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Communicating change does not come easy to most people. Neither does embracing it. But one can’t happen without the other. If senior management doesn’t talk to middle management, then middle management can’t help the rank and file understand how the information affects them. Like media reports, the story will be repeated and embellished by unconfirmed sources that fuel fears and anxieties.

One beautiful fall day my friend and I lunched at a quaint neighborhood spot while the multicolored leaves fluttered around us. Inside, the conversation wasn’t so pretty. Her company had been swallowed up by a larger player which promised 20,000 layoffs. More than a change in weather was seeping in. Many people had already been let go, but most like her didn’t know their fate and were scared. She said: “It’s like being told everyone has cancer but just a select group will be lucky enough to get chemotherapy. Only, no one will tell us who the lucky ones are.” [Read more…] about It’s crucial to replace workplace rumors with reassurance

Superstar rocker Rod Stewart said it best when he belted out “Every Picture Tells a Story.” That song could have been titled Every Number Tells a Story because financial presentations aren’t much different. If you want audiences to hear what you have to say, showing a bunch of graphs and balance sheets simply won’t cut it. Numbers, like pictures, need to create a compelling story that draws listeners in and helps them understand what those numbers mean to them.

Learning to whittle your words into a few key ideas that suggest you understand your listeners’ dilemma and are capable of solving their problems, you have a much greater chance of making them care. If they care, they’ll pay attention. [Read more…] about How to bring balance sheets to life in presentations