Anyone interested in taking their presenting skills to the next level could do worse than emulating the style of Steve Jobs. Not only has this guy built an empire and turned the whole country on to the importance of cool design, he’s a knockout speaker in front of his standing-room-only crowds.
Some guys have it all.
If you’ve never had the chance to see the master in action, you might be pleased to know that Jobs isn’t really doing anything special. But he is doing everything that makes a presentation work. And he’s doing it very, very well.
Create Immediate Rapport
Jobs routinely makes his entrance unannounced, with no music or fanfare. He also holds off on the presentation and the visuals in order to address the audience directly. He’s humble, he’s welcoming, and he puts the emphasis on the people in the seats, reassuring them that they are the reason he is excited about all the new developments he’s about to show them.
Throw Them a Bone
We all cringe when presented with a slide outlining the agenda of a coming presentation. Imagine if the entire plot of a film was revealed just as the opening scene began. Time to hit the buffet! Jobs is great at remaining ambiguous, but still letting an audience know what they are about to see. Keep it general. Keep ’em guessing. But keep ’em engaged!
Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm.
Just as most presentations tend to be too long, most presenters tend to lack the requisite amount of enthusiasm to keep and audience engaged. Using energetic language (“incredible”, “ground breaking”, “unbeatable”), and not being afraid to gesture and move about the stage with purpose, will energize your presentation and your audience. Don’t be insincere, but be passionate!
What Does It Mean?
All too often, our presentations can get mired down in statistics and data. There will be plenty of time for specific questions about numbers during the Q&A. Present your numbers quickly and immediately jump to a meaningful interpretation so your audience can see their relevance to the bigger picture. Don’t tell them “what.” Tell them “why.”
Don’t Pancake
One of my favorite comedians once commented that comedians had to start strong and end strong. “Not like pancakes, where you’re really excited at first but by the end you’re @#^#^# sick of ’em!” This same theory applies to a great presentation. You need to be dynamic right out of the gate, but if you end with a fizzle, it’s all for naught. Save your best for last!
