3 Incredibly Inspiring TED Talks Every Business Owner Should Watch

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You’re a busy entrepreneur or business owner. You often find yourself working in your business, not on it. Contemplation, new learning, and inspiration take a back seat to fighting the latest fire.

Yet finding time to take a step back and think about big picture improvements is critical to long-term business success. Today we bring you a hand picked selection of TED Talks to help you do just that.

Wearing many hats and working 12+ hour days? Set aside 3 break-times (TED talks are typically 18 minutes; the third one we’ve chosen is only 3) over the coming week to watch these inspiring talks.

You’ll learn new ideas about motivating employees, the importance of encouraging the introverts in your organization, and the benefits of booking meetings on-the-move.

Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation

Daniel Pink is the best-selling author of the long-running New York Times bestsellers,  A Whole New Mind and Drive. Dan’s books have been translated into 34 languages and have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. In 2013, Thinkers 50 named him one of the top 15 business thinkers in the world.

In this humorous, self-deprecating and provocative TED Talk, Pink examines the puzzle of motivation. According to Pink, traditional incentives (if you DO this, then you GET this) can dull action and creativity, instead of motivating employees to reach new heights. You’ll enjoy how Dan makes his case for rethinking how we run our businesses.

Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts

Susan Cain is the award-winning best-selling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Won’t Stop Talking

North American culture, according to Susan Cain, embraces, lauds and rewards extroverts. We shower rewards on the people who are assertive, charismatic and gregarious.

Introverts, the people who are more reserved, contemplative and passive, meet with a less enthusiastic reception. They are at best overlooked and at worst viewed negatively.

There are good lessons for all organizations in Cain’s TED Talk (and her book if you have the time to read it). Extroverts are invaluable to your business. But remember to encourage the introverts who also bring extraordinary talents to the table.

Nilofer Merchant: Got a Meeting? Take a Walk.

A California-based author and speaker, Nilofer Merchant  has personally launched more than 100 products that netted $18 billion. She’s worked for major companies such as Apple and Autodesk, as well as a number of start-ups in the early days of the web.

Merchant’s TED talk is a punchy three minutes, offering advice for busy people who want to get more done, generate more creative ideas, and get fit at the same time.

Her solution? She recommends that instead of booking a coffee meeting you go for a walking meeting.

“Fresh air drives fresh thinking,” Merchant says. “You’ll be surprised at the way you’ll bring new sets of ideas into your life.”

Take the time to contemplate

Increasingly, research shows that stepping back from your life and your business to contemplate, or even meditate, brings tremendous rewards. TED Talks are an enjoyable, rewarding means of raising your head from the details and up into the big picture.

Once you’ve had a look at these 3 standout examples, consider setting aside time to watch one Ted Talk a week – you’ll have no problem finding excellent ones to view.

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