The Lead

Context and audience value -- while it’s clear much of his presentation was stock, Moore made every effort to adjust the context for this manufacturing audience. So many marquee guest speakers think their role is to provide a diversion from the core content of the conference. Instead, Moore tied his ideas to the conference theme and recognized that, as a speaker, his job is to provide value to the audience. He did that in spades.

Visuals – Very few slides had more than 30 words, and all diagrams were simple and easy to digest. Instead of “interpreting slides,” which is what most speakers do, Moore uses visuals to amplify his points. The focus stays on him. He knows those visuals so well that he doesn’t ever have to look at them.

Organization -- he uses a classic “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them” model. It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it’s extremely effective.

Use of non-verbal cues – he makes the most of expressive above-the waist gestures and body language that emphasizes points without being distracting.

Appropriate use of humor – it’s primarily self-deprecating, and rather than tell jokes, he makes humorous statements that weave into the presentation and doesn’t dwell on them.

Using voice like a musical instrument – he takes advantage of the power of voice – varying speed, volume, cadence and rhythm to make his key points. A staccato drum drives home a highlight. Changing octaves adds drama. Varying pitch emphasizes differences between two concepts. Pauses allow the audience to ponder important concepts.

Now, you might say that it’s easy for Moore. After all, he gives dozens of speeches a year and is paid handsomely to do it. True, but that just supports my final point, which is that there’s no substitute for practice. Whether it’s in front of the mirror, in front of your dog, in front of a colleague or in front of a video camera (preferred), you need to give your presentation – out loud – several times in practice before you do it live. That, more than anything else, will help you make your key points more effectively.

If you get the chance, go and see one of Moore’s presentations. His books are excellent, but mirroring his speaking style might be even more valuable to you as a manager.