has taken a satisfying shape.

And finally…

There’s no better time to start working on your talk than now. Even if your schedule is crammed, you’re better off working for a few minutes each day than leaving everything to the last minute!

And as you work this process, remember that perfection isn’t possible.

So instead of striving for perfection, prepare carefully, take your best shot, and try to  relax .

Your audience is going to love this talk — and you deserve to enjoy it, too!

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Home > Blog > Speaking 101 > How To Write A TED Talk Outline From Scratch

How To Write A TED Talk Outline From Scratch

Whether you’re reading this as an aspiring speaker or having just booked your first TED appearance, it’s no secret that TED Talks can be a huge boost for a professional speaker. According to past TED speakers, in fact, giving one can be game-changing in terms of both reputation and speaking fees. That said, prepping for a TED talk isn’t just gratefulness and excitement. It can also be a source of nerves, due to their unique format and the prestige of the TED Organization . Fortunately, mastering how to write a TED Talk outline doesn’t have to be painful. In this guide, we’re going to cover all the steps to knocking one out in no time. 

Before we get into detail, please note that this guide focuses on the technical aspects of writing TED Talk outlines. In other words, while we at SpeakerFlow have no trouble compiling resources, none of us have given a TED Talk. In light of that, I highly recommend also reaching out to other TED or TEDx speakers in your network to learn about their experience and how they recommend preparing for a TED event. That way, when the event itself comes, you’ll be fully prepared and ready to dazzle your audience. ✨

Choose the main idea of your TED Talk.

First, before you begin writing your TED Talk outline, identify the main idea of your talk. Although you may not explicitly state it until the end, this idea will serve as the foundation for your presentation. As such, it should build off your experience as an industry expert while fitting the theme of the TED event. 

One way to approach this is to review past TED Talks to see where they overlap with your primary discipline. One of the most popular, for example, is “ The Danger of a Single Story ” by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In her talk, Adichie mentions that “Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize”. Although she is presenting this idea as it relates to books, the same argument can also be applied to political conversations, social media – any field in which exploring new ideas is key. Likewise, looking at your own field, compare how it lines up with other TED Talks. It may be the source of inspiration you’re looking for. 

Alternatively, another way to approach your main idea is by asking the following questions from TED: “Is my idea new?,” “Is it interesting?” and “Is it factual and realistic?” Ideally, your main idea should check each of these boxes while also corresponding with your area of expertise. That way, you not only share a great idea. You also ensure that you have the greatest possible chance of connecting with your audience. After all, the purpose of TED Talks is sharing “ideas worth spreading” and, consequently, “chang[ing] attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world”. Your TED Talk outline and its main idea should aim to do the same. 

Choose a personal experience that relates to your idea.

Next, after choosing your main idea, ask yourself how it relates to your personal and professional life. What led you to your conclusion about your main idea? Who have you met that’s shaped this idea? How has your stance regarding your main idea changed over time? All of these questions are starting points, but the goal is to take your main idea and summarize how it relates to you, not as a speaker but as a human being. 

Within the TED Talk archive, a great example of this is Monica Lewinsky’s 2015 TED Talk, “ The Price of Shame “. In this lecture, Lewinsky outlines some of the long-term negative effects of public shaming including anxiety, depression, and, in extreme cases, suicide. However, she also opens up about her own all-too-famous scandal with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in the 1990s and how the public shaming that followed made her life painful for decades after. In this way, she not only shows her audience the subject of public shaming from her point of view. She also successfully connects with them, reinforcing her primary argument that those targeted by public shaming are still human and even virtual shaming can have detrimental effects. 

In your own TED Talk outline, sharing your experience will accomplish the same thing. Standing on stage, it can be tempting to assume that because you’re in the spotlight, your audience will listen. Yet, any member of your audience (and on the TED team) will tell you that simply isn’t true. As a result, keep in mind that connection comes first from emotional investment. Be yourself and be vulnerable and your main idea will immediately become more intriguing for those watching you, guaranteed. 

Break your idea into manageable pieces or steps.

At this point, it’s time to break your main idea into easily digestible pieces of information. These pieces will make up the sections of your TED Talk outline, ultimately making your talk, as a whole, easier for the audience to understand and remember. It will also make it easier for you to memorize, as it’s generally recommended that you not use notecards during your presentation. 

One common structure is the argumentative approach. In this case, the term “argumentative” doesn’t mean “antagonistic.” Instead, it refers to typical discussion structure, like an argument in a professional debate. In a TED Talk setting, this generally includes three sections. First, introduce your main idea and any background information. Second, present evidence for the main idea, so as to prove your point. Lastly, give your conclusion, based on the evidence provided. In essence, this takes your audience through your thought process, ideally leading them to your conclusion in the process. This structure works well if you have a controversial idea for which you know you’ll have audience pushback or doubt.

Alternatively, for easy-to-accept ideas, another common structure is the step-by-step approach. Here, the main idea and benefits of accepting it are clear. However, after your introduction, the audience is still left asking, “How can I make that happen?” In this case, your TED Talk outline would have sections devoted to each step of the process that answers this question. In this situation, your audience enters your TED Talk interested but apprehensive and leaves confident that they can accomplish the goal your main idea describes.

Again, with these or any structure, your main goals are to (a) bring your audience to your point of view and (b) give them the tools to turn your words into action after they leave the TED auditorium. 

Write your outline using your experience as the intro and your steps as the body section. 

By now, you have all of the necessary components of your presentation in mind. Now, it’s time to build them into a cohesive TED Talk outline. Your outline, as a whole, should begin with a strong introduction, expand into a concise but thorough explanation of your main idea, and end with a reminder of how and why acting on your main idea is necessary. Combined, this invisible structure is a proven way to attract and retain your audience’s attention, as demonstrated by many past TED speakers. Luckily, many of these speakers have also shared their insights, so you can follow their lead and give an equally stellar performance of your own. Below are a few of their most valuable tips and tricks.  

Crafting the Introduction of Your TED Talk Outline

First, begin your TED Talk outline with a powerful introduction. This component of your speech is arguably the most important, as the more easily you can capture your audience’s attention initially, the more likely they are to stay engaged. It’s also important that your introduction provides a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of your main idea. Although the bulk of your explanation will take place in the next section of your TED Talk, the body, giving a simple explanation at the beginning of your Talk doesn’t just lay the groundwork for the rest of your evidence. It also demonstrates, to your audience, that your idea isn’t daunting. That way, they’re able to listen to your later call(s) to action (or your field as a whole) and think, “I guess this isn’t too complicated for me to take an interest in.”

To accomplish these goals, many speakers recommend building your introduction around the personal experience you chose back in Step #2. This allows you to relate more closely to your audience, lead up to the introduction of your main idea, and grab your audience’s attention all in one swift motion. In the event that your main idea is a heavy topic, beginning with a humorous story can also help lighten the tone of your Talk, making it easier for you to be frank with your audience without being depressing. In short, your introduction should be interesting but not overkill, honest but not harsh, and explanatory but not wordy. Remember, it’s only the prelude to the bulk of your TED Talk outline. 

TED’s Introduction Tips

• Be quick and concise (i.e. don’t dance around your main idea).
• Focus on the audience, not yourself.
• Avoid stereotypical openings to presentations (dictionary definition, list of statistics, etc).
• For a well-known main idea, start by clearly stating it.
• For a lesser-known main idea or an idea in a lesser-known field, start by explaining a related topic or idea that is well-known. Then, link that back to your main idea.
• For emotional or heavy topics, start by candidly stating it. Avoid being candid to the point of being harsh, and avoid anything that suggests you’re trying to force an emotional reaction. 

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Building the Body of Your TED Talk Outline

After constructing the introduction, it’s time to draft the body of your TED Talk outline. For this part of your Talk, the focus should be on retaining your audience’s attention and providing sufficient evidence to support your main idea. Here, it’s important to again provide balance, showcasing necessary information for your thesis but not so much that your audience loses interest or gets confused. In addition, the body of your outline should build upon your introduction and provide next steps for your audience to take with them, once your TED Talk is over. That way, your main idea lives beyond the room and the audience is guaranteed a more impactful presentation. 

To meet these objectives, the best TED speakers use the “manageable pieces” we covered back in Step #3 to build a sort of story or handbook. For the former, each piece is a different event that leads into the conclusion, or the happy or sad ending of your story. This is especially useful if you’re focusing on an emotional topic or lacing your personal experience throughout the content of your presentation. For the later, each piece is more evidence-oriented with each piece acting as support for your main claim. Contrary to the “story” layout, this structure is used largely in science-oriented presentations, where strong empirical evidence is mandatory. 

In essence, regardless of the route you choose, each “piece” is a different subsection of this section of your Talk. This allows you to build on top of each individual piece of information and, in doing so, bring your audience to understand and accept your conclusion. 

TED’s Body Paragraph(s) Tips

• Build a list of the evidence you want to cite in your presentation, keeping in mind that you will need more evidence surrounding things you need to convince your audience of. Then, with the help of a friend or daily member (not a colleague), remove any evidence that isn’t absolutely essential to your argument. 
• Focus on new information. If you must include basic information, for the sake of introducing more advanced information, keep it brief.
• Use empirical evidence, not anecdotal evidence.
• Keep your verbiage simple. If you must use complex terminology, leave time to briefly explain it. 
• Acknowledge and politely address any contradictions to your main idea. These include, according to TED speakers, “controversies in your claims, legitimate counterarguments, reasons you might be wrong, or doubts your audience might have about your idea.”
• Use slides to help explain complex or pivotal points in your presentation. For slides with citations, be sure to keep your citation confined to a corner of the screen, so that it doesn’t detract from the primary content of the slide.

Forming the Conclusion of Your TED Talk Outline

Lastly, every good TED Talk ends with a killer conclusion. As mentioned a few times in this guide, there are two things that your conclusion should be above all else: positive and compelling. While the body paragraphs of your TED Talk outline are all about explaining your main idea, your conclusion should drive home why it’s important. It should also communicate this in a positive way. Even for tough topics and uncomfortable situations, the purpose of TED Talks is to showcase problems and propose solutions. That way, members of the audience can approach them not only with well-rounded knowledge about the issue at hand but also with an “I can handle this” attitude. 

Depending on your personal style, there are many ways you can accomplish these goals and end on a high note. Some speakers opt for a joke, others an inspirational quote, and still others a straightforward reminder of why the audience should care. Keeping those options in mind, below are the most commonly-cited conclusion tips from past TED speakers. 

TED’s Conclusion Tips

• End on a high note. Your audience should, ideally, leave with a sense of positivity towards you and your main idea. 
• End, if appropriate, with a call to action and a reminder of why your main idea is worth implementing in their lives.
• Avoid ending with transactional language or anything sales-related (book cover, company logo, etc.). The goal of the talk is to share ideas, not promote a specific individual, business, product, or service. 

Support your TED Talk outline with visual aids.

The next step in preparing for your TED Talk is adding visual aids. For many presentations, visual aids are immensely helpful both for the audience and the presenter. If you’re explaining a complex process, for example, a visual diagram can make it easier to understand. Likewise, if you’re describing a story, including images of the people involved can help your audience better follow along. In short, while you shouldn’t rely on visual aids to communicate your message on their own, they should act as supporting characters in your presentation. 

One example of this is the 2012 TED Talk, “ Strange Answers To The Psychopath Test ” from British writer and documentarian Jon Ronson. In this Talk, Ronson tells the story of his experience with a criminal who faked psychopathy in order to avoid prison time. Although it’s not a complicated story, Ronson’s slides provide a visual for the audience to follow as he explains his conversations with Tony, the aforementioned criminal. First and foremost, this makes it effortless to follow along with his story, despite any tangents or jokes that may otherwise distract from the “plot”. Secondarily, each slide also allows Ronson to add an extra “punch” to the comedic twists of his story. This makes his TED Talk, as a whole, not only engaging but also memorable, as the audience leaves with both visual and audible memories of the experience. 

To sum things up, although visual aids aren’t always necessary, they can provide support for your main idea and make it more notable for the members of your audience. Keep this in mind, as your write your TED Talk outline. Then, consider simple explanatory slides where your outline could use some reinforcement.

Practice reading your TED Talk outline aloud (to be sure it’s not too long).

Next, after your outline and visual aids are prepared, it’s time to practice. It goes without saying that more practice only leads to a better presentation in the end. However, in the case of a TED Talk, practice is equally important when it comes to staying beneath the 18-minute time limit. According to the TED Organization, this limit is non-negotiable, regardless of the speaker or the complexity of their chosen topic. This is for two reasons, the first of which is the audience’s attention span. As TED puts it , “We’ve found that a carefully prepared presentation of this length can have an astonishing impact.” In other words, 18 minutes allows the speaker enough time to share their idea without risking the attention of the crowd. The second reason is simply to create a level playing field. That way, no speaker is given preference based on their idea or their reputation. 

That said, depending on the setting, the length of a TED-affiliated presentation can range from fewer than six minutes to the maximum 18-minute limit. Part of this depends on the platform in which your Talk takes place. If you’re speaking at a TEDx event , it may be shorter. If you’re speaking at the annual, five-day TED Conference , it may be longe. For virtual speakers, it may even be extended to allow for additional audience engagement, such as a post-talk Q&A session. 

Essentially, the length of your TED Talk and, by extension, your TED Talk outline, is contingent on the setting, size, and budget of the event hosting you although it should be around 18 minutes. To be sure you’re under the limit, verify your limit with the event organizer. Then, practice performing your outline, cutting it down as needed to meet that limit. 

Practice and refine your outline until you’re 100% confident in it.

Finally, once you have your outline prepared to meet the time limit, there’s only one thing left to do: practice. As any professional speaker will tell you, nothing bad comes of over-preparing for an event. Likewise, when preparing for a TED Talk, the most beneficial thing you can do is rehearse as much as possible. 

In fact, the following excerpt sums up the recommendations of TED event organizers and TED speakers better than I could:

“We can’t stress this enough. Rehearse until you’re completely comfortable in front of other people: different groups of people, people you love, people you fear, small groups, large groups, peers, people who aren’t experts in your field. Listen to the criticisms and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. If someone says you sound ‘over-rehearsed,’ this actually means you sound stilted and unnatural. Keep rehearsing, and focus on talking like you’re speaking to just one person in a spontaneous one-way conversation.”

To summarize, if you want to write a solid TED Talk outline, the greatest thing you can do, besides preparing your main idea and personal experience, is practice as much as you can. That way, whether you’re nervous on stage or just nervous about the TED stage in particular, you’ll be able to confidently deliver your Talk and meet the TED goal of “chang[ing] attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world” head-on.

For more detailed information about the TED Organization and its events, check out our previous blog, “ What Is A TED Talk? The Fundamentals of TED Explained “. Additionally, for TED Talk outline tips and tricks straight from the TED team, see their TEDx Speaker Guide or their Illustrated Guide for TEDx Speakers . 👍

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The TED-Style Talk Guidebook: Your workbook to write a brilliant short talk

• Cost: £20 +VAT

The public speaking author and award-winning speaker coach, Ginger’s Founder Sarah Lloyd-Hughes has put her experience from thousands of hours of TED speaker training together into this one incredible TED Talk Guidebook.

TED-Style speaking is great for:

Regular conference speakers

If you’re speaking a lot, you need to make sure your presentations are engaging the audience. Otherwise, what’s the point? We have far too much information thrown at us every day to remember anything but the sharpest and most relevant information. Speakers need to become experts at creating compelling public speaking to cut through the noise.

Standing out from the crowd

If your industry is generally pretty dull, then you have a serious opportunity to stand up and be remembered. Let’s just make sure you’re memorable for the right reasons! Learning how to write a TED talk or TED-style talk will help you to highlight your key messages with energy and charm.

Boosting confidence

It’s amazing how much more confident you feel as a speaker when you know you’ve got a great talk structure behind you. Our TED-style Talk guidebook gives you proven methods to help you find and write that world-class TED talk that’s sitting inside you.

Clearer, more powerful messaging

There’s nothing more impressive than a talk that gets straight to the point, especially when that point is compelling and useful. Ginger’s TED-style Talk guidebook will show you how to write a TED-style talk. You’ll learn how to cut to the chase and create a simple, elegant talk that impresses even the most critical of audiences.

Raising your profile

As your speaking improves you’ll become more visible within your workplace or industry. Here’s when the great opportunities start popping up, like international conference invitations, interviews, books. With TED-style speaking, the sky’s the limit.

Upping your game in all types of speaking

It’s not just conference speeches – TED-style speaking helps you to construct powerful messages in sales pitches, company meetings, workshops, elevator pitches, you name it. Anyone who has to communicate a message can benefit from the TED-style talks approach.

From this guidebook, you will get:

• A 30-page step-by-step guide to writing a TED-style inspired talk or presentation
• Pdf format, with the possibility to download and print
• A simple method that gives space for your own creativity
• Clear instructions on how to start and end your TED-style talk
• Methods for engaging the audience throughout
• Advice on how to thread a story as you write your TED-style talk
• Practical exercises to guide you through the speech writing process
• A workbook that actually creates your talk as we go

Please Note: If you have already purchased this resource it will be available once you have logged in to your account

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Deliver a TED Talk

Last Updated: February 21, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Pete Canalichio . Pete Canalichio is a Brand Strategist, Licensing Expert, and Founder of BrandAlive. With nearly 30 years of experience at companies such as Coca-Cola and Newell Brands, he specializes in helping brands find the most authentic parts of their story to build a brand strategy. Pete holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Physics from the United States Naval Academy. In 2006, he won an MVP Award from Newell Brands for his contributions to their Global Licensing department. He’s also penned the award-winning book, Expand, Grow, Thrive. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 74,531 times.

The first TED conference in 1984 brought together people from the fields of technology, entertainment, and design. In the decades since, it has expanded to include a second annual conference, TEDGlobal, as well as the TED Fellows and local TEDx programs, and an annual TED Prize. TED also features a series of videos recorded at its conferences and by its partners, the TED Talks, given by speakers in many fields who share the organization's mission of spreading ideas. [1] X Research source If you have an idea worth spreading, you may wish to give a TED Talk or simply emulate its format.

Deciding What to Give a TED Talk On

• Your idea should be something your audience hasn't heard before, or at least not in the way they've heard it presented before.
• Your idea should be a realistic one, something that your target audience can put into practice or be able to get the right people in their personal networks to put into practice. [3] X Research source

• If you're given a shorter time limit when asked to speak at a TED event, use that time limit instead.

• Education. These TED talks inform the audience about the world around them. Topics often include the biological, physical, or social sciences, as well as information on new technologies and inventions and how they will impact the listeners' lives. The speakers for these talks often have advanced degrees in one of the sciences, but not always.
• Entertainment. These TED talks often cover the creative arts, whether it be writing, art, music, or performing, and delve into the process behind the art.
• Inspiration. These TED talks seek to elevate their audience's perception of themselves and the world around them, to think about things in new ways, and to apply that knowledge to their lives. Many of the speakers of this type of TED talk use their own experiences as examples to others. [6] X Research source

Preparing Your TED Talk

• Your outline, however, should be something your audience can discern without being obvious. In other words, you don't tell them what you're going to say before you say it (no “Here's what I'm going to share with you today”) and what you've said after you say it (no “And in conclusion …”). [7] X Research source
• If you've been scheduled to speak at a TED event, your outline, or a full script, needs to be sent to the event organizer about two months in advance of your appearance. This lets the event organizers provide preliminary feedback. [8] X Research source

• If your idea is one your audience knows is relevant to them, state it clearly early on. If it's not one your audience realizes is relevant to them, show them how it relates to something they do know is relevant to them,
• If your idea is an emotionally heavy one, start with an understated but forthright approach. Let your audience come to feel about the topic instead of dictating their emotions.
• Avoid using a string of statistics. A single relevant fact carries more weight, particularly if it comes as a surprise to your audience. [9] X Research source

• Keep and devote more time in your talk to information that's new to your audience and eliminate and devote less time to things they've already heard.
• Use more evidence that's supported by your own and your audience's observations and experience (empirical evidence) than by telling what happened to someone else (anecdotes).
• Keep the use of specialized terminology to a minimum and, where possible, present it in such a way that your audience can figure out the definition in context.
• Respectfully acknowledge legitimate doubts and contrary evidence.
• Save citations until after you've made your point or post them in small print at the bottom of relevant slides.
• Consider having someone help you gather and select your evidence. [10] X Research source

• Contact the event organizer for information about the resolution and aspect ratio for slides before you start making any. If the organizer doesn't provide you any technical specs, use a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16 to 9.
• Use each slide to support only one point in your talk. Avoid using bullet points to make multiple points in your presentation.
• Let the slide speak for itself. Don't put a lot of explanatory text on the slide or devote time to explain what the picture on the slide represents. If your slide features a chart or infographic, keep it simple.
• Use only images you own or have permission to use. If you're using an image under a Creative Commons license, cite the source of the image at the bottom of the slide.
• Either fill the entire slide with your image or keep it in the center of the slide; don't put content in the edges.
• Use a sans serif font (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana) of point size 42 or larger. (Sans serif fonts are easier to read from a distance than serif fonts like Times New Roman.) If you are using a custom font, be sure to send it to the organizers in advance. [11] X Research source (Presentation software typically can display only the fonts installed on the projecting computer.)

• Your conclusion may include a call to action, if appropriate, as long as that call to action isn't a sales pitch asking them to buy something. [12] X Research source

Rehearsing Your TED Talk

• Yourself in a mirror. This lets you practice your body language.
• Family and friends. These can provide initial feedback, but may be more useful as a source of encouragement.
• A personal speaker coach.
• A speakers' group, such as Toastmasters.
• A class related to the subject of your talk. For example, if your TED talk relates to marketing, you could speak in front of a college marketing class.
• A company speaker event, either at your own company or a company connected in some way to your talk. [13] X Research source

• Online rehearsals through Skype. These let the event organizers provide feedback on how your talk is structured, how well you've paced it, and how clearly you deliver it. These online rehearsals usually are scheduled a month in advance of the event.
• Dress rehearsals on stage at the event site. These provide you with an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the venue, as well as to prepare for any possible surprises, such as unexpected laughter. [14] X Research source

Giving Your TED Talk

Expert Q&A

• If you're unsure as to the specific needs of your audience when formulating your TED talk, you can fall back on the four basic needs of to be loved and to belong, self-interest, personal development, and hope for the future. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Adding humor to a TED talk can be helpful, but not in excess. Most stand-up comedy routines involve connecting a series of unrelated subjects instead of a series of related points. [17] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about speaking in conferences, check out our in-depth interview with Pete Canalichio .

• ↑ http://www.ted.com/pages/about
• ↑ http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_speaker_guide.pdf
• ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-managing/leadership/7-tips-for-choosing-your-ted-talk-idea/article15182124/
• ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorgan/2012/04/02/giving-a-presentation-dont-tell-em-what-youre-going-to-say/
• ↑ http://www.inc.com/magazine/201310/burt-helm/how-to-give-a-great-ted-talk.html
• ↑ http://www.webinknow.com/2013/05/how-to-prepare-and-deliver-a-tedx-talk.html

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How to make a great presentation

Stressed about an upcoming presentation? These talks are full of helpful tips on how to get up in front of an audience and make a lasting impression.

The secret structure of great talks

The beauty of data visualization

TED's secret to great public speaking

How to speak so that people want to listen

How great leaders inspire action

15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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Motivational Speech for Students

Motivational speech generator for students.

You are tasked by a headmaster or a professor to do the daunting task during every school ceremony: giving out a speech, particularly, a motivational speech . If you’re an expert in giving out speeches, you probably don’t need this advice, but if you’re not used to it, you need all the help you can get. There are lots of preparations to do. You think what will be the theme of your speech and you need to practice in delivering it out loud. Don’t fret, because here are the things that will help you in your speech.

• Examples of Writing an Appreciation Speech
• Student Council Speech Examples

Keep in mind that speeches are tricky to do in a school setting. If you are the unfortunate one who will give boring speeches, nobody would listen to you (except for the people sitting in the front row who are courteous enough to actually try to listen to you speak). Your speech may last a lifetime if it is delivered in a monotonous voice. The following tips are the ones you should learn if you’re giving a talk, and politely share them with up and coming speakers if it is your turn to be sitting in the audience. You may also see speech examples in pdf

Valedictorian Speech Example

What is motivational speech for students.

A Motivational Speech for Students is a speech designed to inspire and encourage students to achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and pursue their dreams with determination and confidence. These speeches are often delivered by teachers, principals, alumni, guest speakers, or motivational speakers and are tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by students.

Motivational Speech for Students Format

1. introduction.

Greeting : Warmly welcome the audience. Purpose : State the purpose of your speech.

2. Personal Stories and Examples

Anecdotes : Share relatable personal stories or examples. Relatability : Connect stories to the students’ experiences.

3. Encouragement and Inspiration

Positive Messages : Emphasize positive thinking and perseverance. Overcoming Obstacles : Discuss overcoming challenges and setbacks.

4. Practical Advice

Goal Setting : Provide tips on setting and achieving goals. Time Management : Offer advice on managing time effectively. Self-Discipline : Highlight the importance of self-discipline and hard work.

5. Call to Action

Motivate : Encourage students to take specific actions towards their goals. Empower : Empower students to believe in their potential and abilities.

6. Conclusion

Summary : Recap the key points. Inspiration : End with an inspiring message or quote.

Motivational Speech for Students Example

Introduction Good morning everyone! Today, I’m here to talk about the power of perseverance and the importance of believing in yourself. As students, you are at a crucial point in your lives, where the choices you make and the attitudes you adopt will shape your future.   Personal Stories and Examples When I was in school, I faced many challenges. I remember struggling with math and feeling like I would never understand it. But with hard work, persistence, and a lot of help from my teachers, I not only improved but eventually excelled. This taught me that hard work and determination can overcome any obstacle.   Encouragement and Inspiration Remember, every great achievement starts with the decision to try. Don’t be afraid of failure; it’s a stepping stone to success. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Each failure is a lesson that brings you one step closer to success.   Practical Advice Set clear, achievable goals and break them down into smaller tasks. This makes big challenges more manageable and gives you a clear path to follow. Manage your time wisely, balancing studies with rest and recreation. Stay disciplined in your work, and don’t procrastinate. Consistency is key to achieving your goals.   Call to Action Take charge of your future. Believe in your abilities and never give up on your dreams. Surround yourself with positive influences and seek help when you need it. Remember, you have the potential to achieve great things.   Conclusion In conclusion, your journey may be tough, but it’s worth it. Keep pushing forward, and you will achieve greatness. Always remember that the power to succeed lies within you. Keep believing in yourself, stay determined, and you will make your dreams come true. Thank you, and good luck to all of you!

Short Motivational Speech for Students Example

Good morning, everyone! I’m thrilled to be here with you today, and I want to share a few words of encouragement. As students, you are embarking on an incredible journey filled with opportunities and challenges. Remember, each step you take brings you closer to your dreams and aspirations.   First and foremost, believe in yourself . You possess unique talents and abilities that can lead you to greatness. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Embrace your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Believe that you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way.   Set clear goals and pursue them with passion and determination. Having a vision for your future will guide you and keep you focused. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate your progress along the way.   Stay curious and keep learning . Education is a powerful tool that opens doors to endless possibilities. Be open to new experiences, ask questions, and seek knowledge beyond the classroom. Remember, learning doesn’t stop at graduation; it’s a lifelong journey.   Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success . Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. Resilience is built through facing challenges and bouncing back stronger than before.   Surround yourself with positivity . Build a support network of friends, family, and mentors who uplift and inspire you. Positive influences will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.   Lastly, never give up . Perseverance is key to achieving your dreams. Even when things get tough, keep pushing forward. Your hard work and dedication will pay off in the end.   In closing, I want you to remember that you are capable of achieving amazing things. Stay true to yourself, keep your eyes on your goals, and never stop believing in your potential. The future is bright, and it’s yours to shape. Thank you, and best of luck on your journey!

Motivational Speech for Students on Success

Motivational speech for students by teacher, motivational speech for students before exams, more motivational speech for students topics.

• Motivational Speech for Students on Hard Work
• Motivational Speech for Students on Overcoming Challenges
• Motivational Speech for Students on Exam Preparation
• Motivational Speech for Students by Guest Speaker
• Motivational Speech for Students on Career Goals
• Motivational Speech for Students on Time Management
• Motivational Speech for Students on Positive Thinking
• Motivational Speech for Students on Goal Setting
• Motivational Speech for Students on Team Work
• Motivational Speech for Students on Leadership
• Motivational Speech for Students on Academic Excellence
• Motivational Speech for Students on Building Confidence

How to Write Motivational Speech for Students

1. understand your audience.

Know who you are speaking to : Understand the age group, interests, and challenges of the students.

Identify the purpose : Are you motivating them for exams, encouraging them to follow their dreams, or helping them overcome obstacles?

2. Start with a Strong Opening

Capture their attention : Use a quote, an interesting fact, or a personal anecdote.

Set the tone : Make it clear that the speech will be uplifting and positive.

3. Establish a Connection

Be relatable : Share a personal story or an experience that the students can connect with.

Show empathy : Acknowledge their struggles and challenges.

4. Deliver the Core Message

Keep it simple and clear : Focus on one or two main points.

Use inspiring language : Choose words that are uplifting and motivating.

Include key themes : Belief in oneself, perseverance, setting goals, and the value of education.

5. Use Engaging Techniques

Ask rhetorical questions : Engage students by prompting them to think.

Use repetition : Reinforce the key message by repeating it in different ways.

Incorporate quotes : Use motivational quotes to emphasize points.

6. Conclude with a Call to Action

Encourage action : Motivate students to take specific steps toward their goals.

End on a high note : Leave them feeling inspired and ready to take on challenges.

Tips to Deliver Motivational Speech for Students

1. have a point in your speech.

• Clearly define the main message you want to convey.
• Focus on a central theme, like “not giving up despite failures.”

2. Put Structure in Your Speech

• Use a beginning, middle, and end.
• Create an outline and label key points.
• Introduce your main points early on.

3. Connect with Your Audience

• Relate to the students’ age, interests, and challenges.
• Engage emotionally and show empathy.
• Use simple, respectful language.

4. Avoid Making Your Speech a Narrative Essay

• Make your speech engaging and easy to follow.
• Write it like poetry or lyrics, with new thoughts on new lines.

5. Tell a Story, Especially Your Own

• Share personal achievements and struggles.
• Relate your story to the students’ experiences.

6. Practice Your Speech

• Familiarize yourself with the content.
• Maintain eye contact and connect with the audience.

7. Join a Local Toastmasters Club

• Practice speaking skills in front of a live audience.
• Gain confidence in public speaking.

8. Own the Stage

• Be confident and engaging.
• Inspire students to follow your advice.

9. Keep it Simple

• Focus on a strong, memorable message.
• Avoid unnecessary props or costumes.

Motivational Speech Example

Once you’ve mastered these tips, you are now on your way to become a bonafide motivational speaker. You may be so good at it, you can do this for a living. Good luck on your speech and remember, to keep it genuine. You may also see acceptance speech examples

Why are motivational speeches important for students?

Motivational speeches boost students’ confidence, resilience, and drive, helping them stay focused on their academic and personal goals.

Who can give a motivational speech to students?

Teachers, motivational speakers, successful alumni, and community leaders can give motivational speeches to students.

What should a motivational speech for students include?

A motivational speech should include inspiring stories, practical advice, encouragement, and a call to action.

How can a motivational speech improve student performance?

Motivational speeches can improve student performance by increasing their self-belief, motivation, and determination to succeed.

What is the best time to deliver a motivational speech to students?

Deliver motivational speeches at the beginning of the school year, before exams, or during challenging periods.

How do you engage students in a motivational speech?

Engage students by using relatable stories, interactive elements, and addressing their specific needs and concerns.

Can motivational speeches help students with low self-esteem?

Yes, motivational speeches can help students with low self-esteem by reinforcing their value and potential.

What role do personal stories play in a motivational speech?

Personal stories make the speech relatable and memorable, illustrating how challenges can be overcome.

How long should a motivational speech for students be?

A motivational speech for students should be between 10 to 20 minutes to maintain their attention and interest.

How often should students hear motivational speeches?

Students should hear motivational speeches regularly, such as once per semester or during key school events.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a Motivational Speech for Students on overcoming failure.

Write a Motivational Speech for Students encouraging hard work.