Public speaking is feared by many and can be one of the most difficult tasks to complete successfully. It is a task that, when done well, can be extremely captivating. On the other hand, we have all sat through our fair share of presentations where we were bored to tears. Clearly, public speaking is not for the faint of heart. Every once in a while, however, someone comes along who delivers a presentation that is so powerful it leaves audiences astounded and wanting more. Let’s examine three of the most famous presentations and what tips we can learn from these great presenters.
Steve Jobs Introduces the iPhone
On a cold January morning in San Francisco in 2007, a thin, soft-spoken man graced the stage to unveil his new product. It wasn’t just the fact that his new i-Phone was going to be a revolutionary new product that made his presentation so dynamic. Steve Jobs is one of the greatest corporate storytellers and he knows how to captivate his audience and draw them in. He found a way to turn a dull slideshow into a theatrical event. There are several reasons that Steve Jobs is considered to be an astonishing presenter. For starters, he is extremely passionate about his product and he was not afraid to share that enthusiasm. He also understands how to brilliantly utilize the rule of 3: divide your presentation into 3 sections. It is easier for people to remember and he constantly repeated the three parts of his product to the audience. He used simple visual slides rather than filling them with tons of content. In fact, he used a total of 19 words in his first 12 slides. Perhaps the greatest part of his presentation was his ability to tell stories. He engaged the audience through his use of personal experiences. There is no question that Steve Jobs is considered to be one of the best presenters and his introduction of the i-Phone is one of the most captivating product launches in history.
Scott Harrison’s Keynote on charity: water
On December 2012 in Paris, Scott Harrison took the stage to promote his nonprofit organization, charity: water. During this keynote he shared his own personal and remarkable story of how a nightclub promoter in New York found his new purpose in life when he went on a mission trip to one the poorest countries in West Africa. His purpose in his presentations is to tell people about the difficult conditions of West Africa in order to raise money for clean water efforts. During his 2012 presentation, he moved his audience to tears and earned a standing ovation for his performance. His talks are remarkable because they include personal accounts of his own life, visual storytelling that use dramatic images that are real, and he knows how to truly tug on the heartstrings of his audience. His keynote delivery is considered to be one the most heartfelt and compelling presentations in recent years.
Susan Cain’s Presentation: The Power of Introverts
Susan Cain’s presentation is considered to have one of the strongest openings of all time. She knows how to combine humor with real life experiences in a way that captivates her audience. She has an incredible way of connecting with her audience as she takes them along her own personal journey. She doesn’t rely on a bunch of PowerPoint slides to make her point. In fact, she doesn’t use any at all! Instead she uses one simple prop, a closed bag, and her ability to tell stories to keep the audience interested throughout her entire presentation. She has the unique ability to remain animated and interesting making her presentation one that is remembered.