Key Elements of Successful Data Presentations

Many amazing presenters fall into the trap of believing their data will speak for itself. But it never does… Our brains aren't spreadsheets, they're story processors. You may understand the importance of your data, but don't assume others do too. The truth is, data alone doesn't persuade…but the impact it has on your audience's lives does. Your job is to tell that story in your presentation. Here are a few steps to help transform your data into a story: 1. Formulate your Data Point of View. Your "DataPOV" is the big idea that all your data supports. It's not a finding; it's a clear recommendation based on what the data is telling you. Instead of "Our turnover rate increased 15% this quarter," your DataPOV might be "We need to invest $200K in management training because exit interviews show poor leadership is causing $1.2M in turnover costs." This becomes the north star for every slide, chart, and talking point. 2. Turn your DataPOV into a narrative arc. Build a complete story structure that moves from "what is" to "what could be." Open with current reality (supported by your data), build tension by showing what's at stake if nothing changes, then resolve with your recommended action. Every data point should advance this narrative, not just exist as isolated information. 3. Know your audience's decision-making role. Tailor your story based on whether your audience is a decision-maker, influencer, or implementer. Executives want clear implications and next steps. Match your storytelling pattern to their role and what you need from them. 4. Humanize your data. Behind every data point is a person with hopes, challenges, and aspirations. Instead of saying "60% of users requested this feature," share how specific individuals are struggling without it. The difference between being heard and being remembered comes down to this simple shift from stats to stories. Next time you're preparing to present data, ask yourself: "Is this just a data dump, or am I guiding my audience toward a new way of thinking?" #DataStorytelling #LeadershipCommunication #CommunicationSkills

I used to struggle with getting my tech projects approved until I learned to present their benefits as an irresistible offer. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀? - 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: Using data means you're 23 times more likely to get customers, 6 times as likely to retain them, 19 times as likely to be deliver a profitable result. (McKinsey) - 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀: Top teams - who finish >80% of their projects on time, on budget, and meeting original goals - are 2.5 times more likely to use quantitative management techniques. (PMI) - 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Clear numbers and ROI make 60% of stakeholders more confident, leading to faster approvals and more robust support throughout the project lifecycle. (Gartner) What steps are you taking to demonstrate the value of your tech project? I've got a 5-step plan that'll make your project impossible to refuse. 𝟭. 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 📌 What makes your project shine? List every benefit. Increased revenue? Cost savings? Improved efficiency? Group these gems into clear categories. 𝟮. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 🔍 Collect data that will make your pitch rock-solid. Internal reports, market trends, industry benchmarks - get it all. Relevant, fresh data is your best friend. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 🧮 Time to flex those analytical muscles. ROI, NPV, payback period - calculate it all. Solid financials turn skeptics into believers. 𝟰. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 🛡️ Every great plan needs a reality check. What could derail your project? List potential risks. Then, craft strategies to neutralize each one. 𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 💼 Package your project in a compelling presentation. Use clear visuals and concise explanations. Make it so convincing, they'll wonder how they ever lived without it. 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨: - It transforms your tech vision into a business essential. - It shows you've considered every angle and potential hurdle. - It gives decision-makers the hard data they need. In the world of project approvals, vague ideas are like trying to pay with Monopoly money. But a well-prepared, data-driven proposal is gold. What's your top tip for creating an irresistible project proposal? Share your wisdom below!

"Without data, you're just another person with an opinion." — W. Edwards Deming Most leaders today are drowning in information but starving for meaning. A CEO I work with recently questioned his controller about why their facility costs were higher than competitors. The response? A detailed spreadsheet. Wrong answer! A CEO doesn’t want data dumps—they want clarity, context, and action. The real value isn’t in the numbers themselves but in what you do with them. The best leaders don’t just present data; they uncover patterns, anticipate questions, and deliver insights before anyone asks. They turn raw numbers into a roadmap for decision-making. Take a cue from Ryan Yockey’s graphic—sometimes, a single visual tells the story better than a thousand words. Data needs to be seen, not just read. Here’s how to transform raw data into action: 1. Sort it – Identify the key patterns and anomalies. 2. Arrange it – Structure it so it tells a clear, logical story. 3. Visualize it – A powerful graphic or chart conveys more than a thousand spreadsheets. 4. Tell a story – Make it compelling, memorable, and actionable. The top performers—whether executives, engineers, or analysts—don’t just collect data. They shape it, give it meaning, and translate it into a story that inspires action. Because in the end, the organizations that thrive aren’t the ones with the most data; they’re the ones that know what to do with it.

Ever looked at a data presentation and felt lost in a sea of charts, graphs, and numbers? 😕 Without a clear narrative, it's easy for your data to feel scattered and disconnected. While #datavisualization still seems to overshadow narrative in #datastorytelling, the narrative structure is an integral component to the success of your data stories. When you apply a narrative structure to your data presentations, you’ll notice several benefits: ✂️ Remove unnecessary data: Forces you to consider the purpose and focus of every slide in your data presentation. Unnecessary or redundant data charts can be removed or pushed to the appendix. 🎯 Sharpen focus: Helps you determine whether your key takeaways are coming through clearly or not. 🔄 Reorder for clarity: Helps you organize the data so it flows more logically for the audience. 🧩 Fill in the gaps: Ensures critical data points are present to create a good narrative flow. ⚡ Enhance overall effectiveness: Guarantees you don’t miss key elements like an engaging hook or recommendations.   By telling a story with your data, you can turn an overwhelming collection of charts into a cohesive story that engages your audience, helping them understand key problems/opportunities and make better decisions. The narrative structure adds purpose, focus, and direction to a data presentation. You move from just presenting information to telling a compelling story that drives action. 🚀 What other benefits have you seen from applying narrative structure to your data presentations? 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 Craving more of my data storytelling, analytics, and data culture content? Sign up for my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/gRNMYJQ7