How do you customize research reports and presentations for different stakeholders?

1 Know your stakeholders

Before you start writing or designing your research report or presentation, you need to understand who your stakeholders are, what they care about, and how they prefer to receive information. For example, a client may want to see a detailed and comprehensive report that covers all aspects of the research project, while a manager may only need a summary of the key insights and recommendations. An investor may be more interested in the financial implications and market opportunities, while a colleague may want to learn from your methods and challenges. To know your stakeholders, you can conduct interviews, surveys, or workshops with them, or use existing data and feedback to create personas or profiles.

2 Define your goals and messages

Once you know your stakeholders, you need to define the goals and messages of your research report or presentation. What are the main objectives of the research project, and how do they align with the stakeholders' goals? What are the most important findings and implications of the research, and how do they address the stakeholders' pain points or opportunities? What are the recommendations or actions that you want the stakeholders to take based on the research, and how do they benefit them? To define your goals and messages, you can use frameworks such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) or WIIFM (What's In It For Me).

3 Choose your format and style

Depending on your goals and messages, you need to choose the most appropriate format and style for your research report or presentation. For example, a report may be more suitable for a complex and detailed research project, while a presentation may be more effective for a simple and concise research project. A report may have different sections, such as executive summary, introduction, methodology, results, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations, while a presentation may have slides, such as title, agenda, objectives, key findings, implications, and next steps. The style of your report or presentation may also vary according to the tone, language, visuals, and branding that you use to convey your message.

4 Use data visualization and storytelling

One of the best ways to customize your research report or presentation for different stakeholders is to use data visualization and storytelling techniques. Data visualization is the process of transforming data into graphs, charts, maps, or other visual elements that can help you highlight patterns, trends, or relationships in your data. Storytelling is the process of creating a narrative that can help you connect with your audience, explain your findings, and persuade them to take action. To use data visualization and storytelling, you need to choose the right type of visual for your data, use colors, labels, and annotations to make your visuals clear and engaging, and use a logical structure, a compelling hook, and a strong call to action to make your story memorable and impactful.

5 Solicit feedback and iterate

Finally, you need to solicit feedback and iterate on your research report or presentation before you deliver it to your stakeholders. Feedback can help you improve the quality, clarity, and relevance of your research deliverables, and ensure that they meet the stakeholders' needs and expectations. You can solicit feedback from your peers, mentors, or experts in your field, or from a sample of your stakeholders. You can use methods such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups to collect feedback, or use tools such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or Zoom to facilitate feedback sessions. Based on the feedback, you can iterate on your research report or presentation by making changes, additions, or deletions as needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?