Apple CEO Steve Jobs was known for his presentation skills and ability to make company products look magical. This was sometimes called ‘Steve Jobs reality distortion field‘.
Steve Jobs presentation skills : https://youtu.be/iJq-thyDF9Q
Information Systems Integration
Department of Management Information Systems, Temple University
Khuong Trong Tang says
He is a great presenter. One of the effective tactics that Steve Jobs successfully implement in his presentation is his professional posture while presenting. Another one is that he did not clutter the slides with words and utilize pictures effectively to tell the story. One tactic that a presenter should be wary of using but he did perfectly is using humor. His humors are not inappropriate but relevant to the presentation such as showing the fake Iphone picture to joke and create suspense for the audience. This presentation effectively paint Steve Jobs as a professional person with a good sense of humor. The analysis video did a good job at breaking down Steve’s style. m analysis of Steve few words and pictures agree with the video.
Ami Parekh says
Steve Jobs used very effective communication and presentation skills when introducing the iPhone to his audience. Jobs started the presentation with humor, introducing “three” new products that Apple would be launching but then revealing that all three were in fact one super product–the iPhone. Using this tactic engaged the audience and grabbed their attention. Throughout the presentation, Jobs maintained a conversational tone of voice with appropriate volume, had eye contact with the audience, and had apparent knowledge on the subject. Something I found noteworthy about his presentation delivery was that he used Apple’s goal of simplicity throughout. Apple strives to make simple, easy to use products and though the technologies Jobs was explaining are difficult to explain and understand, he was able to get his message across with ease. Though Jobs has exemplary presentation skills, his credibility because of his successful career is what gives him even more of an advantage at winning the audience.
Jobs’ slide deck also has this same theme. The slides he used had appropriate, easy to follow visuals. The color theme was easy on the eyes, and the slides with words were not overcrowded. For this presentation, I don’t think there was anything Steve should have done differently. As mentioned in the presentation skills video, the iPhone launch video had a tight theme, simple statistics, supporting images, and little + easy to remember text,
I think that the presentation skills video accurately breaks down the techniques Jobs’ used in his presentation and even highlights some things that I did not think about at first. Something as simple as a smile can engage the audience more than before.
Alex Cicioni says
When Jobs gets on stage, it is more like watching a movie than listening to someone present. Everything is done professionally, and he does a great job at selling his smile, which in return gives the watchers a sense of trust for Apple. Jobs does an excellent job at keeping slides very concise and to the point. He uses simple statistics that create the biggest impact when displayed on screen.
The colors that Apple uses throughout the presentation are another big key. Simple black and white creates a bold image, especially with the font being used, while making it easy to follow.
The analysis of his presentation technique is accurate. Each slide is thought out and simplified. Because of how simple each slide is, it allows the viewers to maintain concentration. The thing that always struck me of watching Jobs present was his use of vocabulary. When describing something, he always used strong adjectives when talking about features of the products.
Vraj A. Patel says
I believe that Steve Jobs was a great presenter. He knew how to tell a story and understood that boring the audience with tons of words on a PowerPoint would not benefit him or his company. He understood the value of people’s time and made it a point to make presentations, such as keynotes, memorable. Though he was well-known for his presentation skills, he was also remembered as a inventor. He helped shape the current industry before he passed away and that has left a positive mark. Overall, I don’t think that Steve really needed to do anything different. He was known partly due to his presentation skills and it always captivated the audience. It relates to the saying “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”, because he had mastered the art of presenting in my opinion. When reflecting on the presentation technique’s in the YouTube video, I believe that Steve’s techniques were accurately analyzed. In the iPhone launch that we saw in class, Steve used a mix of humor, small text, simple images, and memorable headlines. Many of those were visible in the initial iPhone’s launch and capture how Steve was such a great presenter.
Kashif Hasan Malik says
One of the reasons why Steve Job’s IPhone launch was successful was because his use of visuals. In the video by Don McMillan, he displays a screen cluttered with multiple images overlapping each other and the audience began to groan as it was hard to look at. Steve Jobs was able to do the exact opposite of this. His presentation consisted of 1 or 2 appealing images on the screen without the assistance of any words. Without any immediate information from the screen, the audience was forced to actively listen to what Jobs was saying. This allowed Jobs to portray his stories and confidently tell the audience that his product was better than the competition.
Overall, I don’t think Steve Jobs needed to change anything in his presentation. He was able to captivate the audience and clearly highlight the main features of the iPhone effectively. He made it look natural as if he was having a conversation with each person individually. This is why I think Steve Jobs is a great presenter.
James Jeffrey Scheuren says
Steve Jobs has his reputation for a reason. He had a stellar ability to create a vision of superiority towards Apple products over the competition. He was clearly an excellent motivator, as he was able to bring his visions to life, and enhance our own lives as we know it. He not only spearheaded a company, but also created an international brand and culture. I really do think that he was a fantastic presenter, but being the CEO of a massive company requires so much more than that. This is evidenced by his ability to adapt over the years. He led Apple to great success with the Macintosh before being fired. He went on to create a new company, Next, which Apple would later buy. This resulted in Jobs becoming the CEO of Apple once again. His career as the head of a corporation spanned five different decades. His ability to create a family with his companies (sometimes taking this too far) resulted in incredible success throughout his career.
Jobs’ ability to simplify and inspire is his best asset. This starts with the iPhone, where he wanted to make the device easy to use and understand. This exists in his presentations as well. He wanted to get the message across, and he did so by using pictures and a small amount of text at conferences. The lack of text was contrasted by Jobs, who would explain the words in more detail. His enthusiasm really is contagious. I felt joy watching the video in class, and I was excited about this product. He simply had a kind of magic, and so did his products. I’m not sure if I could ever critique his presenting skills, because he was so successful with them. There’s a reason he is still often talked about today
Alexander B Goldstein says
Steve Jobs was obviously a magnificent presenter. He was able to keep a large audience entertained for long periods of time because of his charisma, his use of pictures and words, and the style in which he spoke. Jobs was able to adequately deliver multiple messages in each slide and allow the audience to remember the important parts of each one.
While Steve Jobs is well-known as a prestigious speaker, his reputation is mainly based on his innovative and revolutionary ideas as the CEO of Apple. His speaking abilities mainly enhance his reputation as more than just an inventor and businessman.
It would be difficult for anyone to make any criticisms of Jobs’s presentation because of how well it was laid out and how he spoke. Using humor as well as facts and emotion, he was able to truly captivate the audience and there is no reason to change the way that was done. The analysis in the second video does a great job of analyzing and breaking down each technique and how Jobs mastered each one. It will be easy for me to reference that video in the future to help with my own presentations.
John Saviello says
Steve Jobs is viewed by many as one of the best presenters in the 21st century. Whether it be for his pacing, visuals, stage presence, humor, etc. I do think he is a great presenter but I also think a lot of his success can be attributed to the technology that Apple was deploying at that time. I think people equate the technology and excitement to Steve Jobs’ presentation skills but the reason for his notoriety has more to do with the technology than his raw skills.
I do not think there is much Jobs could have changed. All slides were clean and interesting to look at. He takes appropriate pauses and is sure to engage the audience. I also enjoy the fact that he is wearing casual clothes during the presentation, keeping with the silicon valley style.
The video does a great job breaking down Jobs’ presentations. The most important point in the video was building a climax. We saw this in the iPhone presentation. Steve Jobs makes sure to keep the audience waiting and then unveils the new product. Steve Jobs also did the same thing with the macbook air.
Dianne J Ogalesco says
Steve Jobs wasn’t just a wonderful presenter, but also an excellent marketer, a strategic businessman, and gifted storyteller. His reputation has left us a legacy.
Some key presentation techniques that stood out to me was the way he stick with a singular theme and how he sold the story. A list of facts does not attract consumers, a story full of ambition to change technology does. Every time he presented a feature, he connects back to his original theme of revolutionized smartphones. He reminds the audience that Apple has developed all these various features into a phone that was originally just a piece of metal, with a screen and buttons. I would not change anything about Steve’s presentation. It captivated the audience. He definitely performs these “magic moments” referenced in the second video.
Yogi R. Patel says
Steve Jobs was an exceptional presenter. His presentation along with Apple’s keynote even were one of the most anticipated events on a year-to-year basis. The most captivating aspect of Jobs’ presentation was the simplicity of the graphics throughout his presentation.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Apple and Jobs personify and exemplify this quote. Apple’s simplicity in its products and keynotes was its most attractive feature. They revolutionized technology. What differentiates Steve from others when it comes to presenting is how easily his presentations flow from one topic to the next. Unlike most other presenters, Steve does not rely on his powerpoint to drive his presentation. Conversely, he uses his powerpoint as a supplemental piece to enhance his presentation. Whether it is simple graphic or simple header text, all of Steve’s presentation graphic help guide the presentation, but do not reveal too much. Moreover, Steve’s confidence during his presentations is reassuring.
The analysis of Steve’s presentation is extremely accurate. It is a great depiction of the impact of Steve’s presentations. Furthermore, it provides unique insights to the techniques employed by Steve Jobs. The analysis shows how Steve is the complete presenter: simple presentation, confidence in speech, and effectively leveraging emotions during the presentation. This analysis along with reviewing Steve’s keynote can really help enhance my own presentations.
Ali Jamal says
I think it is without question that Steve Jobs has superior presentation skills. He captivates his audience through powerful story-telling rather than just blandly explaining the product. In revealing the first iPhone, it was exciting to see Jobs explain the three key features of the phone and when it clicked to the audience that the features were all included in the single device. I do believe he could use more vibrant colors to further captivate the audience, however I did enjoy the fact that he did not use a lot of text and it was a lot more visual. Furthermore, his use of certain key words throughout the presentation, such as “revolutionary” really drove home how significant the product was. It was also very evident how confident he was in his product; showing strong confidence deeply enhanced the presentation.
I think the analysis of the techniques are very appropriately defined and easy to follow as a guideline for enhancing presentation skills. I really enjoyed the super smile feature; as I mentioned previously, this showcases the pure confidence that Jobs’ showed and how that really goes a long way in terms of presenting. Furthermore, I think where a lot of presenters fall short is overloading slides with information and making it dull. Following the Simple Stats and Stunning Stories idea that Jobs’ exhibits can make the difference from an average presentation to an amazing presentation.
Brendon Lee says
The first thing I noticed about Steve Jobs’ iPhone announcement was his amazing pace. I can see why they coined the phrase ‘Steve Jobs reality distortion field‘. Jobs had the entire audience captivated from the very beginning. It felt as if he had crowd control. Throwing humor to switch up the pace. Repeating words he wants the audience to remember. His use of the presentation screen was amazing as well. The graphics were simple and he emphasized key features with or points by repeating them on screen. The other thing I noticed was his confidence. He knew he had a better product but he did not do it arrogantly. He subtly put down the competitors and confidently unveiled his product. I also liked his body language. It wasn’t too quiet and it wasn’t too loud. It matched the pace and flow of the presentation. Overall, Jobs had great flow and pace which allowed him to control the audience.
The analysis of Steve Jobs’ presentation skills was a very good watch. Something I will reference in all of my presentations. I think it was completely spot on. I do not think everyone watching the video will be able to present like Jobs however… There’s a certain ‘it’ factor about Jobs and that’s something you can’t practice or learn. I can definitely learn a LOT from the analysis though!
Chongxin Zhao says
Steve Jobs was a good presenter, I believe the success of the iPod previously release help contribute to his perception. In the presentation he hit the main points for most consumers looking for a new smartphone. He has pride in what he present and confidence that it will be the best thing so far. He tells a story and always links back to the core idea of what the product is about.
The Analysis of Steve job’s presentation is helpful as it can be a guide to help improve anyone’s presentation skill. As I move forward in my career I can reference the analytical video whenever I need to present infront of upper management or a crowd of people.
Chris Lukens says
Steve jobs was an exceptional presenter with the ability to captivate audiences. I think Jobs best attribute in his presenting is his genuine enthusiasm and excitement during every new reveal. The enthusiasm that jobs used was calm rather than over the top excited, but you could tell he cared deeply about what he was about to tell you. It was like he wanted to let you in on a secret that he had been keeping from you and just couldn’t wait any longer to tell. I think it was this element of his presenting that was able to keep audiences glued to what he had to say. I think its hard to get to jobs level of care and love for apple because it was his life work but I think its still shows its a critical point of how you present. The next thing I think Jobs is able to execute perfectly is his cadence of the presentation. Sometime he speaks for a little but on other occasions he lets the audience hang on what he just said or on every word. Being able to change his pacing and watch the audience is skill that comes from practicing you presentation and truly knowing the material, which jobs did. The pace changes helped jobs to keep the audience for longer because it didn’t feel like a monotonous presentation.I think the analysis of his presenting skills was good and pointed out many techniques he utilized that can certainly help any ones presentation skills. I think one thing it missed was Jobs level of absolute confidence when he presented. Over all I think jobs was an excellent presenter and had mastered the ability to reveal new products.
John X. Dinh says
Watching Steve Jobs first iPhone launch video in class was truly captivating. Jobs was a master at presenting and there’s many things that we can learn from him. It almost seems like he works backward when formulating his presentation. He know exactly what the audience need and he delivers it. One of the many things that Jobs’ presentations was amazing for was his use of concise headings and theme. His headings were always easily remembered and short enough to post as a quote on Twitter. For example, one heading was “Your life in your pocket.” This meant that the iPhone has so many features that it almost covers all aspects of your social requirements. But instead of putting up countless slides, he figured the heading was concise enough for the audience to get the right idea and allowed them to imagine the possibilities.
In my opinion, Steve Jobs first iPhone launch video was a perfect presentation that every student strives to have. There is nothing that Jobs should have done differently. The analysis of Steve Jobs Presentation Skills video was spot on in breaking down what he did well. It showed many skills that students can learn from.
Cara M Evans says
I believe that Steve Jobs is great presenter but there is no doubt that his reputation and the reputation of Apple as a whole definitely contributed to the mystique of his presentation. I believe the best aspect of his presentation style is his story telling. By initially presenting the new iPhone as three individual products, he truly made a case for everything it can do. Back in the time this was presented, these were completely new concepts to the audience. By breaking it down, he made it easily digestible for the audience to understand all the capabilities this was granting. Even as a lifelong iPhone user, you forget all of the capabilities it provides, I did not realize until he revealed the product as one iPhone that he was talking about all the things iPhone can do. That was truly a magic moment for the presentation.
One of the best aspects of his presentation is his lack of jargon and confusing technological terms. Jobs knew this would throw off his audience, especially when these technologies we so new. He used terms and examples that they were already familiar with. He was also great at humanizing himself. This made it seem like this products were meant for the every day people. If he was just a normal guy who understands the needs of normal people, it makes his pitch more believable and convinces the audience that they too need this product. Jobs presentations were not only entertaining, but great for business.
Kennan T Duffy says
Steve Jobs was a good presenter, but there were numerous other factors that helped his presentation delivery seem so deliberate and engaging. Some of the notable presentation skills he applied were his voice (tone, speed, emphasis), his slide design, and his knowledge (and ability to present his knowledge). These are very simple things, but a lot of people mess them up. It can be very distracting when someone speaks too fast, or too quietly for example. However, it wasn’t only his presentation skills that made him a great presenter. He was able to create his own personal brand and capitalized on that when presenting. There were a lot of constancies when Steve Jobs presented. He wore a turtle neck, he wore jeans, the same glasses, ect. These consistencies helped develop his personal brand and made his presentations seem familiar, and welcoming. People may not know what he was going to present about, but you knew what you were getting into with a Steve Jobs presentation. I believe that the combination of his great presentation skills with his personal brand is what made Steve Jobs a great presenter.
Daria Gbor says
I think Steve Jobs was just an amazing presenter. He was so confident and proud in his presentations that it generated trust and the audience felt confident about the new product too. He also knew how to grow anticipation in the crowd. The way he was describing an iPhone, before saying it was an iPhone, even had me at the edge of my seat and I already knew what it was going to be so I can’t imagine the crowd’s feelings throughout that. He got the crowd excited while still in a collected and professional manner. Jobs follows the guidelines of any great presenter including a storyline of the history of Apple’s products, visuals of a graph of smart versus easy to use phones, and humor with his jokes about a stylus. He also kept his slides concise and only added keywords and short phrases to guide his presentation. In the analysis video of Steve Jobs, it mentions headlines should be clear, concise, and “tweetable”. I love the way it is described as tweetable because it makes sense to think of it that way. You can easily test yourself by typing it into a twitter tweet box to see if your headline is too long or if it is less than 140 characters then you are okay! Jobs always had “tweetable” headlines. It also discussed how Steve Jobs is always smiling and having fun in his presentations and I think that is another reason the crowd trusted him and loved watching his presentations. I hope someday I can master these presentation skills just like Steve Jobs did.
Raymond Wu says
Steve Jobs was a great presenter and innovator who truly believed in his products. Throughout his presentation, he captivated his audience with stories, pictures, and even poked fun at his competitors. I also appreciated his humor in his presentation, most notably when he said that the iPhone’s multi-touch function was patented. Jobs made a huge emphasis on the new technology being patented because he wants to ensure that Apple has protection of this new function. This emphasis on the technology being patented proves to his audience that he believes in his products and believes that it will become the next successful product. The analysis of his presentation techniques was informative. It went into detail and help breakdown the specific techniques that makes Steve Jobs an amazing presenter. I missed some of those techniques while watching the video in class and the analysis helped me see the other techniques that was used by Steve Jobs.