Technical Professionals Archives

How Well Does Your Team Handle Tough Questions?

by Heather Muir

Challenging questions, even confrontational ones, present an opportunity. Tough questions, when handled well, can help you and your team strengthen credibility and gain support for your ideas and solutions. The only question is, how to do it well? Learn Mandel’s 3-step model for skillfully responding — not reacting — to tough questions with confidence and ease.

by Heather Muir

Communication Skills, Conversation Skills, Executive Presence, Influencing Skills, Presenting to Executives, Sales Readiness, Selling Skills, Soft Skills, Technical Professionals

The Science of Presenting Data Visualizations Effectively

by Brad Holst

Data visualizations can help the human brain make sense of complex information — but only if you know how to present them. No matter who your audience is, everyone’s brain is hardwired to process the flow of information in the same way. Learn science-based tips for presenting data visualizations in a way that keeps any audience focused on your message and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed or distracted.

by Brad Holst

Communication Skills, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides, Slide deck, Technical Professionals

Presenting Technical Ideas to Business Audiences

by Brad Holst

You know your scientists, engineers, and technology experts are the best around. They're proven innovators and solution providers within your organization. Why, then, is presenting to a business audience such a common challenge for technical professionals? Learn 11 tactics your technical team can use right now to make them more effective and influential communicators for any business decision maker.

by Brad Holst

Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

Are Your User Conference Speakers Ready for the Spotlight?

by Brad Holst

You’ve got all the ingredients in place for a fantastic user conference. Prime venue in a desirable city. Former US president as the keynote. An iconic rock band to entertain attendees. Now, there’s just one question...Are your technical experts ready for their moment in the spotlight? Be sure to set your speakers up for success. Read this week's blog to find out how.

by Brad Holst

Event Preparation, Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

Is Poor Collaboration Putting Your Digital Transformation at Risk?

by Suzanne McLarnon

Digital Transformation (Dx) has made working in IT more challenging than ever. The biggest barrier to Dx success? Culture and collaboration, according to 50% of companies surveyed by Appian. A further 27% say lack of collaboration between IT and LOB is the top roadblock. What prevents effective collaboration? Ineffective communication. Read this week's blog and learn why "soft" skills have become a critical success factor for IT professionals everywhere.

by Suzanne McLarnon

Collaboration Skills, Digital Transformation, Team Building, Teaming, Technical Professionals

Do Salespeople & Technologists Communicate Differently?

by Suzanne McLarnon

Do salespeople and technologists communicate differently? Is one group better at presenting than the other? Can the two ever agree on how to present or what info to share? Corporate Workforce Development expert, high-tech industry veteran, and former Mandel client Suzanne McLarnon shares the secret behind developing both sales and technical professionals into superb communicators.

by Suzanne McLarnon

Briefing Center, Communication Skills, Influencing Skills, Sales Training, Selling Skills, Technical Professionals

3 Data Presentation Tips to Achieve More With Less

by Bob Sherwin

When presenting data, using tables filled with numbers should be your “option of last resort." Why? Because data formatted in tables can make it difficult to compare items being measured. Tabular data can also obscure trends that emerge over time. There are occasions, however, when a table might be the best, or your only, option. If that's the case, here are 3 "less-is-more" tips for effectively using tables in your presentations.

by Bob Sherwin

Briefing Center, Presentation Skills, Slide deck, Technical Professionals

How to Simply Communicate Complex Ideas

by Heather Muir

Communicating complexity is challenging. For technical teams, presenting data-driven topics engagingly and concisely may be as easy as herding cats. That's because (1) the more specialized your knowledge is, the harder it becomes to present to people not “in the know" and (2) your audience is overwhelmed and overburdened by data already. So how can you simply communicate complex ideas? Try these two proven tactics

by Heather Muir

Briefing Center, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Storytelling, Technical Professionals

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

World Class Communication Really is a Marathon

by Kathleen Redd

What does it take to transform smart and skilled subject matter experts into world-class communicators? Consistent practice and application of these three principles. Read the blog to learn what they are. With training and persistence, anyone can become a world-class communicator—someone who is able to move ideas, decisions, projects, relationships, and businesses forward.

by Kathleen Redd

Briefing Center, Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Sales Readiness, Technical Professionals

Fewer Data Dumps, More Discussions

by Kathleen Redd

Often when technical subject matter experts present to customers, they're so passionate about their work that they forget to filter the info they present through the “Why should the customer care?” lens. As a result, customers walk away feeling confused as to what the solution was or how it could benefit them. To successfully influence customer decision-making, assume the role of discussion leader, not data dumper. To help you, here are 3 things the best discussion leaders do exceptionally well.

by Kathleen Redd

Briefing Center, Conversation Skills, In-Person Presentations, Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

Presenting Numbers to People Who Hate Numbers

by Bob Sherwin

Did you know that nearly a third of Americans surveyed said they'd rather clean the bathroom than try to solve a math problem? It’s no wonder presenting technical data can be a huge challenge. Next time you have to present numbers to a number-phobic audience, don't panic. Here are three tips to help you keep listeners engaged in what you have to say…instead of daydreaming about cleaning the bathroom.

by Bob Sherwin

Briefing Center, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

Don’t Throw Away Your Pen Just Yet

by Diane Burgess-Faber

I’m always excited and inspired after returning from events like ATD’s TechKnowledge… after this year’s conference, I was told a story by one of our Mandel trainers about a session she led in Paris with a group of millennials, and I’m reminded… it’s all about balance.

by Diane Burgess-Faber

Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

How to Prevent Projects from Failing

by Steve Mandel

It’s time for businesses to stop squandering resources, time, and money on a project management problem that is entirely preventable. Communication skills, rather than a saboteur of success, can be an agent of outperformance.

by Steve Mandel

Project Management, Technical Professionals

Does Your Focus on Details Turn People Off?

by Steve Mandel

Could your meticulous focus on the details be off-putting to others? What can you do to avoid this? Here are a few simple things you can do to better communicate with non-analyticals and big-picture people, so that they feel more connected and satisfied in their interactions with you.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, PowerPoint, Technical Professionals

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