On June 1, 2023, I had the privilege of attending Moyin Adeyemi’s captivating talk titled "What to talk about when you have nothing to talk about”.The topic struck a chord with me, as it addresses a common struggle faced by speakers: the difficulty of curating engaging and diverse talks consistently, especially when inspiration seems elusive. In this blog post, I will share the valuable tips and tricks I gained from her talk, hoping that they will be helpful when you find yourself grappling with similar challenges.
Determining the Type of Talk
One of the key insights shared by Moyin was the importance of determining the type of talk you wish to give. Understanding the different formats available allows you to select the most suitable one based on your goals, content, and desired level of audience engagement. Consider options such as lightning talks (10–20 minutes), session talks (20–40 minutes), workshops (1 hour and 30 minutes), or code labs (2 hours). This initial step helps narrow down your content choices and align them with the selected format.
Remembering Your Purpose as a Speaker
Reconnecting with the reasons why you became a speaker is a powerful exercise. It reminds you of your goals and aspirations for each speaking engagement. By reflecting on your purpose, you can identify the main message you want to convey and the impact you aim to create for your audience. For example, if your goal is to simplify complex topics in innovative ways, you can focus on selecting content that aligns with this objective. This clarity of purpose helps guide your content curation process and ensures a cohesive and impactful presentation.
Finding Inspiration Everywhere
Inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places. She emphasized that your talk doesn't always have to revolve around your interests. Instead, draw inspiration from your own experiences, struggles, victories, ongoing projects, and experiments. Adopting an open-minded approach allows for greater creativity and widens the range of choices when facing speaker's block. Explore diverse topics and perspectives, enabling you to create engaging and unique content that resonates with your audience.
Overcoming speaker's block and selecting compelling topics is a common challenge for presenters. However, by following these valuable insights shared by Moyin, you can navigate this obstacle with confidence. By determining the type of talk you wish to give, reconnecting with your purpose as a speaker, and finding inspiration from various sources, you can curate talks that are impactful, engaging, and aligned with your goals. Remember, the journey of finding compelling topics is an ongoing process, and by embracing this mindset, you will continuously expand your repertoire of captivating talks.