Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking

A carefully crafted talk can be the key to unlocking empathy, stirring excitement, spreading knowledge, and promoting a shared dream.  As the Head of TED, Chris Anderson knows this firsthand.  He’s had a ringside seat listening to many hundreds of amazing TED speakers including people like Sir Ken Robinson, Amy Cuddy, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Salman Khan, Amanda Palmer, and Monica Lewinsky whose talks have been viewed millions of times. He’s learned that a talk done right can electrify a room and transform an audience’s worldview.

In this course, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to use public speaking to share powerful ideas.  Chris will walk you through real-life examples of TED Talks that worked and also share firsthand stories of mistakes to avoid.  You’ll get a series of worksheets and exercises to plan your own talk that draws from Chris’s latest book TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.  Whether you are an entrepreneur pitching a company, a nonprofit professional making a fundraising request, or a teacher looking to captivate your students, this course will help you become a powerful public speaker capable of leaving a lasting impression.  After completing this course, you’ll be ready to structure your own talk and deliver it memorably to an audience.