Selecting a topic for your TEDx or signature talk is finding the balance between your expertise and what the audience wants to hear — you must have listeners, or your talk will fall flat. We tell stories to draw the listener into the action, but stories are not enough if they do not entice the audience into action. That is the power of choosing the right topic for your TEDx or signature talk.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is that would-be public speakers choose where they want to speak and then try to fit their topic into that theme. TEDx events each have a theme, such as Ideas Empowered or Beyond Sustainability. Other venues also have themes based on who will likely attend. Choose your topic, then find a venue. That’s not to say that you can’t tweak your talk to better match the event’s theme, but tailoring an entire talk around a pre-determined theme will be challenging at best.
So, how do you choose a topic?
1. Identify Your Strengths
We all have unique gifts or strengths to share. These are different from passions. Your strengths are a blend of your core nature and core skill set. Your core nature is the energy you bring into the room, like joy, humor, and empathy. Your core skill sets are your natural or ingrained talents. I describe these as what you are. In my book You Turn, I describe 10 core skill sets: words, innovation, building, technology, motion, service, beauty, coordination, analysis, and numbers.
A topic that fuels your core nature and is aligned with your core skill set will ignite the audience because it will energize you, and you can deliver it in a way that is congruent with who you are.
2. Narrow Down Your Topic
During this step, find the intersection of your expertise and audience needs. Looking at your strengths and unique gifts, ask yourself what people want. What have colleagues, friends, or relatives asked you for help with? Why? What did you offer?
Draw from your personal experience. Most of us have a life-changing event or “Ah ha” moment that changed our trajectory. Use these to narrow down your topic ideas.
Come up with two to five topics based on your life and what others have asked of you. It’s the adage that if you have a question, you can bet someone else in the room has the same question. Well, if someone has asked you for your expert opinion or help, others need the same.
3. Identify Your Unique Perspective
What is your unique spin? Here’s an example. As a career coach, I went against conventional thinking when I said: Do what you are not your passion. Identifying your core skill set became the catalyst for launching rewarding careers for my clients. It was my unique spin on what drives a successful career — doing what you’re innately good at doing.
Your unique perspective should act as a conversation starter. TEDx stages are devoted to “ideas worth spreading.” That stage, in particular, works on the premise that your talk reveals a new way of thinking that gets people talking. Your perspective should be rooted in your personal story and experience.
4. Test Your Idea(s)
Once you have an idea of your topic, take it to the streets. Uncover whether people want to learn more about what you have to say. Polls are an excellent way to help determine interest. And, of course, asking people what they think. Provide an either/or: Would you like to learn more about A or B and why?
If you’re planning to submit your signature talk to TEDx, it needs to align with the TEDx mission. Your topic will need to be unique, impactful, and relevant. TEDx events are held all over the world, so if your talk is not relevant to a local TEDx event, there is likely one with a theme that will fit your talk. Just be sure your topic is unique and impactful.
5. Refine Your Topic
The final step is refining your topic. Use what you’ve learned during the testing phase to narrow the focus of your topic. During this step, identify a clear and simple way to communicate your message so your audience doesn’t get lost in interpretation. You should be able to deliver your signature or TEDx talk in about 10 minutes.
I firmly believe that everyone should have a signature talk in their back pocket. You never know when you will have the opportunity to speak at an event or other gathering. Public speaking is one of the best ways to establish yourself as a thought leader, but it’s imperative that you’re ready when it’s go-time!
