Carmine Gallo (2014). Talk like TED: The Nine Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds, Pan Macmillan, pp.278
As the flu darkens our
horizon, what we need more than ever is a constructive way to spend time in
confinement. The perfect book that can comfort and enlighten us through these
times is either the good old classic that reminds us of things we mastered once
or a manual that enables us to learn something new.
This month’s book is an
engaging version of the second kind. ‘Talk like TED’ explores the question,
what makes great speeches and how you can deliver one. Author and former CNN
correspondent Carmine Gallo rummages through 150 hours of over 500 TED talks to
find patterns that make speeches unforgettable and inspiring. He deconstructs
the actual performance of the speech, interviews good speakers, and researches
ideas from psychology and neuroscience to understand what makes modern oratory
tick.
Making Hearts Sing
Gallo argues that all
good speeches have three qualities- they are emotional, novel, and memorable. The
emotional component of a good speech is delivered because of the passion of the
speaker. What makes your heart sing is something that is intensely meaningful
to you that forms the core of your personality. Only such great passion can
elevate the hearts of others. Whilst thinking of a theme, the first thing to introspect
is what inspires you.
The second quality, novelty
is not the easiest aspect to bring into your speech in the age of information.
Gallo argues that novelty need not be new information, but new ways of
presentation. All good speeches (and definitely TED talks) had jaw dropping
moments - be it jokes, anecdotes, props or visual aid. The reason novelty is
such a powerful pull factor is because learning activates dopamine production
in our brains, giving us the same kind of excitement that gambling does!
Finally, the third
quality that Gallo discusses is ‘being memorable’. This aspect is cultivated
through relentless practice. Intense
repetition of an act not only improves our confidence and timing, but opens new
pathways in the brain that reacts differently to content. A pattern emerges in
your presentation that links the different parts as part of a larger whole.
Both as a commentary
and a manual, this book is a brief, fun, and exciting read to hone your skills
at presentation. When the world opens to you again, be ready with something
great!
