Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership, an ongoing series of

executive coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the

way you want to be perceived. I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach, and today we're talking

about talking like a TED Talker.

Kurt was a little freaked out.

I don't mind talking in front of groups, he told me during our coaching session.

I actually enjoy presenting at these annual global meetings, but I don't know what she means when she says she wants us to talk about our groups as if we're giving a TED Talk?

Kurt was referring to Dorothy, the company's CEO. Her vision for this year's global gathering was that she and her

senior team would stop delivering droning monologues one after the other.

Instead, she wanted everyone on her team to talk about their part of the business as if giving a TED Talk.

I loved the idea.

I said,

TED Talkers have a wonderful way of making us curious.

We suddenly become fascinated by something we didn't know was fascinating.

Kurt said,

You think I'm going to get people to think talent is fascinating, not that group."

Kurt was chief talent officer. I asked, but the work interests you, doesn't it?

Well, sure. So I said your job is to show me what interests you and to do it in a way

that'll interest me. That's what Ted Talkers do so well they show us why something is interesting.

He gave a skeptical smile, nice work if you can get it.

Well here's my first question, I said.

What's the one big idea you want me your listener to

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