Facts and figures. Words and numbers. Use both to communicate your value effectively.

When communicating about our capabilities, experience and accomplishments, we usually start with words. Words relay facts, and facts tell a story. Figures or numbers enhance the story and illuminate the facts. Combining facts and figures is highly effective; Consider the following two statements:

• I regularly share content on LinkedIn.

• In the last two years, I have posted to LinkedIn 275 times, on average every 2.65 days.

Both of these true statements are about the same subject — my activity on LinkedIn. The figures in the second statement reveal more information about the first statement, which lacks specifics. As a hiring manager with a tendency toward being analytical, I find it helpful to learn a quantitative measure such as the number of posts in 24 months. Using both facts and figures demonstrates attention to detail.

Some accomplishments are easily conveyed with numbers. Other accomplishments are hard to quantify, and more easily described with words. When struggling to convey either facts or figures, consider asking others who are familiar with your work to help you out. Here are questions you can ask:

• “How can my success be measured?”

• “What’s a number we can attribute to my accomplishment?”

• “What’s a story we can tell about my work?”

• “Can you describe the impact I have had?”

For help with adding facts or figures to your professional story, consider booking some time with me, I’d be happy to work with you!