189. Numbers Need Narrative: Use Data to Influence and Inspire

189. Numbers Need Narrative: Use Data to Influence and Inspire

Author: Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart March 4, 2025 Duration: 23:32

Why numbers are only as compelling as the narratives we attach to them.


Facts and figures can be your friend, but before you load your presentation full of data, Miro Kazakoff has a word of caution: “Data’s objective, but people are not.”

You might think that your data speaks for itself, but Kazakoff says numbers need a narrative. A senior lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management and author of Persuading with Data: A Guide to Designing, Delivering, and Defending Your Data, he says the key to making data persuasive isn't about showing more information — it's about understanding your audience well enough to know how to relay it in a way that will connect with them. "The people who get good at this are not so much the people who can talk and draw graphs well, but the people who can listen the best. It starts with is empathy.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kazakoff joins Matt Abrahams to explore how to transform complex data into clear, compelling communication. From avoiding the "curse of knowledge" to effectively orienting your audience through visualizations, he shares practical strategies for making your data not just informative, but persuasive.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (03:04) - How to Use Data Persuasively
  • (04:51) - The Curse of Knowledge in Data Communication
  • (07:16) - The Best Way to Present Data Visually
  • (09:31) - The Role of Context in Making Data Meaningful
  • (11:43) - Orienting Your Audience When Presenting Data
  • (14:19) - Storytelling in Data Communication
  • (16:20) - The Final Three Questions
  • (22:32) - Conclusion

 ********
Thank you to our sponsors.
 These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 


Ever find yourself scrambling for the right words in a high-stakes meeting or struggling to get your point across clearly? That’s the territory Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques explores. Hosted by Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer and author who understands the real-world pressure of thinking on your feet, this podcast digs into the mechanics of how we connect and convey ideas. Each episode features conversations with specialists across various fields, moving beyond theory to deliver concrete methods you can use immediately. Whether it’s navigating a difficult conversation, structuring a persuasive pitch, or simply becoming a more engaged listener, Matt focuses on the tactical skills that build confidence. The discussions are grounded in his professional experience and academic background, offering a blend of research and relatable application. You’ll hear specific techniques for organizing your thoughts under pressure, using storytelling to make data memorable, and adjusting your communication style for different audiences. This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s a resource for anyone who needs to influence, lead, or collaborate more effectively in their career and daily interactions. Tune in to this practical podcast for a regular dose of insights that aim to make your communication more intentional and impactful, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 284

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Podcast Episodes
160. Rethinks: How to Communicate Your Gameplan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Why organizational strategy can be both top-down and bottom-up.As Professor Jesper Sørensen sees it, a winning strategy is the result of conversations, not commands, and that strategy can be directed from the C-suite, bu…
159. Earn Your Audience: You Can’t Lead If No One’s Listening [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:27
What it takes to develop as a leader.Great leaders and great communicators aren't born, they're made. That's why John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, directors of Stanford University’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars, are working to…
157. Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
Artificial intelligence can now do a lot of things. But if you’re worried about it taking your place as a communicator, Russ Altman says you need to question why you’re communicating in the first place.Altman is a profes…
155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:02
Navigators know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In charting a course through communication, Susan Rice says the best route is often the most direct.Throughout her career at the forefront of A…
154. Rethinks: Communicating Better as a Leader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
"In a leadership role, so much more of communication is about connecting with people, establishing shared humanity, motivating them, inspiring them, sometimes challenging them." On August 1, 2024, Jonathan D. Levin, the…