Mic Drop Moments: What Brené, Ken, and Cuddy Can Teach Us About Speaking

by Jennifer Murchison

This white paper aims to train organizational team members in the best practices of public speaking by analyzing three exemplary TED Talks: Brené Brown's "The Power of Vulnerability," Sir Ken Robinson's "Do Schools Kill Creativity?," and Amy Cuddy's "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are." Using the rubric and criteria from The Zombie Guide to Public Speaking (Vrooman, 2015), this analysis will highlight the strengths and opportunities for growth in each presentation. The insights from these talks will then be synthesized into best practice recommendations for effective public speaking within a professional setting.
Introduction
Effective communication is a cornerstone of organizational success. Whether delivering internal presentations or speaking at external conferences, the ability to convey ideas with clarity, authenticity, and impact is essential. This white paper serves as a training tool to guide team members in mastering public speaking. By using criteria from The Zombie Guide to Public Speaking (Vrooman, 2015) and the associated speaking rubric, we critically analyze three TED Talks to extract best practices.
Analysis Framework
Dr. Vrooman (2015) provides a structured framework for evaluating public speaking, encompassing elements such as introduction, delivery, visual aids, support, argument, organization, and conclusion. This analysis applies that rubric holistically, drawing attention to elements that team members can emulate or avoid.
Introduction
How speakers begin and establish credibility
Delivery
Voice, gestures, and physical presence
Visual Aids
Use of slides and visual elements
Download the Mic Drop Moments Checklist
Brené Brown, "The Power of Vulnerability"
Introduction
Brown opens with humor and personal narrative, fulfilling Vrooman's (2015) emphasis on an effective attention-getter (p. 96). She clearly previews her exploration of vulnerability, establishing a personal yet professional tone.
Delivery
Brown excels in extemporaneous delivery (p. 67). Her energy (p. 304) and authenticity build identification with the audience (p. 307). Her vocal variation and physical presence are congruent with her message (p. 309).
Visual Aids
Minimalistic. Brown uses no slides, relying instead on vivid storytelling and verbal imagery. According to Vrooman (2015), the absence of chartjunk (p. 231) can work in the speaker's favor when narrative detail is rich (p. 170).
Support
Brown blends personal stories with academic research, demonstrating variety (p. 143) and credibility (p. 147). Her use of humor is grounded, appropriate (p. 190), and varied (p. 193).
Argument
She presents a coherent and emotionally resonant argument about the power of vulnerability, supported by nested value hierarchies (p. 289) and fallacy avoidance (p. 280).
Conclusion
Brown circles back to her initial themes, providing psychological closure (p. 105) and a compelling clincher (p. 108).
Key Takeaway: Authenticity, emotional connection, and narrative support are vital tools for effective speaking.
Sir Ken Robinson, "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"
Introduction
Robinson begins with a humorous anecdote, immediately capturing attention (p. 96). He previews his thesis with clarity (p. 102).
Delivery
His delivery is polished and conversational. He exemplifies extemporaneous speaking with warmth and wit. His energy is steady and his identification with the audience is high due to shared values around education.
Visual Aids
He uses no visuals, relying entirely on verbal communication. His storytelling and data references serve as a substitute for visuals, a method Vrooman (2015) endorses when used skillfully (p. 170).
Support
Robinson employs narrative, quotes, and humor effectively (p. 144, p. 193). His arguments are grounded in educational research and anecdotal evidence, creating a well-rounded case.
Argument
His talk is structured around a central provocative question, with a logical progression of supporting points. His use of humor to support, rather than distract, aligns with Vrooman's guidance (p. 197).
Conclusion
He summarizes his argument and leaves the audience with a clear, emotionally resonant call to value creativity.
Key Takeaway: Humor, well-developed structure, and strategic storytelling can elevate a speaker's ability to inform and persuade.
Amy Cuddy, "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are"
Introduction
Cuddy introduces her topic with a compelling narrative and preview (p. 102), establishing both her credibility and relevance.
Delivery
Her vocal delivery is clear, and her physical gestures are directly aligned with her message—a strong embodiment of her content. She demonstrates effective physical details and vocal variation (p. 309).
Visual Aids
Cuddy uses slides strategically, demonstrating managed focus (p. 120) and professionalism (p. 136). She avoids chartjunk and designs her visuals for clarity (p. 231).
Support
Her talk integrates credible data, personal narrative, and compelling visuals. The statistics are explained in accessible language (p. 184), supporting both ethos and logos.
Argument
Cuddy structures her argument well, building toward her "power pose" thesis through layered evidence. She avoids logical fallacies and uses nested value hierarchies (p. 289) to connect data to lived experience.
Conclusion
Cuddy finishes with a strong clincher, revisiting her narrative and emphasizing the transformative potential of her message.
Key Takeaway: A balanced combination of personal story, scientific evidence, and strategic visual support enhances a speaker's effectiveness.
Synthesis: Best Practices in Public Speaking
Using the rubric and Vrooman's (2015) framework, we can distill the following best practices from the analyzed talks:
Start Strong
Use attention-getters like stories or humor to draw listeners in (p. 96).
Establish Credibility
Share personal experience, credentials, or values to build trust (p. 102).
Structure for Clarity
Include previews, summaries, and dynamic organizational patterns (p. 88).
Deliver with Energy
Speak extemporaneously, move with purpose, and modulate your voice (p. 304).
Use Visuals Strategically
Avoid clutter; ensure every visual aids understanding (p. 231).
Support with Variety
Blend narrative, statistics, quotes, and humor for balance (p. 143).
Argue Ethically and Logically
Avoid fallacies and present layered, values-based arguments (p. 280).
Close Powerfully
Leave your audience with emotional and psychological closure (p. 105).
Conclusion
Public speaking is both an art and a discipline. Through the lens of Vrooman's Zombie Guide to Public Speaking and the rubric, this white paper has illustrated how three TED speakers demonstrate (and sometimes deviate from) best practices. Training team members in these techniques will not only elevate individual presentations but will also strengthen the collective communication culture of the organization.
References
  • Vrooman, S. S. (2015). The zombie guide to public speaking. Lectica Press.