Brad Holst

3 Ways to Manage Anxiety When Recording Your Video Presentation

by Brad Holst

Presenting on-camera can be a nerve-wracking experience. Just walking onto the video set at Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) raised my anxiety. Here are three suggestions I learned from my own experience that may help you better manage anxiety when it’s your turn to record a video.

by Brad Holst

Executive Presence, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

Overcome the Unnatural Challenge of Presenting to a Video Camera

by Brad Holst

I've seen too many people, whom I know to be engaging communicators and experts in their field, come across as stiff and unnatural on video, ultimately damaging their credibility. The secret to effectively presenting on camera lies in practicing. But...you have to practice right. Apply these three principles and your odds of credibly connecting with your viewing audience will dramatically improve.

by Brad Holst

Presentation Skills, Video, Vocal Energy

Are You Ready for Your Video Close-Up?

by Brad Holst

While organizations are increasingly using video to educate, entertain, and train employees and customers, many people are still uncomfortable presenting on camera. Fear not, because anyone can learn how to effectively communicate on video — and develop a level of comfort doing so. Over the next few weeks, I'll use my own experience recording videos for Harvard Business Publishing to highlight important ways you can prepare for and improve your presentations on-screen and off.

by Brad Holst

Presentation Skills, Video

When You Have to Give the Same Presentation Over and Over Again…

by Brad Holst

If you think delivering the same presentation over and over again can get boring and monotonous, you’re right...it can, IF you let it. The bottom line? If you sound bored giving your presentation, you can bet your audience is bored, too. Here's how to keep it fresh...it's another lesson from Disneyland's Jungle Cruise.

by Brad Holst

Presentation Skills

Text-Laden Slides Sink Webinars

by Brad Holst

Want to ensure your next virtual presentation won’t sink under the weight of text overload? Here are three actionable tips you can implement immediately to help you grab ahold of and keep your audience's attention.

by Brad Holst

PowerPoint, Presentation Slides, Slide deck, Virtual Presentations, Webcasts

Entering the (Executive) Lion’s Den

by Brad Holst

Many people feel like they're being sent into the proverbial lion’s den when they have to present to senior executives. While there's reason to be wary, take a lesson from Androcles: Find the thorn and pull it out. Here's how to turn scary lions into career-building advocates.

by Brad Holst

Conversation Skills, Executive Presence, Messaging Skills, Presenting to Executives

To Innovate, Resonate and Differentiate

by Brad Holst

Success or failure happens in just the first two minutes of any presentation. When you're laying your most innovative ideas on the line, here's how to stand out and win the attention and respect of your audience.

by Brad Holst

In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

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

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

Is Your PowerPoint Falling Flat?

by Brad Holst

Is your presentation falling flat and you can't figure out why? If your slides are dynamic and engaging, the content is spot-on, and you've prepared well, then why is your audience feeling disconnected and confused? It may be a commonly overlooked problem: slide transitions. Here's how to fix it.

by Brad Holst

PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides, Virtual Presentations

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

What if Your Salesforce Asked Better Questions?

by Brad Holst

By asking better questions, your sales team can engage in stimulating and productive customer conversations. A recent book demonstrated how a lesson from the elementary classroom applies to Fortune 1000 sales executives.

by Brad Holst

Conversation Skills, In-Person Presentations, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives, Sales Readiness, Selling Skills

Sales Leaders: What is Costing You?

by Brad Holst

Search the internet for pipeline mortality and you’ll only get a handful of hits and not one of them will have anything to do with the sales process. But my colleague David Mears, Mandel’s Chief Sales Officer, loves to use this term. The meaning is fairly obvious – it describes the potential deals put into the sales pipeline that never close, either lost to competitors or inaction. And David believes that many sales leaders are willing to accept pipeline mortality rates that are needlessly high and costly.

by Brad Holst

Sales Readiness, Selling Skills

You Can Pause Your Way Through Anything

by Brad Holst

I recently had a conversation with a former client that reminded me of how small changes in how you communicate can effect big results. Something as simple as mastering how to pause can influence how you're perceived by others and what you're able to achieve. Here's what she told me.

by Brad Holst

Conversation Skills, Presentation Skills

Leaders: Don’t Get Lost in Presentation

by Brad Holst

Employee-contributed innovation happens at every level of your organization. Are the best ideas being heard within your organization?

by Brad Holst

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

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

Tell Your Story, Pixar Style

by Brad Holst

In a recent NPR podcast called Framing the Story, Pixar's Andrew Stanton—writer of iconic films like Toy Story, Monsters Inc., WALL-E, and Finding Nemo—shared what he believes makes a good story. Here are three insights you can use right now to improve your ability to influence, educate, and motivate others through storytelling.

by Brad Holst

Storytelling

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

INSIGHTS

Mandel Concepts

Brad Holst