3 Tips for Communicating the Numbers

Many financial communications are dry and boring at best, confusing and unreadable at worst. The best communicators (see Warren Buffet) are able to talk about the numbers in a way that is clear, engaging, and compelling. Here are three tips for more effective fiscal messages:

1. Don't overly focus on the numbers. It's your job to explain the "so what." Numbers should only be used to support your main points.
2. Use metaphors and analogies. You don't need to wax poetic, but using metaphors can help you avoid the jargon that often plagues financial messages.
3. Be honest and transparent. Candidness instills confidence in your audience; they don't want to feel like you're hiding something or trying to gloss over the bad news.

Source: Harvard Business Review