Unless you're presenting at an economic conference or an academic event, it's fairly safe to assume there are very few other economists in the room. Make the data you're presenting relatable, interesting, and easy to digest with a wide range of audiences. Consider this: can my audience meet with friends later and recount what I have presented accurately to them? The most impactful way to engage everyone in the room with economic data, especially C-suite folks and legislators, is to connect to their wallets. "Point X means Y in dollars."

In some cases, “the audience” is just one of the people in the room. It might be the client’s boss, or it might be your own boss. Be aware of that person’s specific focus, and when it wavers, pause. And, pitch the content to their own level of knowledge (unless instructed otherwise).

My short hand is, “So what?” Why is what I’m saying of any interest or use? Real GDP forecast? Maybe they need to put it into a report ( in which case, deliver it in writing). But, maybe what’s really important is growth in private consumption per household…

Knowing the audience is pivotal in tailoring the communication style and content to ensure comprehension and engagement. For a non-technical audience, demystifying jargon and embedding data in relatable contexts can illuminate the findings effectively. Similarly, for a technical audience, while detailed data and rigorous methodologies might be appreciated, it's vital not to lose the narrative thread that ties the data together.

Do Not Ever read your visuals; assume the audience can read. DO explain graph labels, which are often too small to see clearly.

Explaining the 'velocity of cash' to any audience. A tourist stops at a dusty motel. He lays a $100 bill on the desk and says he wants to inspect the room. The moment he's gone, the motel owner grabs the money and pays his debt to the butcher. The butcher then pays his debt to the meat supplier. The meat supplier then pays his debt to the mechanic who repaired his car on credit. The mechanic's wife then pays the motel owner the $100 she lost playing poker with him. The motel owner puts the money back on the desk. The traveller appears, picks up the $100 and says the room is too dusty, and leaves. No one produced anything, no one earned anything, but the whole town is out of debt! That's how 'the velocity of cash' works in capitalism!

We need to go into such presentations with an open mind. Sometimes, we learn from our audience because they have a lot of expertise and deep understanding of the subject matter. However, at other times we can actually learn if the audience does not understand the subject matter well and we are forced to explain it in simple terms. The latter is not always an easy task. An individual who does not understand a concept properly themselves or does not know the significance of a particular statistic, in turn, would not be able to explain it well to others. Hence, it helps to prepare ourselves for any such presentation keeping the viewpoints and knowledge base of both expert and non-expert listeners in mind.

Don't be afraid to admit you don't know, or don't have the answer at your fingertips. If appropriate, offer to get in touch later, off-line. This can be particularly useful when the "question asker" is more interested in changing the subject, or presenting their own point of view, rather than seeking clarification. Do not let questions side track the core discussion!

Know the first 2-3 sentences cold, by heart, as if on auto pilot. That will get you into the flow, and if well crafted, get your audience to sit down, shut up, and pay attention. If they don’t, STOP. Wait until they are ready, they start anew.

I agree with most of the points made. What is most important in presenting economic and financial issues for me is to avoid the “curse of knowledge,” as Steven Pinker emphasises. This means explaining or avoiding jargon, even when the audience has some economics knowledge. Don’t assume your audience understands what is being presented. Also, stop to consider the meaning of your presentation for the audience. Explain how it affects your audience. Why is inflation important? How does it play out in the lives and businesses of the audience, for instance.

In my opinion, it boils down to one thing: make it relatable. By this I mean using examples or illustrations that speak to even the most nonchalant and unknowledgable.