Public Speaker Training:
Find Your Story
You have a Big Idea waiting to be hatched.
My job is to help you crack it.
As your TED-style coach, we’ll develop a unique idea worth spreading, write the engaging talk, add smashing visuals, and nail the performance—in 10 sessions.
TEDx Talk Speaker Training in 10 Sessions
SESSION 1: The Big Idea Deep Dive
In a TEDx talk, your idea is the cornerstone. Story lines are the support.
Public speakers often rush to an outline without taking the time to find their Big Idea.
The idea lifts the talk. The idea is the speaker’s unique perspective—and delivery—on the topic. Sometimes it lands with a twist, but a TEDx audience connection is not forged in gimmicks. They connect because the idea is personal to the speaker and because the speaker delivers from their own compelling perspective. As an experience consultant, I push public speakers to tap the personal so they can bring out the authentic and memorable.
In my TEDx coaching process, the first session is a deep dive into you, your passion, and the idea. We’ll find what makes you light up. It practically guarantees your idea and TED-style talk will light up as well. We’ll be coaching online via Zoom video where I, like your audience, will see and feel your shining light.
Once the Big Idea is formed, your speaker coaching sessions will map out the story backbone. Then, we’ll build your speech or TED talk around the idea.
NEXT STEP: Big Idea and Speechwriting
From Idea to Poetry – A TEDx coaching example
When I coached marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, he was already accepted to speak at a TEDx event. The topic he submitted focused on the neuroscience behind the ocean’s impact on humans.
I found his topic intellectually intriguing, but was that enough to set it apart? Could it also be experienced?
The TEDx coaching process began by finding his story.
In our first sessions, we conducted a deep dive into Dr. J. I asked him to re-envision his topic and to tap deeper inside his personal feelings around it. I encouraged him to break free from the expected and try something different. His face lit up when he talked about a missed opportunity in life: writing poetry.
And there it was. His Big Idea.
We retooled his TEDx talk to bring this passion to the front. We blended the technical subject with the poetic simplicity of e.e. cummings and he began to speak from his heart into ours. Then we introduced the subtle calls of a second character—the ocean—through audio and visual storytelling—a sound bed of ocean waves and imagery from the sea. Now we could each experience the neuroscience in his moving talk. Watch and see if you agree.
Can you crack the Big Idea?
As a TEDx coach, my superpower is guiding public speakers to find their story.
All of my speakers develop unique Big Ideas and compelling stories to deliver them. It’s the first step of my TEDx coaching method and the most crucial to the success of your TEDx talk.
Ready to crack your Big Idea?
Schedule a free video meetup with me today.
Even though I have spoken around the world, I welcomed the opportunity to work with a professional speaking coach. Stephanie helped me create a coherent story about my scientific process, one that was relatable, humorous, and clear. I continue to use her process in creating new talks, and feel a renewed confidence in my abilities as a speaker. I highly recommend this professional investment!