The other day, Emiko Rasmussen contacted me. She had seen my TEDx talk and was excited that what I said was so aligned with her mission. Emiko helps Japanese women to be more confident.
TED talks are a wonderful way to spread ideas. And they’re a way for you to get ideas about how to deliver presentations.
When I’m coaching Japanese business people in communication skills, they often ask me what TED talks to watch. So here are five of my favorites and what you can learn from each.
Your body language shapes who you are – Amy Cuddy (21 minutes)
I often see Japanese business people focusing on their English and forgetting about what messages their body language is sending. Our body language affects how other people judge us AND how we think and feel about ourselves. Use your body language to your advantage and boost your confidence!
The power of introverts – Susan Cain (19 minutes)
Many of my Japanese clients are introverts. So here’s some good news for you and a great role model from an introvert giving a presentation.
How great leaders inspire action – Simon Sinek (18 minutes)
Presentations in Japan often have a complex structure and “busy” PowerPoint slides, which make it difficult for the audience to understand the presenter’s message. Listen for Simon’s clear 3-story structure and watch for his use of a simple flip chart to create a visual of his idea.
The puzzle of motivation – Dan Pink (18 minutes)
Dan draws us in with a revealing personal story and humor. He uses purposeful gestures to help get his message across. His presentation slides are simple. They support what he’s saying and are easy to understand. And the content is thought-provoking – important lessons about how to motivate your colleagues.
Why don’t Japanese women ask questions at work? – Helen Iwata (17 minutes)
I hesitated to include this among the greats above, but I’m so passionate about the message of helping people to overcome the mottainai (waste or shame) that we often see in the workplace – of having a great idea, but being uncomfortable to speak up, of complaining instead of constructively questioning, and of being too busy and stressed to think and contribute at a higher level. So I would love it if you would watch this video and question how it applies to your workplace.
I hope you find these talks insightful and inspiring, both for their content and presentation delivery ideas.
Building your presentations skills can have a huge impact on your career and confidence (it did on mine!).