Apple has been a game-changer in the technology industry, thanks in large part to the vision of Steve Jobs.
Although Jobs was not known for his technical skills, he made up for it with his exceptional communication and marketing abilities. He was a masterful storyteller who could speak with passion and inspire audiences. Here are some reasons why Jobs was such an incredible speaker:
- Jobs would always give a reason for his audience to listen to him. He would explain why his message was important and why they should care about it. This approach is consistent with Dale Carnegie's philosophy of convincing people to do things because they want to.
- Jobs was credible. He was able to establish his credibility by backing up his claims with evidence. When making a pitch or a product launch, he would often show the audience previous practical applications of his work.
- Jobs was relaxed and comfortable on stage. He moved around the stage with ease, engaging the audience and maintaining their attention. Despite his calm demeanour, Jobs spent hours practising for his speeches and product launches.
- Jobs was relatable. He kept his speeches simple and avoided technical jargon that might alienate his audience. He spoke to them on their level and made sure they could understand his message.
- Jobs stayed focused. He designed his speeches to be easy to follow and focused on one idea at a time. He did not overwhelm his audience with too much information at once.
- Jobs was a master storyteller. He used stories to make his presentations more powerful and memorable. He understood that storytelling is an effective way to make a connection with an audience.
- Jobs was purposeful. He was thoughtful and deliberate in his presentations, and he made sure to stay focused on the main message. This helped reduce confusion and kept the audience engaged.
- Jobs was clear. He spoke each word deliberately, used pauses effectively, and kept an even pace. This helped ensure that the audience could understand him.
- Jobs finished strong. He kept his audience engaged until the end by saving the best information for last. He understood that giving the audience the information they needed at the beginning would not motivate them to stay engaged.
- Jobs was future-forward. He finished his speeches by leaving the audience with a sense of motivation and a reason to keep watching him. He talked about his mission going forward and gave the audience something to look forward to.
In conclusion, Steve Jobs was a world-class communicator and marketer who changed the future of Apple with his exceptional communication skills. By giving a reason, being credible, relaxed, practising ahead of time, staying relatable, focused, telling stories, being purposeful, clear, finishing strong, and being future-forward, Jobs was able to engage audiences and inspire them. Becoming a great public speaker takes time and practice, but by following Jobs' example and improving active listening skills and interpersonal skills, anyone can become a better communicator.