How to Help Your Audience See The Big Financial Picture

We are often overwhelmed with too much information, particularly when it’s an area we don’t understand as well. This course focuses on helping your audience understand the big picture with a brief financial overview. This, in turn, makes the subsequent conversation around "what to do" about the number, much easier and more meaningful.

This is quite helpful as an approach for financial statement packages. You may have good reasons for producing lots of reports- many divisions, locations, or distinct operations. However, some of your readers may not be as financially savvy as you are, such as board members or your operating partners in non-finance functions (e.g. sales, marketing, and operations). They can be trying very hard to understand, but deep inside they may be very uncomfortable, a bit intimidated and lost in the details.

There is a way however, to make them feel more at ease and get the big picture. Rather than launching right into the detailed financials, begin your package with a one-page financial summary. Give them dessert before the meal. By providing the roadmap up-front, you are helping them ease into connecting the dots with the detailed data you provide. You’re not thinking for them, rather, you are helping them think without having to play catch up. Even your savvy readers will appreciate it- they will see how things correlate like never before.