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As seen in Inc.
Use these three techniques to engage your audience.
Our phones ring off the hook and our inboxes blow up with invitations for Elon Musk–everyone wants him at their event. Our office fields hundreds offers each year for him–we get more calls for Musk than any celeb, politician or athlete.
Musk’s speaking appeal is not solely due to his fame or him being a household name. It’s not because he’s wealthy or his companies are changing industries and lifestyles. Between us, fame can create demand for speaking events, it won’t guarantee hundreds of speaking offers–unless you have the goods to deliver on stage.
While Musk and his speaking style isn’t usually placed on the same shelf as Steve Jobs, he does a few things better than the “connect the dots” maestro. If you want to inspire audiences like Musk, be authentic, use humor, and share a common vision.
Be authentic
Jobs won audiences with presentations polished like a diamond, Musk wins over people with his ad-lib authenticity. When he talks about Tesla, he isn’t delivering pithy publicity sound bites, he speaks candidly about Tesla’s challenges and shows genuine appreciation for customers.
In a recent address, Musk shared how Tesla was overcoming the challenges for charging vehicles and setting up new charging stations. He also thanked all the people who lined up to order the new Model 3 car and how much it meant to him.
Use humor
One of the ways Musk charms his audience is humor. While some jokes are thought out beforehand, much of the humor comes off the cuff and is sometimes self-deprecating. This naturalness to his humor only adds to his appeal.
In the presentation introducing the Model 3, for example, he joked how his chart with lots of arrows looked like missiles and how people gave him feedback through Twitter. His ability to mock his own presentation slide as well as laugh at Tesla’s foibles, humanizes him. When he laughs at himself, it makes us laugh too.
Show a vision
Musk connects with his audience because he inspires people with a vision of what is possible. Some CEOs talk about “war stories,” money made, items sold, market share conquered–and he focuses on how the group’s work will help individuals, the environment, and the world.
Even more inspiring, he shows genuine excitement about helping others.
Musk may not be the most polished speaker in the world, but he is one of the most inspiring. Especially when he connects with the audience, using authenticity, humor, and vision.
About the Author Ken Sterling