Dr Denitza Williams delivering a talk at the Health and Care Research Wales conference.

Top 11 tips on how to deliver a TED-style talk

Delivering a TED-style talk can be a powerful way to share your research and inspire your audience. Health and Care Research Wales is calling for abstracts to be submitted for a chance to be a part of the 2024 conference programme with your TED-style talk. Here are our top 11 tips to help you create an engaging and memorable talk: 

  1. Have a clear message 

Define the main idea or message of your talk. Make sure it’s clear and concise so the audience can easily understand your point. 

  1. Tell a story  

Structure your talk like a story with a beginning, middle and end. Personal anecdotes and real-life examples can make your talk more relatable and impactful. 

  1. Keep it simple 

Avoid jargon, complex language and acronyms. Use everyday terms to make your message accessible to a broad audience. This guide can help you maintain your English clear and plain.  

  1. Engage the audience 

Why not begin with a fact about your research? Or surprising statistics? A question or compelling story at the start can act as a hook which can grab the attention of the audience from the very beginning.  

  1. Use visuals wisely  

If you use slides, keep them simple, accessible and visually appealing. High-quality images and minimal text work best.  

You are allowed maximum of three slides for your TED-style talk. Slides can be helpful but are not necessarily suited for a particular talk. In fact, a lot of the best TED-style talks don’t have slides. So, if you don’t think you need slides, don’t use them. 

  1. Show emotion 

Be passionate about your topic. Show your excitement and enthusiasm. 

  1. Rehearse 

Practise, practise and practise. Rehearse your talk multiple times until you can deliver it smoothly. Practise in front of your friends or record yourself to identify areas for improvement.  

  1. Focus on body language 

Use open, inviting and confident body language. Gestures should be natural and help emphasise your points. 

  1. Vary your delivery 

Change your tone volume and pace to keep your talk dynamic. This helps maintain your audience’s interest and highlights key points.  

  1. Keep your talk to the time 

You have a maximum of 10 minutes for your TED-style talk. Stick to your clear message and avoid going off on tangents. Every word counts!  

  1. End with impact 

Finish your talk with a strong conclusion. Summarise the key points and leave the audience with something to think about or an action to perform.  

Those are our tips, you can find more tips in the official TEDX speaker guide. 

The Health and Care Research Wales conference is taking place 10 October 2024 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff and this year’s theme is ‘Research matters’, register to join via the live stream. Don’t forget to submit your abstracts for a TED-style talk and apply for the Health and Care Research Wales awards 2024.