Panelists often spout big numbers to make their point or dazzle the audience with their brilliance. But I’m not so sure how effective they are incommunicating the story behind the numbers on the paper, spreadsheet, or PowerPoint slide.
When sharing a number(s) with the audience, it is much more than the telling of the number or statistic. The number(s) is important, but it’s the understanding of the situation, the emotion it generates, and the feeling the audience is left with that really matters.
Chip Heath and Karla Starr’s latest book, Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers shows you exactly how to do that.
I love the fact that there are oodles of before/after comparative examples that are highlighted in green-colored boxes throughout the book. The intent is that you read the book, then flip through it, using those boxes as a springboard to your own creativity.
So what kind of tips are we talking about?
As I was reading this book, I realized that it takes work, thoughtfulness, and creativity to express a number (or set of numbers) in a meaningful and memorable way. This book is the spark to access that creativity next time you need to make numbers count on a panel discussion.
How Panel Moderators and Panelists Impress the Audience and Leave a Lasting Impression
How to Promote Yourself During a Panel Discussion
How to Dress Up a Panel Discussion
KRISTIN ARNOLD, MBA, CSP, CPF | Master, professional panel moderator, and high stakes meeting facilitator is on a quest to make all panel discussions lively and informative. Check out her free 7 -part video series on how to moderate a panel and other resources to help you organize, moderate, or be a panel member.