In his book, “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience”, Carmine Gallo reveals the techniques that the late Apple CEO used to deliver some of the most iconic presentations in history.
While Jobs was certainly a master of showmanship, there was always a method to his madness. In this book, Gallo breaks down Jobs’ presentation style into 10 key principles that can be applied to any presentation, in any industry.
Whether you’re looking to deliver a sales pitch, a TED talk, or just want to be better at public speaking in general, these 10 secrets from Steve Jobs are sure to help.
Table of Contents:
1. Keep it Simple
2. Tell a Story
3. Be Passionate
4. Use Props
5. Dress the Part
6. Be Prepared
7. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
8. Know Your Audience
9. Connect with Your Audience
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
1. Keep it Simple
The first presentation secret of Steve Jobs is to keep it simple. Jobs was a master of delivering complex information in a way that was easy for his audience to understand.
He did this by using clear and concise language, and by avoiding jargon. He also used props and visuals to help illustrate his points.
2. Tell a Story
Steve Jobs was a master storyteller. He understood that people are more likely to remember a story than a list of facts.
So, he would often use stories to illustrate his points. He would also use stories to introduce new products, to build buzz and anticipation.
3. Be Passionate
Steve Jobs was passionate about his work, and it showed. He was known for his intense and charismatic presentations.
While you don’t need to be quite as passionate as Jobs, it is important to show your audience that you believe in what you’re saying. If you’re not passionate about your topic, your audience won’t be either.
4. Use Props
Steve Jobs was a master of using props to illustrate his points. He would often use products to demo new features, or to show how easy they were to use.
He would also use props to make abstract concepts more concrete. For example, when he introduced the iPod, he used a real iPod to show how small it was.
5. Dress the Part
Steve Jobs was known for his iconic black turtleneck and jeans. While you don’t need to dress like Jobs, it is important to dress for your audience.
If you’re giving a presentation to a group of executives, you’ll want to dress more formally. If you’re giving a presentation to a group of college students, you can dress more casually.
6. Be Prepared
Steve Jobs was notoriously prepared for his presentations. He would often spend hours, even days, rehearsing.
He would also create detailed slides, and run through his presentation multiple times before delivering it.
7. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
As we mentioned, Steve Jobs would often spend hours, even days, rehearsing his presentations. This allowed him to deliver them with confidence and ease.
If you’re giving a presentation, make sure to rehearse it multiple times. And, if possible, try to do a dress rehearsal in front of a live audience.
8. Know Your Audience
Steve Jobs was known for his ability to connect with his audience. He would often customize his presentations to appeal to his audience’s interests.
For example, when he introduced the iPod to a group of music industry executives, he emphasized how the iPod would help them sell more music.
9. Connect with Your Audience
Steve Jobs was a master of connecting with his audience. He would often start his presentations with a personal story, or a joke.
He would also make eye contact, and use facial expressions to convey his emotions.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
The final presentation secret of Steve Jobs is to practice, practice, practice. As we mentioned, Jobs would often spend hours, even days, rehearsing his presentations.
If you want to be as prepared as possible, make sure to practice your presentation multiple times. And, if possible, try to do a dress rehearsal in front of a live audience.