If you want to communicate like the world’s top leaders, you’ll love my conversation with Carmine Gallo, bestselling author of Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds (amongst many other books), fellow Inc. magazine contributor, and master communication coach.
I first came across Gallo’s work years ago when I read Talk Like TED. I emailed Gallo to invite him to be a guest on the podcast. After some “polite stalking” in the Inc. Authors’ Slack group, I I was thrilled when he finally replied. That led to this conversation, one I’m so excited to share with you.
We unpack what Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and other master presenters do differently, and how you can apply their strategies right away. Here are the three main takeaways we covered:
1️⃣ Have the courage to keep it simple
Simplicity signals confidence. Gallo highlighted that when you strip out jargon, extras, and busy slides, the audience focuses their attention on you and your message, not on deciphering clutter.
How to put this idea into practice:
- One idea per slide. If a slide has more than one core point, split it up.
- Visuals over text. Favor a single compelling image or figure with a short caption.
- Use plain language. Swap “optimize synergies” for “work better together.”
- Keep it tight. Do you really need 45 minutes, or can you do it in 20 minutes?
2️⃣ Don’t lead with your slides
You’re the storyteller, not your slides. The world’s best communicators, like Steve Jobs, understood this. When drafting slides, keep the following in mind:
- Treat slides as support, not the star.
- Keep slides clean and visual, with as few words as possible.
- Let your narrative drive the message, and use the slide deck only to reinforce the points you’re making.
Steve Jobs’ iconic 2007 iPhone launch presentation used minimalist slides: a black background, one image, maybe two words. The story came from him; the slides were just a backdrop.
Watch the first few minutes of Steve Jobs’ iconic 2007 iPhone speech to see exactly what Gallo means when he calls Jobs “the world’s greatest brand storyteller.”
3️⃣ Practice under pressure
Nerves are normal. In fact, feeling nervous can fuel your performance.
Gallo encourages us to build confidence the same way elite athletes do: through repetition and practice in conditions that feel a little stressful.
Here’s what Gallo recommends:
- Rehearse out loud and standing, with a timer running.
- Record yourself or invite a colleague to listen.
- Add breathing exercises before you begin.
- Review quickly after each rep. Ask yourself what worked, what to change, and go again.
Rehearse your speech the same way an athlete trains. Reps build muscle memory.
Bonus insight: Where to start
What’s the first thing you do when you’re preparing an important presentation? If you’re like most people, you start with your slides.
WAIT!
Here’s a much more effective place to start. This is the advice I share with my executive coaching clients.
Start preparing your presentation by answering two questions:
What’s my main point?
- If your presentation is going to be memorable, it needs to be focused.
- Before you do anything, establish your one main takeaway.
Who is my audience?
- Understand how many people will be there, their demographics, and perhaps psychographics.
- How much do they know about your topic? How much do they care?
- What will their mindset be when you’re onstage? What’s the context? Who’s speaking before you? Are you speaking right before lunch?
After you answer these two questions, then you create an outline, and then you can start creating slides.
Taking a few minutes to answer these two questions can take your presentation to the next level!
Great communication isn’t about saying more, it’s about communicating what matters.
Keep it simple, remember you are the storyteller (not your slides), and practice until confidence feels natural. These small shifts will transform how you feel in front of an audience, and most importantly, the impact of your message.
I encourage you to listen to my full interview with Gallo in the latest Talk About Talk podcast, ep.197, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos & the Secret to Unforgettable Presentations. Listen (or watch) on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Talk soon,
Dr. Andrea Wojnicki
executive communication coach