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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.

By learning to whittle your words into a few key ideas that suggest you understand their dilemma and are capable of solving their problems, you have a much greater chance of making them care. If they care, they’ll listen.

Think back on some of the presentations you’ve sat or should I risk saying— slept through, do you remember numbers the speaker spouted? For example, do you know that 40 million Americans are currently on food stamps? Maybe not. But you might recall that enrollment has set a record every month since 2008.

When put in perspective, numbers can drive points home. Consider a doctor trying to educate an audience about recognizing the symptoms of heart disease. If she said more than a million people suffer heart attacks every year and nearly half will die, you clearly understand the importance. However if she said: “We could be talking about your mother, father, and spouse or loved one which is why it is so important for you to recognize the warning signs of heart disease so the people you love can be with you for a long time”, those same numbers would be even more meaningful.

As a communicator, your job is to help people make sense of information so they understand what it means to them. By following these quick tips, you will help the numbers tell the story.

1. LESS IS MORE The more points you try to cover, the more you will dilute your message. Highlight three or four important issues and offer examples, stories and anecdotes to drive the points home.

2. ONE MINUTE WINDOW If you can’t articulate what’s in it for them and why they should care in the first minute, you risk tuning them out. For example, if you are talking about technology, do they really care the mechanisms that make the product work? Or would they rather know how the features can save time and money?

3. SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS Financial audiences love profit and loss statements but balance sheets alone won’t tell your story. Only you can do that. Help your listener understand how you will address their problems, market ideas, meet current challenges and make money.

4. SHOW AND TELL Serious doesn’t have to mean boring. Instead of scanning data onto a slide, use charts, models, graphs and pictures to bring your story to life. Share the important details but save the fine points for the handouts. Remember, no one came to see a slide show.

5. MOCK Q AND A Conduct your own mock question and answer session in advance. By thinking through potential questions and answers, you will be better prepared and minimize surprises. You can also practice marrying messages into your answers.

6. SAY IT OUT LOUD By rehearsing out-loud, you will internalize information, making it easier to recite and recall. You’ll also develop pace and rhythm helping you sound more polished, confident and assured.

7. DON’T WING IT No matter how good you think you are, people who “wing it” are setting themselves up to fail. The better you prepare, the easier it will be to stay focused, give meaning to your words and handle interruptions or unwanted questions.

Like all effective business communications, financial presentations should be interactive. That means encouraging thinking by posing thought provoking questions, providing examples and pausing to give people a moment to digest key facts. Finally, even if what you have to say makes them feel frustrated or disappointed, that’s okay. As long as they feel something, they’re listening.

I was in my 6th grade and I was asked to participate in a debate as I was fairly good in my academics. I still remember the topic of the debate – Building Castles in the Air. I was never shy to accept challenges in my life and with the same intent and thought process I accepted this as well and participated in the school debate competition. My aunt was one of the teacher’s in the school and she helped me in the preparation.

I was thoroughly prepared and continuously was revising by seeing in the mirror – imagining me to be the audience of my speech. Look in the mirror technique is what I had heard and had picked up – which I thought was the most promising technique considering I had never spoken in front of audience and this would be of considerable help to me, overcoming my stage fear. Yet this technique had to be put to practice.

And, finally the day had come when I had to present my speech in front of the entire school – students and faculties. The feeling is still fresh in my memory. I went up to the stage when my name was called and stood there right in front of everyone. I then started the introductory welcome message and introduced the topic. I said the first sentence of the long speech I had been practising and then paused. I tried to recollect the rest of the speech but could not as if the words flew from my memory. I again tried but paused after the first sentence. I then realized that I cannot regain the momentum – neither could I recollect the words. Though the faculties were encouraging me to speak again, I was lost and rushed to the restroom and cried.

Defeat is only a stepping stone to success

My aunt came and consoled me but at that point the feeling was horrible and I felt defeated, the feeling which I do not like at all. I promised to myself that I will one day give fantastic speeches and will leave the audience spellbound. The time was again for a new start, a new competition and this time again I assembled all the energy and directed my focus to win. And eventually I performed a lot better and won the competition. It was a great motivation and from then onward I had been participating and winning. I also won the All India Best Presenter Award and the State Level Best Presenter award.

Top rules for overcoming failure and delivering presentations

1. Never let failure worry you – it is just a phase and will pass like every other phase.
2. Assimilate your energy and focus at the task at hand.
3. Prepare well and do your research on the topic – both vertical and lateral research so that you are confident.
4. Make one liner or bookmarked notes and practice without the narrative.
5. Be confident of yourself and keep saying it to yourself repeatedly that ‘you are the best’.
6. Don’t be afraid of what people might think about you – you are there to deliver your best.
7. Be mindful of your rate of speech, loudness, pitch, tone and gestures.
8. At last, always imagine that you will succeed.

Most people do not set out to buy a birthday present at the last minute, but for one reason or another, it happens. With time limited, maybe you have just an hour or two to come up with something, what are your options? You cannot go far wrong with flowers. There are always an endless amount of flowers to choose from at any time of the year. If you are not sure what would be most suitable, just ask the florist what they think would be best bouquet or basket to give as a birthday present. One of the best things about buying flowers for someone is that you can also place orders online and have them delivered to the person’s home. Whether you have them delivered or hand them over yourself, be sure to spend 5 minutes writing a personal and meaningful message to accompany them.

If you do not think flowers would be suitable, then how about a cake or chocolates? Whilst not exactly original ideas, if you put some thought and effort into your purchases then your friend or family member will certainly appreciate your present. What you have to do is go the extra yard, and not just pick something up from a supermarket. If going for a cake, get the fanciest one that you can find and get it personalized with a message on the top. If going for chocolates, either go for hand-made ones (bought though, not actually made by you) or spend some time thinking about the favorites of the person that you are giving them too.

If you are not convinced by getting them either a cake, confectionery or flowers, then your last option is to take them out somewhere special. You could take them to a really nice restaurant, buy tickets for a show or a sports game, or organize an activity such as paint-balling or bowling. When you see them, give them a card and ask them if they are free next weekend, and if not then make arrangements for the first weekend that they are free. Do not keep what you will be doing as a surprise because they will think that you do not actually know what you will be doing. Just say, “My present to you is that we will be doing… next…”. Of course, actually going out and buying something advance is still the best thing to do. So, next time try to get yourself organized!