Curiosity is Infectious

A good example of a person who presents important information with an infectious sense of curiosity and wonder is Swedish medical doctor Hans Rosling. Yes, Hans’s Gapminder-powered data visualizations are very compelling on stage. However, he shows his passionate curiosity and engages his audiences by the way he speaks, with exclamations such as:

Do you see that?

Look here!

This is amazing!

What do you think happens next?

Wasn’t that surprising?

This is the kind of language that engages the listener. Hans Rosling brings the data alive through visualizations, and taps people’s emotions by putting the information in the context of a story, making it accessible to all who will listen. He also brings his own brand of dry humor, and humor is one of the most powerful forms of emotional engagement of all.