How to TEDx: Discover the TEDTalk in your speaker

How to TEDx is a brand new series of videos produced entirely by the TEDx community. Each video breaks down one aspect of organizing a TEDx event and offers best practices for getting started. Search for How to TEDx or go to tedxtalks.ted.com/to see them all!

I'm "Z" Holly, curator of TEDx USC

Hey, I have my theme, I have my speakers

How do I find the best talk
from within each of the speakers?

Well let's find out.

Everybody's got a story inside,
and the key is to find that story.

They come to you with interesting ideas
and to them It's THE idea that they have,

you know, they carry them
and they think "here you go".

But, I think the main thing here is
to find other interesting things

that they are not aware of and make them
very comfortable to become storytellers

Why and how come...

Coach

The key to coaching, I think, is to get that story out.

Best ever talk you have delivered before,
that's also different than the TEDx or the TED talk.

So please come and let's have
a short video TED talk watching session together

and then we start from there.

Focus.

...That the old story from Buddhism.
So there's a story where there is an elephant

and then blind people touch it
and everyone tells different stories.

The talk is like a journey
from the river to another one

and there are ten stones between the two rivers
and you have to find those stones.

And those stones could be
like a tweet or a phrase or a title.

And while the talk moves, I try to get this attention
and focus more and more on this talk.

And how they do this "Ah! See how he says,
see how he got response from the audience?"

So I put him in a mindset to accept the curation.

Reveal!

Leave two things. First, a message, a clear message.
And secondly, use emotions.

The interesting part is to connect with the people,

to make them feel you care, to make them feel
that it's actually taking them to a higher level.

These people, this whole process is
about making them the best of what they can.

I'm looking for, you know, ideas that are
worth sharing, worth spreading,

and then a speaker who has the will
to share this idea in our timeframe.

Everything that a speaker brings to the stage
should be kind of a bonus for the audience

a bonus for their talk.

Without these great speakers, you know,
you don't have the event.