Who knew that PowerPoint and public speaking went hand-in-hand? Steve Jobs did. 
The late Steve Jobs was most well known for his revolutionary work at Apple Inc. He changed the lives of millions by his work in the field of technology, and became an icon for leaders everywhere with his dedication to helping those around him. A lesser known fact about Steve Jobs is that he was an incredible presenter. The combination of his speaking abilities and his PowerPoint layouts allowed him to be a great communicator that people respond to. Although public speaking can be intimidating, learning to present like Steve Jobs will help curb any fear.
PowerPoint
When Steve Jobs would present his PowerPoint made an impact. Why? Because it followed the principles of Zen. He used simplicity rather than complexity when creating his PowerPoint slides. This concept is important for presenters to recognize. When giving a company presentation to a full audience, the last thing people should be doing is focusing on the PowerPoint – the words of the presenter should be the focus of their attention! Limit slides to no more than 3 to 5 bullet points containing as few words as possible. However, using imagery in PowerPoint is effective! Adding a photograph to symbolize a point that can be explained via the speaker is a Steve Jobs tactic that will help people remember what was mentioned. As the creator of Apple once said, “People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint.”
Take a look at this presentation Steve Jobs gave on the iPhone for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_m2F_ph_uU
Public Speaking
Everyone has some fear of public speaking, and while there is no way to completely rid yourself of this fear, practicing can make a world of difference. There are two tips every presenter should know in order to best prepare for their public speaking engagement.
- Know your audience. This means recognizing how you dress, the vocabulary you use, the examples that you use, etc. since it will all have an impact on how the audience views you. A formal event should be much more structured than an event that is business casual and allows for jeans.
- Know your topic. Do research! There is no such thing as an overabundance of information. It will help you feel more prepared for any questions that may arise and build your credibility with the audience. Plus, being well versed in your subject area will keep you from looking at your PowerPoint notes (therefore allowing you to keep your slides simple!)
Public speaking and presenting using PowerPoint like Steve Jobs takes time, but rest assured that in time you will be impacting the people who hear your speak.
Photo Credit: manveetsingh