Blog | Mandel Communications

The Secrets to Financial Storytelling (Why Data-Driven Presentations Fail)

by Bob Sherwin

Financial presentations can quickly go south if the information isn’t presented in the context of the business story you want to tell. Don't make the mistake of relying on “the numbers” to convince your audience of what conclusions to draw or actions to take—OR of the benefits of your recommendations. Instead, discover the secrets to powerful financial storytelling. Here are 3 reasons data-driven presentations often fail and what you can do to make yours a success.

by Bob Sherwin

Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives, Technical Professionals

Using Artificial Intelligence for Communication Training Reinforcement

by Diane Burgess-Faber

In 2016, training expenditures in the US exceeded $70.6 billion, yet experts say that 90% of new skills are lost within a year if not reinforced. That means organizations without solid training reinforcement programs run the risk of wasting a collective $63.54 billion a year. That's precisely why artificial intelligence (AI) is so exciting—and why Mandel is even more excited to be a part of it. AI is revolutionizing reinforcement, making it possible to confidently generate a healthy return on your communication training investment. Read on to learn how.

by Diane Burgess-Faber

Communication Skills, Online Communication Skills Training

How to Communicate to Break Through the Noise in 2018

by Ed Musselwhite, CEO

In 2018, you matter, and...it may be harder than ever to “be heard and understood.” We all want 2018 to be our “best year ever!” professionally and personally. Fortunately, this new year looks like it offers great potential for record-setting successes. Yet, this moment in time presents some serious hindrances for you, if your job description includes words like “communicate,” “lead,” “manage,” “sell,” “influence,” or “collaborate.” Here's why and what you can do to make 2018 your best year ever.

by Ed Musselwhite, CEO

Critical Thinking Skills, Influencing Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Most Popular Skill-Building Content of 2017

by Heather Muir

As the year comes to a close, here's a look back at Mandel's most popular skill-building content of 2017. Whether trying to make a great first impression, give a persuasive presentation, or convince others to support your idea, how you communicate will be key to your success in 2018. To help you prepare, we’ve curated this list of the most downloaded skill-building content just for you.

by Heather Muir

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills, SCIPAB, Selling Skills

A Holiday SCI-PAB and Wish for You

by Heather Muir

The holiday season means more joy. . . and more stress! If you're feeling it, you're not alone. 62% of people describe their stress level as "very or somewhat elevated" during the holidays. Here's what the science says about how to experience more joy and less stress this season. And here's a wish for you, from all of us here at Mandel. (Of course, we had to SCI-PAB it.)

by Heather Muir

SCIPAB

How To Get Your Best Ideas Heard

by Heather Muir

A recent MIT Sloan/Deloitte study named innovation the second most important issue companies are grappling with today. Most organizations aren't lacking for ideas—the challenge is making sure the best ones get heard and funded. Unfortunately, too often, even great ideas get lost when poorly communicated. If you can't make a clear enough case for your idea, it ends up ignored, shelved, abandoned— or it may even get defeated by a weak idea, better presented. Don't let your best ideas get lost in presentation. Here's how.

by Heather Muir

Business Transformation, Conversation Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Why Appreciation Matters In Life and at Work

by Diane Burgess-Faber

Gratitude. Appreciation. Recognition. It makes you feel good. This week in the US, many will pause for a day or two to give thanks and show appreciation for the things and people we care about most. It’s no secret how appreciation benefits the person getting it—but did you know it benefits the person giving it just as much? Discover why recognition is such a powerful tool for improving relationships and wellbeing in life and at work. Learn how to (and how NOT to) express your appreciation to others.

by Diane Burgess-Faber

Collaboration Skills, Conversation Skills, Team Building

Redefine the User Experience for Your Employees and Customers

by Kate Day

Imagine this scenario. You’re at home and you want to learn something. What do you do? Watch a video on YouTube, Google it, find directions on Waze, ask Alexa, get the news on Twitter. As consumers, we’ve been conditioned to expect a certain experience. So why is it that our experience at work is so vastly different? This week, Mandel Executive Director Kate Day writes about how technology has forever changed learner expectations and what the implications are for businesses. She also has some “from-the-trenches” advice on how learning and development organizations can seize this moment as an opportunity to reimagine the user experience for your employees and, in turn, your customers.

by Kate Day

Business Transformation, Change Management, Digital Transformation, Online Communication Skills Training

Soft Skills Help Businesses Manage Disruption & Transformation

by Heather Muir

Change. Disruption. Digital Transformation. They can wreak havoc on organizations. What can you do about it? How should training and development organizations adapt? Soft skills — even the ability to manage meetings well or to write clear and succinct emails — can reduce workplace confusion and employee frustration in the face of disruptive forces. They can help create calmer, more creative, and goal-oriented workplaces. Here's why your company's ability to do that now is more important than ever.

by Heather Muir

Business Transformation, Collaboration Skills, Soft Skills

Warning: Millennials at Work

by Stephanie Boddy

The thing I love most about my generation? We’re always pushing the boundaries to make our world—and work—a better place. But we can only drive the change we want to see if we’re able to share our ideas in ways that others can easily understand and get excited about. Want to be a force for positive change and prove the stereotypes wrong? Focus on building the right skills as early in your career as possible. Here’s how.

by Stephanie Boddy

NEW! Communications Training Online Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device

by Heather Muir

Unpredictable schedules. Different locations. On-the-job demands. Has rolling out live training to thousands at once been a challenge? Announcing The Breakthrough Communicator ONLINE — state-of-the-art, high-impact, semi-synchronous, world-class communications training. Now, train 1000+ professionals anytime, anywhere, on any device. Personalized. Social. Hands-on. Effective. Build stronger communication skills — faster and at scale. Read the blog to learn more.

by Heather Muir

Online Communication Skills Training

Inspire Curiosity for Your Ideas by How You Communicate

by Heather Muir

Curiosity makes learning possible. Ultimately, it’s a powerful driver of innovation and progress. So what does it take to make colleagues, customers, and other decision-makers CURIOUS enough to want to learn more? How can you communicate in a way that inspires curiosity for your ideas, your products, and your solutions? Read this week’s blog to find out.

by Heather Muir

Critical Thinking Skills, Presentation Skills, SCIPAB

How Many Women Are In Your Leadership Pipeline?

by Beth Boone

Companies perform better financially when women are well represented in the workforce, in management, and on corporate boards. The problem is when a woman speaks, she can feel like she’s walking a tightrope. Many women report feeling like they’re either not heard at all at work or are judged as too aggressive when they speak. The research backs this up. As a result, women may decide that saying less is more. But this hurts them and their organizations. So what can your business do to tackle this problem head-on and build a stronger pipeline of women leaders? Read the blog to find out.

by Beth Boone

Conversation Skills, Executive Presence, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Preparing Generations X, Y, & Z to Be Leaders

by Heather Muir

A lot of research highlights differences between Generations X, Y, and Z. But one thing they share is a desire to lead. Preparing them to be leaders is a mission-critical task for organizations. But what will it really take to get there? Read the blog to find out.

by Heather Muir

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills, Teaming

Communicating & Team Building on a Global Stage

by Kathleen Redd

Of all the experiences I’ve had in my career, building a committed, loyal, high-performing global team of trainers has been the most rewarding. But along with the energy and excitement of working with colleagues around the world, came the challenges of team building and communicating across time zones, languages, and cultures. This week, I’d like to share some things the past decade has taught me—and others at Mandel—about how to effectively lead, communicate, and collaborate on a global scale.

by Kathleen Redd

Collaboration Skills, Team Building, Teaming

The Two Types of “Brain Freezes” We All Experience (and a Few Quick Tips on How to Cure Them)

by Bob Sherwin

Ugh, another brain freeze coming on. There are two kinds of brain freezes we've all experienced, both probably more often than we'd like. If you despise them like I do, here’s my take on both types, their causes, and a few quick tips on how to cure them.

by Bob Sherwin

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

The Secret to Connecting on LinkedIn

by Heather Muir

If you want to connect with more people on LinkedIn, I have a foolproof tip: Make a real connection. What I mean is, if you want to productively connect with someone—whether virtually through a social network or in-person—don't send a generic invite. They don't work. Read the blog to find out why, and what you can do instead to craft irresistible LinkedIn messages or networking emails that get results.

by Heather Muir

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Selling Skills

How Video Improves Virtual Communication and Strengthens Relationships

by Kelly Reeves

Video is so powerful. When used effectively, video can transform virtual meetings from ineffectual to productive. And everyone loves being on camera, right? Well, not exactly. If the idea of being on camera makes you feel self-conscious, here are some steps you can take to increase your comfort with video calls and vastly improve your virtual communication and relationships.

by Kelly Reeves

Collaboration Skills, Conversation Skills, Eye Contact, Virtual Presentations

3 Reasons You Should Follow Us on Social Media

by Heather Muir

Are you one of the 2 billion people on Facebook? Then, we want to connect with you! Here are 3 reasons to follow Mandel Communications on social media. Plus, don't miss your chance to win a complimentary seat (a $1495 value) in one of our open enrollment presentation and public speaking workshops!

by Heather Muir

Messaging Skills

Lessons Learned From a Master Storyteller

by Brad Holst

I sat captivated, along with the rest of the audience, as General Colin Powell told a story about President Ronald Reagan and the squirrels that live around the Oval Office patio. It culminated in a potent lesson about influencing executive decision makers. It grabbed and held attention with just the right dollops of humor sprinkled throughout. It was told artfully and efficiently, in less than two minutes. Not a word wasted. I was watching a masterful storyteller at work and it was an afternoon I'll never forget. Here are the 3 storytelling lessons I learned from General Powell.

by Brad Holst

In-Person Presentations, Storytelling

Prepare for Success: Pressure Test Your Presentation

by Heather Muir

You worked really hard on your presentation. You practiced it multiple times end-to-end. You feel good. You look great. You got this. Suddenly, your presentation time gets cut from 60 minutes to 10. Uh-oh. Moments like this can catch anyone by surprise—and they happen all the time. When the squeeze is on, will you be ready? Can your presentation pass the Pressure Test? Read on to find out.

by Heather Muir

Event Preparation, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

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