Let’s Get Visual: A Lesson from the White House

Now that’s how to use a prop!

I’ve lamented the fact before that so many executives (including chief executives and presidents) fail to make good use of physical props to illustrate their points.

They’re concerned that it’s somehow cheesy or beneath them. But I love props, whether it’s a pie chart or a scale model or a countdown clock. It’s simple, effective, visual.

And people scanning a web page or watching at home don’t even need to click on the story or turn up the volume. This little visual tells them everything they need to know. Okay, everything the White House wants them to know. Which is the whole point, of course.

It’s not clear who’s going to win the PR battle but my money’s on Team Visual.

Photo by Charles Dharapak/AP