Financial Teaching Moments are All Around Us [SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY]

As financial professionals, we are immersed in the language of finance and all its silent and not so silent nuances. To everyone else, the language of finance is mysterious at best and frightening to most. We must constantly strive to make the language of finance accessible to non-financial managers and build their financial acumen and confidence.

Like any second language or infrequently applied skill, there is a “use it or lose it” retention factor, so repeated teaching moments must be used as they periodically surface. The good news is that there are many regularly recurring teaching and messaging opportunities in our financial world.

We need to consider adding an element of explanation and stage-setting with each opportunity to distribute financial information, and not just focus on timely and accurate delivery. You cannot do this for every element of financial information because the volume is too great. Consequently, you need to apply this selectively to key line-items (for example, occupancy) at key times (headquarters lease expiring) and at the right stage (Board meeting, staff budget meeting, auditor planning meeting, etc.). If you view financial information as a teaching opportunity, it will impact the way you craft the message and make it more beneficial and insightful to the many non-financial managers who regularly receive and use this information.

Let’s first discuss the “when” opportunities and then explore strategies for “who” we message to.