How to speak so that everyone understands

Business and statistics are inseparable. When making important choices, it is better to check and refer to all reliable statistics available than rely on your intuition. But there is one problem. Statistics show that the delivery power varies greatly depending on the expression method. So sometimes, a single statistical expression can make the difference between success and failure.

Consider the following two sentences. Which one are you more impressed with?

1. Scientists have recently calculated important physical constraints to astonishing precision. To be precise, imagine that when you throw a stone from the sun to the earth, it lands within 600 m of its target.
2. Scientists have recently calculated important physical constraints to astonishing precision. To be precise, imagine if you threw a stone from New York to Los Angeles and it was only 1 cm off the target.

According to the results of the survey, 58% of respondents answered that sentence 1 was very impressive, and 83% of those who answered that sentence 2 was very impressive. Even though the accuracy level of the two sentences was the same. What is the reason for this result?

For them, the distance between the sun and the earth is beyond the realm of experience, but the distance between New York and Los Angeles is tangible. In that sense, you’re likely to find the difference between the two sentences less impressive than the survey results. This is because the preceding sentences are aimed at Americans. Most people have little sense of the distance between New York and Los Angeles.

In summary, it is very efficient to express statistical information in such a way that the reader can feel it empirically as much as possible. Let’s take a look at some representative examples. The following are the results of a recent survey of 23,000 Americans working full-time in various industries by Harris Interactive, a company specializing in public opinion polls. How do they view the organization and do they know their role well?

– Only 37% said they were clear about what their organization was trying to achieve and why.

– Only 1 in 5 are passionate about the goals of the team and organization.

– Only 1 in 5 say their work aligns with the goals of their team and organization.

– Only 20% were satisfied with what they accomplished during the week.

– Only 20% fully trusted the organizations they worked for.

– Only 13% had mutually trusting and collaborative working relationships with other groups or departments.

– Only 17% thought their organization had a communication culture that respected diverse opinions and embraced better and newer ideas.

– Only 10% thought organizations held employees accountable for results.

The survey results are interesting, but something doesn’t touch my heart. So let’s see how Stephen Covey puts the above statistic.

compared to a soccer team

– Of the 11 players on the field, only 4 know which side of the net to score.

– Also, only 2 out of 11 are interested in goals and know their position and role.

– All but 2 players will be fighting among themselves in one way or another rather than fighting the opposing team.

Doesn’t the picture just fit in your head? And don’t you feel how ridiculously serious the situation is? Even with the same statistical information, some expressions make you tilt your head, but some make you nod and immerse yourself. If statistical information is combined with what we already know from what we actually see, hear and experience, people will understand and accept it better.

Joseph Stalin said: “The death of one person is a tragedy, but the death of a million is just a statistic.” Unfortunately, this can be said to be a saying that properly understands human nature.