TED Ideas Worth Spreading

TED.com is a critically acclaimed, award-winning website featuring inspired talks from the world's leading thinkers and doers. Over the last four years, TEDTalks have been watched more than 300 million times worldwide. As well as being an excellent source for public speaking inspiration, the site is unbelievably entertaining and addicting.

In her TEDTalk on creativity, best-selling author Amy Tan, referenced the speaking guidelines that are given to each presenter from the TED organizers. The guidelines are referred to as The TED Commandments and are apparently chiseled in stone. The speakers literally receive a slab of rock.

Now keep in mind, most TED presenters are famous, polished speakers and performers. So the commandments aren't exactly new advice, but they serve as a reminder that the presenter is expected to communicate with enthusiasm on a subject that they feel passionate about in order to engage the audience. That's good advice for any speaker. 

Without further ado, here are the TED Commandments in bold and our interpretation below:

I. Thou Shall Not Simply Trot Out Thy Usual Schtick

Be current, be fresh. 

II. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Halst Never Shared Before

Talk about what you know, but also about what you'd like it to become. Share your vision.  

III. Thou Shalt Reveal Thy Curiosity and Thy Passion

Never speak about anything of which you have no passion.

IV. Thou Shalt Tell a Story

Involve your audience by giving them something they can care about.

V. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Sale of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy

Comment on blogs, read and get involved, share your opinion as well as dissenting views.

VI. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt Thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of Thy Failure as Well as Thy Success

It's not about you - it's about the audience. Be genuine and real. Be human.

VII. Thou Shalt Not Sell From the Stage: Neither Thy Company, Thy Goods, Thy Writings, Nor Thy Desperate Need for Funding; Lest Thou Be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness

A TEDTalk is not a sales pitch - it's a talk.

VIII. Thou Shalt Remember All the While: Laughter is Good

As long as the humor is not off color or offensive.

IX. Thou Shalt Not Read Thy Speech

Prepare and practice, practice, practice.

X. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them That Follow Thee

Never speak over the allotted time. Know when to wrap it up. And when doing so, leave the audience with something that they'll be able to remember.

Here's your public speaking homework for tonight: go to TEDTalks and watch a few talks online. I promise, you will be glad you did.