20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 1/15

Blog LoginQ&A>TEDNews

Howtogivemorepersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte

SteppingontotheTEDorTEDxstageorspeakinginfrontofanygroupofpeople,forthatmatteristrulynervewracking.Willyouremembereverythingyouwantedtosay,orgetsodiscombobulatedthatyouskipovermajorpoints?Willtheaudiencebereceptivetoyourideas,orwillyounoticeaguyinrowthreenoddingofftosleep?

PresentationexpertNancyDuarte,whogavetheTEDTalkThesecret

Postedby:KateTorgovnickMay October31,2012at12:05pmEDT

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 2/15

structureofgreattalks,hasbuilthercareerhelpingpeopleexpresstheirideasinpresentations.TheauthorofSlide:ologyandResonate,DuartehasjustreleasedanewbookthroughtheHarvardBusinessReview:TheHBRGuidetoPersuasivePresentations.

TheTEDBlogtalkedwithDuarteinherCaliforniaofficeaboutwhatmakesakillerpresentation,aswellasabouthowgivingherownTEDTalkshapedherthoughtsonpresenting.

Whatwouldyousayarethethreekeystogivingagreatpresentation?

Thenumberonething,Ithink,istobeaudiencecentric.Totakethetimetothinkthroughwhotheaudienceisanddevelopallyourmaterialfromaplaceofempathytowardthem.Youreaskingthemtoadoptyouridea,whichmeanstheymayhavetoabandonabelieftheyholdastrueandthatshard.So,knowyouraudiencetakeawalkintheir

shoes.Whatkeepsthemupatnight?Howaretheywiredtoresistyourmessage?Mostpresentersareconsumedwithpreparingtheircontentrapidly,whichmakesthematerialabouttheirownnarrowperspective.Byflippingthatparadigmtoanaudiencecentricapproach,yourmaterialwillresonateandtheaudiencecanfeeladeeperconnectiontoyouandyourmaterial.

Numbertwo,youneedtounderstandyourroleinthepresentation.Somanypeoplefeelliketheyrethecentralfigurekindofliketheheroofthestorybecausetheyretheonetalkingthemost.Butinreality,yourroleisthatofamentoryoushouldbegivingtheaudienceamagicalgiftoraspecialtool,orhelpingthemgetunstuckinsomeway.Youhavetodefertoyouraudience.Whenyouputyourideaoutthereforanaudiencetocontendwithiftheyrejectyouridea,yourideawilldie.Youhavetothinkofitas,Thespeakerneedstheaudiencemorethantheaudienceneedsthespeaker.Thenyoullstarttoapproachamaterialwithyouraudienceinmindyoullhavemoreofastanceofhumilitythanoneofarrogance.Thatwillhelpyoucreatethekindofmovementneededtogetyourideatospread.

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 3/15

Andthenthethirdthingwrapyourcontentinstory.Astoryserveslikethesugarcoatingontheoutsideofapillinsomewaysitjustmakesitgodowneasier.Ifyoulookatpreliterategenerationsforthousandsandthousandsofyears,storieswouldpassdownforgenerationaftergenerationaftergenerationandstayalmostcompletelyintact.Yet,alotofpeoplecantrememberthelastpresentationtheysatthrough.So,usingprinciplesofstorythetensionandreleasethathappensinastorythatswhatwillhelppersuadetheaudiencetowardyouridea.

WhatdoyoufeellikeyoulearnedfromgivingyourownTEDTalk?

Ilearnedsomuch.BeingthePresentationLady,IknewIcouldntsuckatit.Thehardestpartwasgetting[mytalk]tofitwithinthisfiniteamountoftime.SoItrimmedandtrimmed,keepinginmindthatyoustillhavetonailwhythisisimportanttotheaudience.IhadapersoncoachmeandpointoutplaceswhereIcouldtrim.Youtooktoolonghere,andthatmadethispartofemphasistoolong.IworkedwiththetimercountingupuntilIknewIwaswithinthetimewindowthenwhatIdidwasworkwiththetimercountingdownsoIdknow,WhenImafourthofthewaythrough,Ishouldbeonthisslide.WhenImhalfwaythrough,Ineedtobeonthisslide.IcreatedmarkersinmymindsoIwouldknowhowIwasrunningontime.Sureenough,IfinishedthetalkandIhadsixsecondsleftontheclock.

ItwasagreatexperienceformebecauseIhadntgonethroughitmyself.Idcoachedpeoplethroughitbutwowtoactuallybeavictimwasinteresting.Ilearnedthepowerofrehearsing.Ifyourehearsereally,really,reallywellitlooksimprovisational.Somepeoplerehearsetoapointwheretheyrerobotic,andtheysoundliketheyhavememorizedtheirpresentationanddidnttakeittothenextlevel.Goingfromsoundingmemorizedandcannedtosoundingnaturalisalotofwork.

VOUSSOUHAITEUNEBONNEETHEUREUSEANNE2015

English Motduprsident NosValeurs

Le bureau tunisien dingnieursconseils indpendant STUDI a tcr en 1970. Devenu GroupeSTUDI, il sest dvelopp

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 4/15

So,theclassicadviceforstagefrightistoimaginetheaudienceintheirunderwear.Whatdoyourecommendpeopledotocalmtheirnerves?

Idontusuallygetnervous,butwhenIgoton[theTED]stage,Iwasnervousbecauseitsprettyhighstakes.Irecommenddoingsomebreathingexercisesbreatheinasdeepasyoucan,andthentakeacouplemorebiggasps.Then,releaseitreallyslowly.Thatcalmsmyheartdown.ButmyfavoritepieceofadviceisntmyownitsfromaguynamedNickMorgan.Hesaid,Whatyouneedtodorightbeforeyouwalkonstageisthinkofsomeonethatyoulovedearly.Doingthat,Ifeltthechemistryinmywholebodychange.Myshouldersrelaxedandmyheartmelted.Thatfeelingofaffectionmakesyourbodycalmitselfdown.Thatsareallygreatwaytostopstagefright.

Whatisthebestwaytostartcreatingapresentation?

MybestadviceistonotstartinPowerPoint.Presentationtoolsforceyoutothinkthroughinformationlinearly,andyoureallyneedtostartbythinkingofthewholeinsteadoftheindividuallines.Iencouragepeopletouse35notecardsorstickynoteswriteoneideapernote.Itapemineuponthewallandthenstudythem.ThenIarrangethemandrearrangethemjustworkandworkuntilthestructurefeelssound.Andfromthatsoundstructure,youstarttofillitinusingapresentationtool.

[Forvisuals],Ithinkpeopletendtogowiththeeasiest,fastestidea.Like,Imgoingtoputahandshakeinfrontofaglobetomeanpartnership!Well,howmanyhandshakesinfrontofaglobedowehavetolookatbeforewerealizeitsatotalcliche?Anothercommononethearrowinthemiddleofabullseye.Really?Everyoneelseisthinkingthatway.Theslidesthemselvesaresupposedtobeamnemonicdevicefortheaudiencesotheycanrememberwhatyouhadtosay.Theyrenotjustateleprompterforthespeaker.Abullseyeisntgoingtomakeanyonerememberanything.Dontgoforthefirstidea.Thinkaboutthepointyouretryingtomakeandbrainstormindividualmoments

STUDI, il sest dvelopp linternational, essentiellement enAfrique mais galement en Europe.Aujourdhui, nos bureaux dereprsentation rgionale, nos filialesthmatiques et notre rseau departenaires nous permettent dtreencore plus proches desproccupations de nos clients et degarantir la qualit des projets quenousmenons.

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 5/15

thatyouretryingtoemphasize.Thinktothesecond,thethird,thefourthideaandbythetimeyougettoaboutthetenthidea,thosewillbethemoreclevermemorablethingsfortheaudience.

OnethingthatisreallydifferentaboutgivingaTEDTalkisthefactthatyouknowitwillbefilmed.Howdoyouthinkaboutthedifferencebetweenlivepresentationsandonesthatwillexistonvideo?

Onstage,itfeelsreallyawkwardtodolargemovementsbecausenormallyinlifeweretalkingtosomeoneinamoreintimatesettingandmovingyourarmsreallybigfeelsmelodramatic.Butonthestage,youhavetomoveyourbodyinreallybiggestures.Itfeelsawkwardatfirstifyourenotusedtoit,soyouhavetokindofcloseyoureyesandgetusedtoit.Saythingsandmovelargely.Takebigboldstepsforward,bigboldstepsbackward.Youhavethisgrandstageandpeopledontusethespaceenough.IthinkoneofthegreatthingsthatJillBolteTaylordidwashowsheusedherbody.Herarmsstretchedallthewayupwhenshetalkedaboutnirvana.Thenshewhenshetalksaboutherwholesoulfeelingconstricted,shebringsherhandsdownandfoldsherarmsdowninfrontofher.Shesusingherbodyasaprop.Thatsanimportantwaytocreatemeaning.

Also,withvideo,atechrehearsalisimportant.Youraudienceonvideoisexponentiallylargerthanthepeopleintheroom.Sobyfamiliarizingyourselfwiththecameras,youcanatleastlookinthatgeneraldirection.Youknowhow

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 6/15

youresupposedtolookaroundtheaudiencelookandholdforfiveseconds,lookandholdforfiveseconds?Youshouldlookatthecameraasifitsahuman.Getusedtoseeingthatcircularlensasaface.Feellikeitsapersonyouretalkingto,becausethataudienceoncameraneedstofeelliketheyrethereandthatyourelookingrightatthem.

Tome,presentationsarethemostpowerfuldevice.Youcantreallynameamovementthatdidntstartwiththespokenword.TEDwasoncethisexclusive,amazingeventwhereideaswereexchanged,butyouvemovedtotreatingpresentationsasamediatype.Youguyshavebeensorefinedatit,thatwhatitsdoneiscreatedamovement.WhatTEDhasdoneismadeaplatformforintroverts,forscientists,forinventorstosharetheirideasinawaythatsclearandappealstoabroadaudiencesothattheirideasspreadandgetadopted.Itscompletelychangedhowpeoplepresent.Itscreatedthisdesiretobeexcellentincommunication.

Whenyoulookatevenhowbusinessescommunicatedinthe30s,40sand50stheyweresomuchclearerandwellcrafted.IrecentlywenttotheStanfordLibraryandIgotabunchofoldGEBoardmeetingsfrom,like,1957.AndIthought,Thesearesobeautiful!Theirpresentationsreferencedhistory,theyquotedthings,theycraftedtheirwordsinsuchabeautifulway.ThenPowerPointenteredintothemixandsuddenlytherewasntanydesiretocraftanymore.IthinkTEDTalkshavebroughtthedesireforthecraftback.

YournewbookisfromtheHarvardBusinessReview.Isitintendedforsomeonewhoisinbusiness,orforanyone?

Allofmybooksareforanyonewhohasanideathattheyneedtocommunicate!IlovedworkingwithHarvardBusinessReviewandIthinkbecauseofthepublisher,businessprofessionalsmaybemoreinterestedinthisbook.Butanyonewithanideacanbenefitfromit.Itsaguidebook,sothatpeoplecanthink,Oh,Ineedtoknowhowtodothisspecificthing.Imgoingtogogetthisbookandfindthatonething.

Wantmoreadviceongivingtalks?OurcuratorChrisAndersoniswritingtheofficialTEDguidetopublicspeakingtobepublishedbyHoughtonMifflinHarcourtinspring2016.TitledTalkThisWay!,itwillbepackedwithinsightsonwhatmakestalkswork.

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 7/15

NancyDuarte presentation Q&A TEDTalks TEDx

Viewmore

LivefromTED MostPopular MostShared

The TED2015 conference in 30 quotes

The red TED letters go out to play: Building TED2015'slogo photobooth (now with tech details)

Behindthescenes gallery: TED2015 comes to a close

Endgame: A recap of the emotional final session ofTED2015

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 8/15

Contributors

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 9/15

ViewallContributors

FollowTED

OtherwaystofollowTED

RelatedStoriesDesignPowerpoint clichs we would liketo retire in 2013 (and a fewtechniques to tryinstead)ByTEDStaffonDec31,2012

ThistalkfromTEDxBrusselsfeltlikeabreathoffreshstage.AcollaborationamongsciencewriterJohnBohannon,choreographerCarlFlinkandthedancetroupeBlackLabelMovement,thetalkisillustratedwithdance,notslides.IthinkthatbadPowerPointpresentationsareaseriousthreattotheglobaleconomy,Bohannonsays.Asyoureallaware,[]

Science6 tips on how scientists and engineers can excite, ratherthan bore, anaudienceByKateTorgovnickMayonOct11,2012

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 10/15

MelissaMarshallhasamessageforscientistsandengineers:Contrarytopopularbelief,thegeneralpublicisinterestedinyourworkanddoeswanttohearthedetailsofyourresearch.Thetrickisthatyoumustcommunicateyourideasclearly,becausetheywillstartsnoringintheirseatsifyouassaultthemwitha[]

Comments(45)LogintoaddcommentsorJoin(It'sfreeandfast!)

1 2 3

Next

RebloggedthisonSpeakforYourselfandcommented:NancyDuarteisthequeenofgreatslides.Herbooksarebestsellersandsheimpressesasateacher.HeresheisontheTEDblogrevealingthreekeystoagreatpresentation.

ClaireDuffycommentedonNov182012

Pingback:Howtogiveagreatspeech(Hint:beauthentic)Broadside

RebloggedthisonStJohn'sCatholicSchoolCPDandcommented:Addyourthoughtshere(optional)

StJohn'sICTcommentedonNov122012

Pingback:BeforeYouSpeak,LearnToSee|EchoHubPosts

Pingback:LinksoftheWeek:WeekofNov511CreatingCommunication

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 11/15

RebloggedthisonLarson'sLearningLauncherandcommented:NotabadTEDTalktowatchinpreparationforanypresentationyoumaybecalledupontomake!

larsonlearninglaunchercommentedonNov82012

Pingback:TEDBlog|Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarteSimpsonvilleNewHomeNews

Greatpost!

LucommentedonNov22012

RebloggedthisonSherryClaytonWorksandcommented:IamdevelopingsomepresentationmaterialsmeanttopersuadeinfluencerstosupportinitiativeswhichaddresscrosscommunityinterestsinChicago.NancyDuarteoffersgreatadviceinherbookHBRGuidetoPersuasivePresentations:

Youraudiencewillusuallyincludeamixofpeopleindividualsindiverseroles,withvariouslevelsofdecisionmakingauthority,fromdifferentpartsoftheorganizationeachneedingtohearyourmessagefordifferentreasons.Decidewhichsubgroupisthemostimportanttoyou,zeroinonthatsubgroupsneedswhenyoudevelopyourpresentation.Whenyouaresegmentingyouraudience,lookat:

Politics:Power,influence,decisionprocess

Demographics:Age,education,ethnicity,genderandgeography

Psychographics:Personality,values,attitudes,interests,communitiesandlifestyle

Ethnographics:Socialandculturalneeds..

SherryClaytoncommentedonNov12012

Ihavealwaysfoundthatinbusinessandintherestoflife,thebestwaytopersuadesomeonetodosomethingorthinksomethingortobeforsomethingoragainstsomething,youhavetomakethemfeelit.WehadtogivepersuasivespeechesinmyspeechclassmysophomoreyearofcollegeandIdecidedtopersuademyfellowstudentstoweartheirseatbelts.Ihaveaspecialconnectionwiththesubjectbecause

laurapcpb1408commentedonNov12012

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 12/15

onenightwhenIwas18,Iforgottoputmyseatbelton,andIwokeupthreeweekslaterwithatubeinmythroathelpingmebreatheandfoundoutthatmyhipswerebeingheldtogetherwithmetal.Bytheendofthespeech,atleastfivepeoplewerecryingandtheusualgroupofarrogantfootballplayersjustsattherestunned,mouthsopenslightly,inaweofwhatIhadjustsharedwiththem.Ifyoucanmakepeoplefeelsomething,youcanchangetheworld.

RebloggedthisonParzival'squestion.

bpaulcommentedonNov12012

Pingback:TEDBlog|Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuartearnoneumann

ReallygoodTedpresentationbeingfreshlypressedcaughtmyattentionandIamsohappytomeetyouramazingwork.Ilookforwardtogettingyourbook.

KathycommentedonNov12012

Speakinginfrontofotherscanreallyfreaksomepeopleout,luckilyIlovedoingthat!Butwhatagreatpost,withalotofclearconcepts.CongratsonbeingFreshlyPressed!

sportsandthecrosscommentedonNov12012

Rebloggedthisongraceonpurposeandcommented:OhmanOhman,thisisgood.Ireallyneededthis.Asbothawriterandanindividualsurroundedbymycurrentcommunity,Ineedtolearnhowtoeffectivelycommunicatemyideas.Iwanttochangenotonlymylife,buttheworldaroundme.Sooobad.HowdoIpresentmyideasofadifferentlifewhichmaysoundsoforeign,andattimesoffensive,tothosearoundme?Ithinkthebiggestkeyistoempathizewiththeaudience.Itsnotaboutme,butitsaboutthem.Itsnotaboutmyideas,butaboutthembecomingempowered.Ifyouwanttocommunicateyourideasmoreeffectively,takealittletimetoread

GraceLucillecommentedonNov12012

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 13/15

throughthisarticleandwatchthevideoofNancyDuarte.Itsdefinitelygivenmesomegoodinsightandpointers.

Allexcellentpointstheuseofthestoryandheroarc,startandfinishareimportant.Theoneaboutyouarenottheheroisveryveryimportantbuttheroleisonefewpeoplecanresist.

Mytuppenceworthnevereverstartwithajoke,sureitcalmsyournervesbutthisisntTheComedyStore.bedifferentwithyourstoryandpuzzletheaudiencewithwhereyourgoingegourpresentsituationissimilartotheNormanConquestofEngland.Almosteveryproblemoropportunityissimilartothatsituation(ortheAmericanCivilWarorGoldilocksandtheThreeBearsorTheLordoftheRings,etc)anditsareadymadehookforyourstory.useimagerytheyveneverseenbefore(buyitfromtheweb,itscheapatiStockphotoandthelikeandyouowntheimagesforever)remembertheadviceofSirJohnGielgudtoanoviceactoraboutbeingonstageBeOn,BeBrief,Begone!

GreatpostandcongratsonbeingFreshlyPressed.

jumeirajamescommentedonNov12012

Greatpointsoneofmypersonalhatesisthepresenterputtingaclipartimageonnearlyeveryslide.Firstly,Imagrownup,soIdontneedpicturesallthetimeonlywhentheycommunicatesomethinguseful.Secondly,byusingobviousclipart,thepresentersaysIreallycouldntbebotheredtotaketimetofindunique,relevantimagesbecauseIjusthavesomanymoreimportantthingstodowithmytimethanwasteitonthisstupidpresentation.Yeah,thanks,mate.Nowweknowhowyoufeelaboutus,youraudience.

TheophaniaElliottcommentedonNov12012

Whatagreatinformativeblog!Thanksforsharing,Icantwaittogetthisbook!

segmationcommentedonOct312012

ArchitecturalNexuscommentedonOct312012

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 14/15

Excellentpoints!Thepresentationtipsapplytoeveryone,nomatterwhatfieldheorsheisin(architecture,medicine,law,engineering,teaching,etc.).

Ithinkthisisagreatpost.Ilovethethirdpoint.wrappingthepointinastory.IrememberSteveJobswasgreatatthis!Thanksforsharing.

JeremyTruittcommentedonOct312012

1 2 3

Next

Programs&initiatives

TEDx

TEDPrize

TEDFellows

TEDEd

OpenTranslationProject

TEDBooks

TEDInstitute

AdsWorthSpreading

WaystogetTED

TEDRadioHouronNPR

TEDTVprograms

OrderaDVD

MorewaystogetTED

Fordevelopers/API

FollowTED

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Pinterest

Ourcommunity

TEDSpeakers

TEDFellows

TEDTranslators

TEDxOrganizers

20/5/2015 Howtogiveapersuasivepresentations:AQ&AwithNancyDuarte|TEDBlog

http://blog.ted.com/howtogivemorepersuasivepresentationsaqawithnancyduarte/ 15/15

Daily Weekly

Instagram

YouTube

TEDBlog

TED.commemberprofiles

SignupforTEDemailupdates

Signupforourdailyorweeklyemailstoreceivenotificationswhenevernewtalksarepublished.

SignupforTEDemailupdates

SignUp

PoweredbyWordPress.comVIP

TEDTalksUsagePolicy

PrivacyPolicy

Advertising/Partnership

TED.comTermsofUse

Contact

Jobs

Staff

Press

Help

TEDConferences,LLC