Lynn Espinoza is a broadcast news veteran with more than a decade of media, presentation and executive coaching experience. She has developed personal coaching sessions for Fortune 100 C-level executives, corporate communicators of all kinds, doctors, lawyers and leaders in non-profit.
I Want to Speak Like Steve Jobs
Posted on August 11, 2009. Filed under: Latest News
In nearly all of my presentation skills sessions, I ask the question, “If you could present like someone else, who would it be?” The answer is often “Steve Jobs”.
My answer is always, “I’m sorry. You can’t”
The reason is that the head of Apple, Steve Jobs, is entirely authentic when he speaks. He has his own movements, his own presence and his own voice. If you try to imitate him, you will not sound like him, and you won’t sound like YOU. Authenticity is essential for a truly powerful presentation.
Way back in the early days of my television career, I had a very wise agent. He encouraged me to watch some high-profile TV anchors, and decide who among them I admired most. I zeroed in on one in particular. Then he gave me advice that has lasted a lifetime: “NEVER try to imitate her. Instead, emulate those qualities”. This anchor never forced her delivery; she never showed false emotion over a sad news story, nor did she get “goofy” over the good news. She was comfortable in her skin, and certain of her abilities as a journalist. She also went on to The Today Show and later Dateline NBC. If I had tried to imitate her, I’d look like a phony. But by emulating her, I found that I, too, could rely on my abilities as a reporter, and not over-modulate my emotions. I built on that knowledge, and built a successful broadcasting career as a result.
Now back to Steve Jobs.
You don’t need to sound like or look like him to speak as well as he does. You need to sound and look like you. AND you can emulate some of what makes him so successful.
- He speaks from a place of passion. When he is speaking about new products or new possibilities, he is truly excited about them. He doesn’t rely soley on scripted “key messages”. He can talk in a less scripted way because he is involved in his story, and believes in it.
- Part of the reason Steve Jobs sounds so credible is because he completely knows his stuff. Too often, executives are called upon to speak about things that aren’t what they know best. Speakers should either, 1) take the time to become intimately involved in the speech topic or, 2) ask the person who knows the subject best to deliver the speech.
- When Steve Jobs delivers a speech, he is absolutely prepared. He practices. And then practices again. If he’s using visuals such as PowerPoint, he always knows what’s coming up. He never reads slides. He drives the visuals rather than letting the visuals drive him. Oh, and he practices.
A funny thing happened for one of my clients recently. In our presentation skills session, we had the discussion about what makes Steve Jobs such a great presenter. I encouraged him to emulate the qualities above - and to speak from his own place; with his own voice. He called me after the presentation:
“Someone just came up to me and said I presented like Steve Jobs!”
One Response to “I Want to Speak Like Steve Jobs”
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