Presentation Skills Archives

How Many Slides Should My PowerPoint Be?

by Brad Holst

When it comes to creating PowerPoint® slides, less is more. Why, then, are so many presentations too long? Because presenters make the same mistake I once did. This week, I'll tell you about my experience and give you a simple recipe for creating short slide decks that help you get your message heard.

by Brad Holst

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides, Slide deck

Winging It Is Not a Good Webcast Strategy

by Heather Muir

The webcast is a more difficult medium to master than most assume. Mastering virtual presentations takes experienced coaching, structured practice, and developmental feedback. But, there are things you can do right now to improve your delivery and head off a virtual disaster.

by Heather Muir

Presentation Skills, Virtual Presentations, Webcasts

What Every Businessperson Can Learn from an Entrepreneur

by Brad Holst

By necessity, entrepreneurs understand something that other professionals can take a lifetime to learn. Learn this lesson early, and it could make the difference between career success and failure.

by Brad Holst

Executive Presence, In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presenting to Executives, Storytelling

Don’t Be a Stick in the Mud…Move!

by Steve Mandel

Moving around when you speak benefits both you and your audience. Here are some tips for how and where to move, so that you enhance your connection with your audience, as well as their enjoyment of your presentation.

by Steve Mandel

Executive Presence, In-Person Presentations, Presentation Skills

Using Quotes to Punch Up Your Presentation

by Steve Mandel

Not only are quotes a great way to punch up what might otherwise be a dry presentation, but they lend credibility to your thoughts and ideas. Here are a few tips on where to source quotes and how to use them effectively in your presentations.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills

Use the Power of Gestures

by Steve Mandel

Do you ever feel awkward about what to do with your hands when you give a presentation? You're not alone. Isn't it strange, though, that people almost never feel this awkwardness during everyday conversation? Gesturing comes naturally outside of the presentation environment. Anxiety interrupts the ability to gesture when presenting. Here's how to overcome your anxiety and use gestures effectively.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills

Slideware Trend: Why 16:9 is the New Black

by Brad Holst

Do your slides make you seem outdated? I can’t remember the last time I gave a presentation using the old 4:3 aspect ratio. When your slides are in the 16:9 aspect ratio, your audience is likely to perceive higher production values and a more modern presentation, which all reflects back positively on you—the presenter. Here's why the 16:9 ratio is just plain better.

by Brad Holst

PowerPoint, Presentation Slides, Slide deck

Tips on Presenting from the Big Stage

by Steve Mandel

Speaking to a big audience can be intimidating. Often, bright lights are shining in your eyes, the stage is huge and elevated above your audience, and the stakes may be very high. The pressure is on! At last month’s Cisco Live event, we provided coaching around the unique challenges of speaking to large audiences. Here are a few of the tips we shared for tackling these challenges.

by Steve Mandel

Executive Presence, In-Person Presentations, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides

Tough Questions: Keep Your Cool Under Pressure

by Steve Mandel

Everyone has had to deal with questions that are difficult, asked in an angry voice, or just plain hostile. And, when you're caught off guard by such questions, it's easy to be thrown into a panicky state and not answer well, jeopardizing your credibility. Here's how to avoid losing your cool under pressure.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills, Selling Skills

How to Communicate with Executives: Part III

by Steve Mandel

The two-part blog series on How to Communicate with Executives was so well-received, I wanted to write a third and final bonus post. Not to mention, Fortune 500 executives have shared so many invaluable tips with me with over the years, that it's difficult for me not to want to share them all. So, this week I'll conclude the series by focusing on (1) the use of slides when presenting to executives and (2) how to manage push back when interacting with executives.

by Steve Mandel

Executive Presence, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

How to Communicate with Executives: Part II

by Steve Mandel

This week, in Part II of this series, I'm going to focus on how to present yourself to executives in order to earn their respect and confidence. How do you communicate non-verbally? What's your body language saying? Or your vocal tone and volume? Here's what executives believe executive presence should look like.

by Steve Mandel

Executive Presence, Presenting to Executives

How to Communicate with Executives: Part I

by Steve Mandel

In Part I of this two-part series, Steve Mandel shares two common concerns Fortune 500 executives have voiced again and again about how people communicate with them. Their concerns directly correlate to steps you can take to become a more skilled, confident, and highly competent executive communicator.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

Lessons from the Jungle Cruise

by Brad Holst

I'm proud to say that I was a Disneyland Jungle Cruise skipper. I wore the hat, shot the gun, and made “the backside of water” water joke more times than I can count. For me, it was the ultimate part-time college job. The pay was good, the work itself was crazy fun, and it turned out I learned lessons about effective presentations skills that stick with me today. Here are three that anyone can use to be a better presenter.

by Brad Holst

Presentation Skills

9 Sales Questions to Help You Close Deals Faster

by Steve Mandel

On any sales call, your goal is to get as much valuable information as you can from the client—information that can help you recommend a relevant solution or service, build trust, and close the sale more quickly. Here are 9 questions to help you gain the insight and info you need to build better relationships with clients and close deals faster.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Sales Readiness, Selling Skills

3 Ways to Use Eye Contact to Your Advantage

by Steve Mandel

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who averted eye contact with you? It feels awkward and off-putting, at worst. At best, it can be difficult to connect with what that person is saying. A presentation is a conversation with your audience. The degree to which you use eye contact effectively will help you and your audience feel more comfortable and engaged.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Eye Contact, Presentation Skills

3 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Slides

by Steve Mandel

"Death by PowerPoint" is very much alive and well. Learn how to spare your audience the pain. Gain three easy tips for dramatically improving your presentation slides.

by Steve Mandel

PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides

Do Presentation Skills Matter?

by Brad Holst

Do presentation skills really matter today? Much more than you think. Your ability to present well could mean the difference between status quo and success.

by Brad Holst

Presentation Skills

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