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Leadership in Focus: Bringing Out Your Best on Camera Hardcover – April 4, 2017
And . . . Action!
If a message feels important enough for video, it's likely because you want to move the audience to action potential investors to take a stake in your company, current employees to embrace a new initiative, prospective employees to bring their talents to your organization.
Your video can help you inspire your tribe the people you want to influence to take action. But if you want them to do more than listen, your audience needs to feel an authentic connection with you.
Veteran filmmaker Vern Oakley offers strategies that can help you relax and be their best, authentic self in front of the camera. The return on investment will be a stronger connection to those you want to reach; heightened respect, prestige, and interest in their organization; a stronger brand; and a longer-lasting legacy.
Leadership in Focus is a comprehensive, entertaining guide for leaders who realize that it's not just what you say on camera that's important it's how you say it. Whether a CEO, middle manager, or budding entrepreneur making YouTube videos to influence their tribe, this book will help them rally others around a message.
- Print length264 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGreenleaf Book Group Press
- Publication dateApril 4, 2017
- Dimensions6.5 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-101626342407
- ISBN-13978-1626342408
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Editorial Reviews
Review
--Seth Godin, Author of Unleashing the Ideavirus
In today's environment, if you don't know how to communicate authentically on camera, your brand, reputation and impact will suffer. Vern Oakley is the perfect guide to bring film mastery to change makers, leaders and entrepreneurs.''
--Pamela Slim, author of Body of Work: Finding the Thread That Ties Your Story Together
''It's easy to feel phony and powerless when the red light goes on. Vern Oakley's book Leadership in Focus translates the art and science of authenticity and helps the reader understand how to maintain that connection when the camera starts to roll - a compelling, readable and actionable book.''
--Amy Cuddy, Author, Presence; Associate Professor, Harvard Business School
''Vern Oakley is right - video is a great tool for moving people to action. In today's 24-7 media culture, leaders need to know how to be convincing and authentic on camera. His timely approach will make effective performers out of even the most reluctant and camera-shy among us.''
--Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach, business educator and New York Times-bestselling author
''Working in Hollywood I have the benefit of collaborating with actors who have many years of training. For those who can't invest all that time, this book is a short cut to help you tap into a great performance by showing more of your authentic self. You may not win an Oscar but then again you might. An inspiring, actionable and even spiritual book.''
--Peter Werner, Emmy, Director Guild and Oscar Award Winning Director
"The millennial generation craves authentic and transparent communication; not surprisingly, they are huge consumers of multimedia content. Millennials-perhaps the most critical demographic cohort for most organizations today-don't want to just read what leaders have to say; they want to see, hear and feel it. With a conversational and pithy writing style, Leadership in Focus by Vern Oakley is an excellent guide for leaders looking to use video communications for authentic and effective storytelling that moves their stakeholders to action."
--Matthew Ragas, DePaul University
About the Author
Vern has created films for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, universities, and their leaders. His mission is to help humanize the world's most successful leaders and institutions, helping them to craft their stories and connect to the people who matter most. Personally, Vern has been on a lifelong journey to explore and express his own authenticity and to create meaningful human connections. To this end, he has studied with a variety of experts and institutions from Arthur Penn and the Actor's Studio to Harvard Business School.
A client of Vern's once bestowed on him the unofficial title ''Business Artist.'' He believes this captures his comfort with both left- and right-brain endeavors and his passion for sharing these lessons with others.
Product details
- Publisher : Greenleaf Book Group Press (April 4, 2017)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 264 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1626342407
- ISBN-13 : 978-1626342408
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,014,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,446 in Communication Skills
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

A veteran filmmaker, teacher, speaker, and industry thought leader, Vern Oakley has been helping institutions and leaders connect with and mobilize their tribes through soul expression and communication. His mission to humanize leadership is achieved by crafting great stories that appeal to and impact the people who matter most.
Through Tribe Pictures, a film production company he founded in 1986 wherein he serves as CEO and Creative Director, Vern has directed numerous short and long-form films that garnered over one hundred and fifty industry awards -- forty of which received gold or "best in show" medals. His projects have built the brands of leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions in technology, life science, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and finance. His films have also helped launch some of the industry’s largest public offerings that have been credited with helping raise almost two billion dollars in contributions to colleges, universities, and philanthropies.
A client of Vern’s once bestowed on him the unofficial title “Business Artist.” Vern believes this captures his comfort, as he is able to translate the left-brain needs of his clients (business strategy) to the right-brain needs of the production team (storytelling and artistry), and vice versa, and will continue his passion in sharing these lessons with others.
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017I recently finished this book and thought it was a great read. Video continues to become a more popular and unstoppable trend in corporate communications as technology and tastes evolve. The author reveals some insightful and effective ways to use video in business communications, and the content was very approachable and easy to read. I also appreciated the dual nature of the book. It is great for the corporate executive who is curious about how to use video as a management tool, and equally useful for the comms professional like me who wants fresh ideas and ways coach his leaders to be more authentic and effective. Great job and well worth the time.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2019I often tell my clients that leaders have an untapped super power: they can speak the future into being. Vern Oakley's method of capturing and packaging that super power is unmatched. Whether you're a consultant, and in-house marketer or comm's leader, or a video producer, Leadership in Focus provides insights to uncover the super power leaders often overlook. His method of removing a CxO's mask and getting to what's real is exactly what brands who want to connect with the new generation of belief-driven buyers need.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2018I read Vern Oakley's book in preparation for creating the first video for my small business, to be located on the home page of my website. I'm collaborating with a local filmmaker, and "Leadership in Focus" helped me learn how to speak his language. Together, he and I mapped out a plan for this important project. The book also heightened my awareness of video all around me - from television commercials to YouTube posts. Overall, a unique and helpful book that I believe will be a cornerstone in the reference library on this burgeoning genre! I would love it if Mr. Oakley would write a second book tailored exclusively to entrepreneurs.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2019Leaders need to know how to be authentic on camera, and (being honest with myself) this hasn't always been my strong point. But after reading this book I've taken massive strides in being effective at storytelling that moves my audience (business leads, mainly) to action. I don't have the benefit of time or budget for the many years of training that some higher profile CEOs receive – but this book has gotten me pretty darn close. Well worth the read to level up your skills.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019Vern Oakley has done an incredible job condensing years of directing experience into 'Leadership in Focus'.
Something in this book will make you better on camera - actually many things. It's a Masters Level course in how to become the best, most authentic, version of you when you are in front of the lens. Great book. You won't be disappointed!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2017Drawing out inspiring and authentic performances from the world’s top CEOs and business leaders is no easy feat and, in this book, Vern Oakley lays out his unique process, as well as challenges and constraints faced along the way. Mr. Oakley’s methodology and insights are one of a kind and, especially as someone starting a career in video, this book is an incredible resource to learn from one of the industry’s best.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2017Not only did this book offer techniques for being "on camera." It also offered many pointers to assist in providing any presentation.
Great information to share with all levels of public speaking.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2018Vern does a great job here. Glad to have been interviewed for the section on teleprompting.