The Biggest Mistakes TEDx Hopefuls Make & How to Increase Your Chances of Getting to That Red Dot
By: Robin Konie
Tags: Personal Development, Marketing, Leadership, Tedx, Public Speaking

The Biggest Mistakes TEDx Hopefuls Make & How to Increase Your Chances of Getting to That Red Dot

Photo by John Hague, used with permission

5.4 billion.

That’s how many views TEDx talks have accumulated on YouTube since 2009.

Speaking for TEDx is a coveted opportunity for many leaders and innovators. While most speakers won’t have the kind of life-changing fame of Brené Brown or Simon Sinek, the process of applying, writing, and presenting a TEDx talk is a worthwhile practice that can catapult your message to an eager audience.

True to its tagline, if you want to make it to the red dot, you’ll need an “idea worth spreading.” As a former TEDx speaker, I saw first-hand how much work goes into finding, crafting, and presenting a single powerful idea.

But for many hopefuls, harnessing insight into a clear idea that resonates with selection committees can be difficult. Hoping to demystify the process, I reached out to five TEDx organizers to get their input and answer the question: What makes an idea worth spreading?

1. The idea should reflect and impact the community

“Our priority is the idea, but not just any idea. It must be relevant to the local scene,” says Becki Thatcher, co-organizer of TEDxSaltLakeCity.

Each TEDx event is independently run and has its own guidelines for what they’re looking for. While some events allow speakers outside their area to present, most are eager to amplify the voices from their own community.

“We want the ideas shared on our stage to go out into our neighborhoods — to grow and flourish,” says Thatcher. “There are so many amazing people doing incredible things right here in Salt Lake City, and we want to give those people a platform to showcase their ideas.”

Sean Creighton, Co-Chair of TEDxDayton, agrees. His team looks for different perspectives and ideas relevant to their specific audience. “We love it when speakers show us what is happening right under our noses that we didn’t know about or that we’ve been thinking about wrong.”

2. It’s the idea’s merit — not the person’s — that matters most

TED attracts bright-minded, high-achieving individuals. But it’s the idea that takes center stage.

One of the biggest mistakes TEDxSoho Curator Sam Orams sees is when applicants try to impress them with their experience and success instead of coming to the table with an impressive idea.

“Leading with a glittering biography or CV is a mistake,” says Orams. “It’s wonderful that you’ve written half a dozen books or sold a bunch of tech start-ups, but that’s not what we’re looking for. We’re looking for ideas that slap us in the face with their brilliance. We are looking to fill the stage with great ideas, not egos.”

3. The idea should make you see things differently

The TED stage is not designed for motivational talks or generic how-to presentations. While the bi-product of a bold idea often leaves the audience inspired or eager to implement changes in their life, organizers are looking for ideas that give the audience something new to think about.

“We seek novel ideas that expand our knowledge and being,” says Brain Smiga, Director of TEDxAsburyPark.

Creighton adds, “The best speakers take a topic that most people think they know something about and turn the common thinking on its head. They hook the audience, and then there’s an ah-ha twist that leaves you thinking about their talks months afterward.”

4. Your idea must be supported

Big ideas that offer new, surprising perspectives often make bold claims. It’s one of the defining characteristics of the most viral TED Talks. But as Smiga warns, “you need to make sure numbers and evidence support it.”

Your idea has to withstand scrutiny. It should be grounded in solid research or validated by reliable sources if you want to make it to the stage.

Beyond the facts and numbers, Smiga reminds applicants that a good idea is also supported through personalization and story. That ability to wrap an idea into a personal journey is one of the things that make TED Talks so memorable.

For Meghan Hurley, Director of Speakers for TEDxEmory, the ability to combine relatable stories with education is vital to their selection process.

“Talks that take an abstract, theoretical idea and apply it directly to relatable, personal experiences make it more tangible,” says Hurley. “I believe it’s the best way to challenge the audience’s mindset and teach them something new.”

5. Don’t confuse your life story with the idea

A TEDx Talk is intended to engage, challenge, and transform the thinking of audience members. While storytelling is a powerful tool that makes the talk feel more like a conversation than a lecture, it should not replace the idea itself.

“The biggest mistake we see when people submit a speaker application is they want to share their personal story,” says Thatcher.

“TED Talks are not about a recounting of your life,” says Creighton. “Time and time again, candidates struggle to articulate their idea in the audition because they are so focused on presenting a huge story that makes us laugh, cry, and learn.”

If speaking at TEDx is on your professional bucket-list, make sure your idea is worth spreading

Ask yourself: Is it new? Is it interesting to the local community? Is it factual and realistic?

While the task of finding something that meets the mark can seem daunting, with a little digging and refinement, you can find an idea that hits the mark. Stay curious in your work, and you may discover a hidden gem. With the right approach, you won’t just find a good idea. You’ll find a contagious one. After all, the best ideas — once shared — spread on their own.