Don’t you think jury is more likely to agree when given this background explanation?

Here are three ways to put figures in context for your audience.

1. Compare them to something to which they can personally relate, as in courtroom example.

2. Compare them to a similar situation. If a new manufacturing process takes fifteen minutes, mention that old one took two hours, so we save 1-3/4 hours. For even more effect, tell them how much time this will save in an average shift or on a certain number of product units. Go further and translate that time into money and statistic will now be a strong argument for change.

3. Create vivid word pictures to illustrate size: That’s equivalent of five football fields. That’s enough to fill ten Olympic-size swimming pools. If laid end-to-end they would stretch from New York to L.A. and back again.

Statistics can be great persuaders, but only when audience has means to evaluate them.

As I reflect on experiences in my life it becomes clear very quickly why this is. When I joined military I had opportunity to see this exact style of leadership in action. I found that leaders who where loved by unit, who commanded respect of men, and who without question would be followed into a hail of on coming bullets, where those who men saw as ‘father figures’.

All men who command this kind of following have one thing in common…

They honestly care about well-being of there men.

No man or women will follow you willingly unless they know that you have there best interest in mind. You cannot force loyalty or respect of your team. Leaders who care for every person on there team are, not surprisingly, also ones who produce best results, because there teams care about them, and love working with them.

I blindly followed my father because I knew that he cared for me and would never allow misfortune to come to me if he could help it. Because of this, I also wanted to make him proud. The men and women you lead are same way. They seek approval, desire respect, and want to be lead by someone who is more concerned about them, than about their wallet.

Give your team respect and care about them as people, and you will see an amazing change in attitudes and production of your team. True concern for your people builds respect, loyalty and great results. You will find that when you give to your team, they will give back to you.

Respectfully, Mike Bosse