My TEDx Coaching Experience
One of the joys of being a broadcaster and a communications coach is giving back ... through knowledge, expertise and time. For me, being on the 50 strong committee of TEDX Tin Hau Women is an absolute privilege.
As a speaker coach in the curation department, it's my job to support the speaker from the initial conception of their idea for the talk right through until that nerve wracking moment of finally stepping onto the red dot in front of a 1,200 strong auditorium at The Xiqu Centre. No mean feat!
This year was my fourth year as a speaker coach and it marked the 10th anniversary of TEDx TinHau Women. My speakers over the past four years have been vastly different in terms of age, the content of their talks and their experience of delivering in front of a live audience.
The title TEDx TinHau Women has caused some confusion over the years as one assumes that this is an event for women speakers only and women attendees! I can, however, vouch that this is not the case. In fact, I was lucky enough to coach my second male speaker this year and the buzz in the foyer of the auditorium wasn't just a gaggle of giggling women; it was both men and women who were excited to see these phenomenal 13 speakers share their stories of courage, truth and authenticity and taking away an 'idea worth spreading.' How were these transformative talks going to change people's lives?
I'm often asked about my role as a speaker coach and what it entails. In a nutshell, it's literally putting your life on hold for around 5 months! As a coach, you are invited to attend all of the auditions and feedback (this can be a brutal process) . Was the idea original, different, something new we hadn't heard before?
Upon selection, a coach is assigned a speaker to work with until the big day. This involves supporting them with the structure of their talk, editing the talk copious amounts of time and finally, when the lines are 'good to go' it's about making sure the speaker is 'stage ready.' Do they wish to use slides? How is their articulation? Do they have stage presence? Do they use pauses? Do they emphasize key points? Do they anticipate how the audience will react to certain sections? How do you help them combat nerves? Not only do the speakers have to memorize every word of their talk they have to deliver with presence and in a manner that conforms to TEDx global as these videos are filmed and are in the public domain fairly soon after 'show time.'
This year turned out to be extra special for me. I had the joy of coaching an old running buddy Jo Lodder and a phenomenal young lady; a professional rugby player, Sofie Fella. Jo's talk, entitled 'Limits are just borrowed' talks about how we put limits on ourselves due to circumstances and how this can dictate how we navigate our lives. However, Jo challenges this and gives us the narrative to understand that these need not be permanent and that we can hand them back. Sofie, a Chinese - German international rugby player challenges the cultural 'norms' placed on Asian women and redefines strength, beauty and femininity in women's sport. Her talk entitled 'Dare to be big' proves that being a strong woman is something to be proud of and that there is no single beauty standard.
A successful event is never the work of one person - it takes a wee army. I'm proud to be a soldier in this particular HK army. The red dot is just the start of the journey for many of our speakers and opportunities beyond fall into their laps when it's 'curtain down.'
For me personally, being part of this community and witnessing these speakers smash it on stage is one thing. More than that, it joins the dots amongst Hong Kongers. It proves that in Asia's World City we can still create a profound impact and leave a lasting impression. I look forward to putting my speaker coach cap back on in 2027.
