Steve Jobs vs Elon Musk presentation styles and what to learn from them

It’s a face-off between two gods of technology, of course!

On the one hand, it’s Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple Inc who has delighted us with mobile and personal computer products that have disrupted the way we listen to music or click a photo or even talk to our loved ones.

And on the other hand, we have Elon Musk, the 49-year-old billionaire tech entrepreneur and co-founder of electric automotive giant Tesla, who has been introducing us to a technological revolution of renewable energy and its mind-boggling applications.

Not only do these two entrepreneurs have raked in all that fortune and glory with their brilliant minds, but they also have kept viewers, listeners and tech enthusiasts on the edge of their seats with how they present each product they have created. Besides championing the endgame of businesses they are associated with, they have continued to inspire a legion of public speaking enthusiasts and presenters alike.

While Jobs had been a frontrunner in the personal computing and design revolution that took Silicon Valley by storm, Musk has been making waves with his innovation in solar power and space travel as well (cue his brainchild SpaceX). But both of these innovators have introduced us to such legacies with a very exciting thing – a presentation.

But what is the secret sauce to their presentation styles? What is that X-factor that gives us the smile of mind while listening to them speaking on a giant stage or a tech convention or a commencement ceremony? How are their styles similar? In what ways are they different? And most of all, what could we learn as a presenter from them?

We outline the answers to these questions in this blog.

But first, let’s go back in time…

Before they were directing and overseeing these high-powered companies that reached multi-billion dollar valuations, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk were passionate human beings. They had experienced a student life just like we did. Although the difference between us and them may be the magnitude of our ideas, but there is something about their starting points that just levitates us towards their charm and their spoken words. Besides great products, they have honed themselves as presenters that can leave an long-lasting impact, something that has become a significant mention in tech and public speaking blogs to this day (just like this one, coincidentally). Let’s see how Steve Jobs and Elon Musk left us inspired from their early days in the field of technology entrepreneurship.

The Steve Jobs Presentation Charm

If anyone has to observe how one can grow as a presenter, this video is a must-watch for them. One of the formative challenges and goals before Apple Inc was how to stay ahead and stay great. In fact, the tagline “Think different” had become so irresistible for tech market innovators at that time that soon it became a voice for the brand and those who loved this brand. The reason behind that is Jobs’s masterful skill of presenting an idea or a product.

“What we (Apple) are about isn’t making boxes for people to get their jobs done. Although, we do that well. We do that better than almost anybody in some cases. But Apple is about something more than that,” says Jobs during the presentation to an auditorium full of spectators (and equally filled with bated breaths). He also makes this presentation about how people can change the world for the better, while rolling out the plan for marketing campaign for Apple Inc in the years to come. No wonders the theme for this campaign was… you guessed it right, “Think different”.

“I think the question now is not “Can we turn around Apple”… I think it’s “Can we make Apple really great again?” says Jobs as he concludes the presentation amid a resounding applause from one and all present in the hall. The presentation is a testament to what a person with a passion for challenging the status quo and making great things while taking huge strides towards success. This passion is what gave that much-needed boost to Apple and took it to great heights, all thanks to Jobs’s profound focus and drive for disruptive tech innovation.

The Elon Musk Presentation Panache

When Elon Musk had not yet become a global brand making inspirational products, he had started off as someone with passion for life-changing concepts. And though we all love to drive a swanky Tesla with speeds that thrill, Musk has been giving us not only remarkable milestones of thought but also services that have revolutionized the entire world while becoming a benchmark for the process and services that we avail of today. While every idea by the founder of SpaceX has stood the test of time, if we take a look at his initial public speeches like the one below, we will get a glimpse of a charming presenter in the making.

“The only way to get involved with the internet in ’95 that I could think of was to start a company,” says Musk as he charts what went into making Zip2, serving print media companies take their business online. He talks about how money is “just an entry in the database” and such a system warranted the need for innovation in financial services and management. And that is how Musk Inc came up with the idea of X.com (now Paypal), which is the leading online payments service provider you find at the footer of every website you interact with.

“It’s not like we drive Russian cars, fly Russian planes, or have Russian kitchen appliances. I mean when was the last time we bought something Russian that wasn’t Vodka.” This is how Musk describes the motivation behind SpaceX, i.e. to make and launch spacecrafts that will help humans survive in a Martian ecosystem. “The reason for simplicity (in decisions for SpaceX) is that it increases reliability as well as reduces your costs,” answers Musk to a question from an audience member. And while they did get the answer to the question, it was also laying the foundation of what Musk calls “advanced entrepreneuring”. And that is how he, as a presenter, goes beyond the scope of the speech itself.

Jobs vs Musk: How their presentation styles are similar

Though Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have been the frontrunners in their fields of technology, albeit about different products, one can get a decent idea that there are some interesting similarities in the way they present these products. In fact, in some presentations, even their theme and the conduct is on the same lines. We break down these points of similarity one by one.

#1 They command ethos

For those uninitiated about Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals, ethos is when the presenter convinces the audience by being authentic and credible as a way of their personality and passion. And who better to exemplify ethos than Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. When you have Steve Jobs on the stage you are taking in a wave of solid conviction by his sheer drive to inform you about his revolutionary product. Not only does Jobs tell you about the product with great interest and fluidity, he also keeps the audience convinced with his ethical approach as a business magnate and design guru.

Same goes for Musk when he is about to blow our minds with a shiny electric vehicle with autopilot features, or telling us how a space vehicle will be the medium for a sustainable existence in a colony on Mars. He talks about the presentation topic with his signature zeal.

#2 They master logos

Nothing works without an explanation. Aristotle’s second rhetorical appeal called logos, or appeal through logic, is the art of persuading someone with numbers, facts and figures. And logos is an evergreen component of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk’s presentations. With each presenter, you get data-centric groundwork for each product they launch.

If it is a mobile phone, Jobs will pique your interest with how many limited function cellphones were sold in that year and what does the iphone cost. If it is a Tesla Powerwall, Musk will give you the figures about how carbon footprint is growing (and worsening) day by day or how many batteries it takes to keep a remote warehouse running. Bottom line, both these presenters utilize the impact of logos to change the perception of their audience towards the solution by giving a startling figurative problem.

#3 They influence with pathos

The third Aristotle rhetoric of pathos is the method of persuasion through emotion. You will find this element in almost every successful big-ticket marketing campaign in the world. No surprises that pathos is the elemental spice in every Steve Jobs and Elon Musk presentation. The reason why tech consumers gravitate towards Apple and Tesla products is because in every presentation, the two always evoke the consumer’s senses and emotions with occasional and relatable humor.

Also, Jobs and Musk focus on the consumer pain points and then introduce their product or service as the better solution than the competitors too. All in all, they do not let the presentation be a drag that they have to sit through. They make the audience experience it.

But what makes them different

It is imperative to mention that though Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have evolved as public speaking and presentation stalwarts in their respective fields, the difference in their personas and presentation styles is also apparent and equally significant. Though both propel our minds to futuristic realms with the way they conduct their presentations, there are some points of stark differences in their presentation styles that make both of them unique presenters as well as champions of their own leagues. Here are those points:

#1 Body language

Body language is the most significant part of a presentation. When you are presenting on the scale of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, it is essential to see how these two make themselves stand out. Their body language, thus, has a huge role to play in that aspect. Talking of Steve Jobs, his body language is that of authority and decorum with a dash of dynamism. He uses gestures and varied stances on the stage to set minds in motion. In fact, throughout the presentation he uses the stage convincingly without seeming distracting. Wherever he moves, eyes follow. On the contrary, Elon Musk has his own style of presenting with a seemingly defensive (or flight mode) stance. Moreover, the Tesla chief also moves around less while presenting and mostly aces the product unveil by simply talking about it (with ethos, logos and pathos).

#2 Speech

Another distinguishing factor between Steve Jobs and Elon Musk presentation styles is the way the two speak. In case of the Apple co-founder, you get methodical and impactful pauses used with such precision that even a layman will find themselves gasping in awe. In fact, the speech pattern used by Steve Jobs consists of enunciation at the right moment for maximum effect. This adds to the ethos part of his personality as a presenter while keeping the audience engaged about the next big thing that Apple Inc will roll out.

On the other hand, you may call Elon Musk’s speech style “unconventional”, for it is populated with frequent stutter and filler words, though that never lets his presentations be any less influential. One can perceive the stutter and abrupt pauses as an eventuality since Musk mostly has to talk a lot about the product before bringing it out (imagine holding out a Tesla Roadster like a phone). But the SpaceX founder sure makes up for it with humor and witty conduct. A win-win for all!

#3 Content focus

What’s a good presentation without good content! Steve Jobs and Elon Musk prepare such outstanding presentations that the consumers cannot help but click the “buy” button. A major difference between their presentation styles is how they focus their content as per the brand image. Talking of a Steve Jobs presentation, as an observer one will find that an Apple product unveil seamlessly revolves around a catchy tagline or theme (cue the iconic “There’s something in the Air” for Macbook Air). In fact, the content is interspersed with live demonstration of the product and every feature that Jobs describes on the stage.

On the other end of the spectrum is Elon Musk who lets product specifications be the continuous theme of his presentation up until the big reveal of the product itself. He also keeps demonstrations videographed and uses them creatively to show what a particular Tesla model can do.

Jobs and Musk: What you, as a presenter, can learn from them

We’re making the best (product) in the world.

The reason why Steve Jobs and Elon Musk presentations leave a lasting impression on the world is because they are able to galvanize such claims about their product with their passion to talk about them. If you have looked at one of their presentations and went “I want to ignite minds like them”, then you are not the only one. In fact, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have been the epitome of effective presentation skills, giving public speakers something more than just a reason to excel. They give the listener a reason to believe (and then buy, of course). Working on these lines, one can learn a lot from them as a presenter. Here are some valuable tips on presentation that one can learn from them.

#1 Believe in yourself

We have all faced that “Sell me this pen” question at one point in life or the other. And how do you answer that question? By believing in the product and, most importantly, yourself. The power of conviction comes from that inner confidence, a quality that both Steve Jobs and Elon Musk achieve with their entrepreneurial drive to change the world.

#2 Practice makes perfect

Presenting on the scale of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk can be a daunting task. The uninitiated can get jitters just thinking of it. So what is the solution? Practice. Practice. And more practice. The presentations that we see become exceptional because Jobs and Musk make it a point to know their product inside out. They talk about, demonstrate and experiment with each product with authority. Practice this skill and you will emerge stronger.

#3 Do not make the presentation a drag

While we do know that something extensive and technical can lead to boredom among the audience, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk always keep space and time for spontaneous (and exceptionally witty) humor. This quality comes from knowing your audience well. So incorporate that into your presentation.

#4 Be authentic

As we may find while observing Elon Musk presenting a product, the occasional stutter or filler words could seem distracting. But the billionaire tech genius is an example of how to not let that be a deterrent. In fact, this adds to his authenticity on the stage. Not that Jobs isn’t equally authentic. He also is an inspiration to many as he takes the right pauses and makes the right choices while saying the right things. Bottom line, as a presenter, your authenticity makes you more believable and relatable, and hence, impactful and memorable.

#5 Use the element of surprise

To emulate the presentation panache of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, you have to master a key ingredient — the element of surprise. Notice how Jobs and Musk save the price of a product for the last near the end of a presentation. The mantra is to illustrate how the product is able to accomplish so many things and spark the audience’s intrigue. And then, when the interest reaches its crescendo, they strike the proverbial chord. Gasp goes the audience as they bring forth how these products can be the best purchase of their lives. The takeaway is to use such points of interest of the audience to blow their minds away. And that’s how you do a presentation that rocks!

So in conclusion, through this discussion, we wanted to highlight that excellence is a skill acquired with perseverance and spirit. No matter whether you observe Steve Jobs and Elon Musk for their presentation and public speaking skills or just for inspiration, there will always be something that you will learn from them — how to dream to accomplish something and actually doing it with substance. As for the dreamers in us, here’s this wonderful speech by the late Steve Jobs, and how he, in his own extraordinary way, “put a ding in the universe”.