Dale Carnegie vs. Steve Jobs

Dale Carnegie and Steve Jobs were two of the best public speakers of the 20th century. Both had unique styles that allowed them to convey information in entertaining and powerful ways. While I would say one is better than the other, they both are extremely different from one another.

For example, Dale Carnegie was all about "winning friends and influencing people." He really tried to build a bond with his audience. He spoke in a manner that was very anecdotal, like you were a dinner guest at his house. He was very humble, which in turn make the audience relax and more susceptible to his ideas. It didn't feel like Dale Carnegie was speaking to a group, it felt like he was speaking to individuals who just happened to be sitting next to each other.

Steve Jobs, on the other hand, was completely different. He treated the masses like one person, singling no one out. He spoke with polish and precision. He kept his personal stories to a minimum, only using them when essential. Jobs was the ultimate smooth talker, and he'd probably been a great used car salesman if he tried.

So there you have it, two of the best head to head. Sure, you can't have a clear winner, but that's because even though their styles were different they were both equally effective in achieving what they set out to, and that's all you can ask for.