9.6 Mastering the Art of Presentation in the Technical Workplace
McDonald Kyte
(Berns, 2008). Image: From Adobe Stock Generated with AI by Sanook / Education License – Standard Image
Presentation skills are crucial in the technical workplace. Communicating complex technical information is essential for ensuring that ideas, concepts, and findings are clearly understood by colleagues, senior management, and stakeholders. Strong presentation skills can enable you to simplify technical details, making them more accessible to a wide range of audience. Additionally, in professional settings, presentations often serve as a means of showcasing expertise, “thought leadership” (Kurtzman, 1995), gaining buy-in for projects, and persuading others to adopt new ideas or technologies. Therefore, the ability to deliver engaging, informative, and persuasive presentations is a valuable skill that can enhance your career success in technical fields.
The Presentation Advantage: Elevating Your Career with Effective Presentation Skills
Effective presentations can enhance understanding, facilitate collaboration, and showcase expertise, ultimately leading to better outcomes in the workplace. Whether conveying complex ideas to colleagues, pitching proposals to clients, or leading meetings, the ability to communicate effectively can significantly impact success. Presentation skills have a profound impact on various aspects of professional and personal life.
- Clear Communication: Technical information can be complex and dense. Good presentation skills help to simplify and clarify this information, making it easier for others to understand.
- Engagement: A well-presented technical topic can captivate the audience, keeping them engaged and interested in the subject matter.
- Professionalism: Effective presentation skills demonstrate professionalism and confidence, which are important in establishing credibility with your audience.
- Persuasion: In many technical contexts, you may need to persuade others to adopt a particular solution or approach. Strong presentation skills can help you make a compelling case.
- Collaboration: Effective presentations can facilitate collaboration by fostering understanding and agreement among team members or stakeholders.
- Career Advancement: Strong presentation skills are often essential for career advancement, as they are highly valued in many technical roles and industries.
Presentations Lessons from Steve Jobs
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo (2009) is a guidebook that unveils the communication strategies of one of the most iconic presenters in modern history. Through a detailed analysis of Steve Jobs’ captivating speeches and product launches, Gallo reveals the techniques that made Jobs’ presentations so compelling and memorable.
Gallo (2009) distills Jobs’ approach into key principles such as simplicity and creating an emotional connection with the audience, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to improve their presentation skills. Jobs was also known for his storytelling skills, using narratives to engage his audience and make complex ideas more relatable. Additionally, Gallo highlights Jobs’ use of visuals, such as slides with minimal text and high-quality images, to enhance his presentations.
Here are some practical advice and techniques inspired by Steve Jobs’ approach from one of his presentations, the iPhone launch in 2007, to help you deliver more convincing and effective presentations.
Exercises: Presentation Lessons from Steve Jobs
Watch the YouTube video of Steve Jobs Introducing The iPhone At MacWorld 2007. Then discuss the following questions in small groups.
Discussion Questions:
- Steve Jobs was passionate about design and showed his enthusiasm for new products. How important do you think passion and enthusiasm are in delivering effective presentations? Can you think of any examples from your own experience where passion or enthusiasm made a difference in a presentation?
- Steve Jobs used the technique of creating a “Twitter-friendly headline” to capture the main message he wished to deliver. How effective do you think this technique is in conveying a message? Can you think of any other examples where a short, memorable phrase or headline made a presentation more impactful?
- Jobs often used the rule of three in his presentations. Why do you think the number three is considered powerful in communications? Can you think of any other examples where the rule of three is used to effectively convey a message?
- How did Steve Jobs use storytelling in his presentations? Why do you think storytelling is an effective communication tool? Can you think of any other public figures or companies that use storytelling effectively in their presentations or marketing?
- Steve Jobs was known for his extensive preparation and practice before delivering a presentation. How important do you think preparation and practice are in delivering a successful presentation? Have you ever experienced or witnessed a presentation that was not well-prepared? How did it impact the audience’s perception?
- In what ways did Steve Jobs make his presentations entertaining and enjoyable for the audience? Do you think humour and entertainment are important elements in a presentation? Why or why not?
- Steve Jobs often ended his presentations with an inspiring message. How important do you think it is to leave the audience with a memorable takeaway or message? Can you think of any other examples where a presentation ended on a particularly inspiring note?
- What are some key lessons or techniques from Jobs’ presentations that you think could be applied to your communication style or presentations? Do you think you would consider trying any of these techniques in the future?
Aristotle’s Outline for Persuasive Arguments
Steve Jobs’ presentation follows Aristotle’s classic five-point plan to create a persuasive argument:
- Deliver a story or statement that arouses the audience’s interest.
- Pose a problem or question that has to be solved or answered.
- Offer a solution to the problem you raised.
- Describe specific benefits of adopting the course of action outlined in your solution.
- State a call to action. For Steve Jobs, it is as simple as saying, “Now go out and buy one!”
Adapted from The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo, (2009)
References
Berns, G. (2008). Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently. Harvard Business School Press. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2008-09-neuroscientist-reveals-nonconformists-success.html:~:text=In%20a%20new%20book%2C%20Iconoclast,we%20can%20learn%20from%20them.
Gallo, C. (2009). The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in front of any Audience. McGraw Hill Professional.
Kurtzman, J. (1995, October 1). The world Economy: Heading toward growth. Strategy+Business. https://www.strategy-business.com/article/11861?pg=0