Every week there are people that stand up and talk about something they think you need to know. Politicians settle in behind a podium and talk about issues, campaigns and the like. Pastors stand up on stages and preach sermons about what how people should live according to the Bible. Teachers stand up in classrooms and try to mold impressionable minds, motivating them to learn and assimilate information. Some are good some are bad, but I think they all tend to have one thing in common… they take too long.

It is rare for me to want someone to talk longer. Very rare.

This haunts me as a communicator. Every week I clip on a microphone and talk about different things that I deem important. Sometimes I seek to motivate, other times to inform, but every time I want to keep the audience engaged. I’m sure I’m more successful some times than others… but that’s my goal. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received about speaking was this: Leave them wanting more.

That’s why I am so impressed with TED talks. Nearly every time I listen to one, I want more. I end up searching around on Google until I can find some more info about the speaker, or what they were talking about. Nearly every time, I didn’t care ONE BIT about what they talked about when they started, and by the end… I want more.

If you are a communicator in any forum… it’s worth checking out what they are up to. If for no other reason… to grow as a communicator. Many of the talks on their site are less than 10 minutes… I can’t remember the last 10 minute sermon I heard. I can’t remember the last 10 minute political speech. I definitely can’t remember the last 10 minute class I attended.

They don’t use flashy props, or often don’t even use any video elements. More times than not, they don’t even have powerpoint. There’s a lot we can learn from these communicators, and most of it isn’t even about WHAT they are saying… but HOW they are saying it.

www.ted.com