What Pastors Can Learn From Steve Jobs

Most pastors are teachers, but not all teachers are pastors. Most pastors have some sort of regular public speaking routine built-in to there weekly/monthly schedule. As such, we have a lot to learn about human communication.

We have a lot to learn from others who communicate a message effectively and decisively.

One of those people to learn from is Steve Jobs. In fact, someone named Carmine Gallo even wrote a book on the presentation secrets of ol’ Steve. I haven’t read the book, but below is a list of some of the “secrets” unveiled by Gallo in a video at the end of this post.

1. Set the Theme

Andy Stanley does this more brilliantly than anyone I know. He weaves a single statement throughout his entire message, making it unforgettable by the end. Jobs does the same thing–one particular theme that you base everything else in your message off of. Cohesion, baby.

2. Provide the Outline

Tell people where you’re going. Don’t make them guess. Jobs will provide some sort of verbal outline near the beginning of his presentations. I like to do the same thing, just so people have an expectation of what they can expect to hear. You respect your audience by doing this, as well as giving them something to look forward to.

3. Open and Close Each Section With a Clear Transition

Give them a “bookend.” Clearly transition from one point to the next with a relevant and catchy transition. Jobs masters this and it shows–the momentum in his presentations never slows, even though the pace might. It’s like a stick-shift–you wouldn’t go from first gear to third, otherwise you wouldn’t have a car for very long. You go from first, to second, to third, etc. The same principle applies in public speaking.

4. Demonstrate Enthusiasm

Someone I work with once told me, “Your audience can’t exceed your level of excitement. If you’re at a five, it is not possible for those listening to go past that. You set the tone.” Steve Jobs is obviously, palatably excited every time he gives a presentation. He’s amped about the latest product he’s wow-ing the crowd with. What about you, pastor? Are you honestly excited about the message you’re conveying? Or are you manufacturing energy? Learn a lesson from Perry Noble: GET EXCITED!!!

5. Make it Visual

Pastors and preachers, listen up. I am convinced this is the most important take-away we can learn from Steve Jobs: Make your presentation visual. The spoken word is designed to engage the mind while visual images are designed to affect the heart. Steve Jobs is a master at conveying information about Apple products while engaging the heart at the same time (i.e. the “I want that!” factor):

  • He rarely has more than three images on a single slide.
  • There are usually less than 10 words on a single slide.
  • The images he uses are rich and vibrant, telling a story.
  • Visual aids are simple and rich with meaning (i.e. pulling the Macbook Air out of a manilla envelope. Brilliantly simple).

This is where we pastors have the most to learn. Powerpoint slides are not an excuse to cram as much information as possible onto the screen. Clip art is (and always should be) forbidden. Think less words, more images. Think less words, less slides. Let your story-telling skills do the walking!

6. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

While I’m not 100% on this tip, there is merit. Jobs makes his presentations look effortless because he’s logged dozens of hours to make you think that he’s not even trying. Believe me, he is. While every individual is different, and every schedule is different, practicing your message can never hurt. Knowing your transitions and cues from one segment to the next is key. While we pastors may not have as much time to practice for a weekly message, we can be intentional about knowing what we’re going to say before we step on stage.

No matter what you think about his products, Steve Jobs is an amazing communicator. Sure, he may not be communicating the truths of Scripture, but the message he is conveying is being heard and embraced by millions. Isn’t that something we can learn from? Leaders are learners!

(If you’re interested, below is a brief video presentation by Carmine Gallo on Steve Jobs communication skills. It’s a bit cheesy, but the info is great and the analysis is super helpful.)

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Contributor: Justin Wise

I am a religious deviant who enjoys coffee, collared shirts, spending time with my wife and son, learning about quantum physics and creatively exploring the riches of the Spirit of Christ. Find more here: JustinWise.me
  • I hope you noticed that you were mentioned by Fake Steve Jobs on his blog at http://www.fakesteve.net. Congrats! :)
  • I did. I even commented on it, thanking "Steve" for his attention to detail and his love for my sweater vest :)

    HA!
  • ikaruga
    I was surprised by the level of animosity at that site. He starts talking about "Christianity" and it's like he's talking about the holocaust :-) They don't get the point. It's all about getting the message across---whatever that "message" may be. Steve's techniques are more palatable to a "modern" audience used to video games, TV, etc... It certainly helps in my Sunday School class...
  • "The spoken word is designed to engage the mind while visual images are designed to affect the heart."

    What? No book, or radio program or preacher for centuries who didn't have a power point...never affected someone's heart. Or the Bible read out loud?

    When there are little throw away statements like that throughout it kills the intended argument.

    I am not upset at you by any means, just a general feeling I am getting of late from a lot of things I read. That any statement goes and can be used as fact...
  • No doubt you've been reading Stetzer!

    Would it help if I clarified the statement by saying "the written word which is then spoken"?

    What I mean is this: When you look at a screen and see copious amounts of numbers and letters and words and sentences, your mind goes into "research" mode. It begins to filter and categorize the information it is processing. This is what I mean when I say the spoken (written) word engages the mind.

    Images, however, bypass that part of the brain and affect the part that processes emotions. This is why art works the way that it does. We look at a Rothko painting differently than we would a telephone book.

    So, as I stated, the spoken (written) word engages the mind while images engage the heart. It's two different segments of the brain working with two different functions.

    Does this help clarify?
  • I guess it clarifies to a degree. But I may still be misunderstanding...

    Sometimes for me visuals only serve to distract. I have been swept away before, emotionally and from the heart, by a great story teller who used no pictures. Only words. (I guess that is word pictures... :)

    I am nit picking one point. But I think speaking and writing can still be more powerful if communicated well.

    thanks and out
  • ikaruga
    I can see your mistrust---this style of presenting is generally abused. However, read for example http://presentationzen.com or http://www.sethgodin.com/freeprize/reallybad.html.

    This post is awesome @Justin@. I'm forwarding it to my buddy who was asked to do sermon using powerpoint.
  • Certainly! I hear what you're saying.

    My point wasn't that the spoken or written word cannot access the heart, just that images tend to get to the heart more quickly. (Our culture, unfortunately, has picked up on this, which is why you see billboards around every corner, advertising this and that. For more, pick up William Romanowski's Eyes Wide Open.)
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