Need to expand your mind but are short on time? Take ten with TED Talks, the beloved lectures on technology, entertainment, and design. While there are thousands to choose from, some of the most insightful talks take up less than 10 minutes of the viewer’s time.
Here are some talks if you’re looking to expand your horizons, find some inspiration, and still get to that meeting on time.
“How to speak so that people want to listen” by Julian Treasure
Business consultant and sound expert Julian Treasure demonstrates the how-to’s of powerful speaking with empathy. Treasure outlines six tools to consider when speaking, including pitch, volume, and timbre. The talk reminds people that anyone can marshal the power of words, so long as they do it intentionally.
Duration: 9:58
“The next outbreak? We’re not ready” by Bill Gates
Billionaire philanthropist, techie and businessman has given several TED Talks, but this one warns of a viral pandemic on a massive scale. Pathogens that travel through the air can — and have — killed millions.
In hindsight, Gates says we should have done better. It’s time to put all of our good ideas into practice, from scenario planning, to vaccination research to health worker training.
Duration 8:32
“The hidden power of smiling” by Ron Gutman
After reviewing a raft of studies about smiling and its benefits, Ron Gutman reveals some surprising results. A grin is way more than a grin, entrepreneur Gutman says — it can indicate potential longevity and trigger positive emotions.
Duration 7:26
“Grit: The power of passion and perseverance” by Angela Duckworth
Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth psychologist, took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly discovered that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Rather, it’s the ability to keep going after failure.
Duckworth calls this trait,”grit.”
Including interviews with West Point cadets and spelling bee champions, Duckworth’s research on grit has transformed the way psychologists and businesses think about success.
Duration 6:12
“Forget multitasking, try monotasking” by Paolo Cardini
Designer and teacher, Paolo Cardini, urges people to reconsider the value of multitasking. He says it’s overrated from a productivity standpoint.
Cardini, questions the efficiency of our multitasking world and makes the case for “monotasking”.
Duration 2:52
