How can you use data to support your stakeholder presentations?

Using data effectively in stakeholder presentations is essential for informed decision-making. I'd begin with stakeholder analysis to understand their needs and motivations. Clearly defining key messages ensures data alignment with communication objectives. Choosing accurate data sources and methods is crucial for gathering relevant insights. Adequate visualization and storytelling make complex data accessible and engaging. I'd appreciate it if you could answer stakeholder questions and objections, preparing thorough responses with supporting data. Pro tip: Use Tableau or Power BI to simplify complex data, enhancing clarity and impact in your stakeholder presentations.

Understand your stakeholders can not be overemphasis. The key to creating any solution or providing a solutions starts from empathising with your users (Stakeholders). Knowing this gives you clear insight on what to do. for Example; if you are presenting to a Business map, there are certain data that are relevant to them and the kind of data (they love listening, seeing figures). So always ensure you understand your stakeholders.

Identify what are the top 3 priorities that the stakeholders want to know about and the areas that will help them to solve the challenges that they have.

In this instant, you need to define your purpose and message. What do you want your stakeholders to take away from your presentation? What actions do you want them to take? Once you know your purpose and message, you can start to identify the data that will support it.

here are some helpful tips for choosing data sources and methods for your stakeholder presentations: Choose data sources that are relevant and credible. Make sure that your data is accurate, up-to-date, and objective; Different data sources can provide different perspectives on your topic; Use data collection methods that are appropriate for your audience; Use data analysis tools and techniques that are appropriate for your data. There are a variety of data analysis tools and techniques available, so choose the ones that are right for your needs.

For me, and my experience, this one is critical: “Anticipate questions”. If you know that your leadership team has a strong focus on how they compare to their peers, this has to be a metric, or at the very least, a consideration that is spoken to. If your leader/leadership team only cares about ROI, then that has to be your main point. As you build your data presentation you’ll have many thoughts, but ultimately your presentation has to anticipate and answer the questions your audience will have. Adapt or ask, because at the end of the day, your data cannot be built for you and your opinions and/or your story. It has to be built for your audience.