How can you use visualization tools to make better decisions as a team leader?

Adding visualization tools helps to provide a clearer picture of all the various data points. It helps to identify gaps and areas of improvement. This is especially helpful when the data is huge and sheets are confusing for the team members. Viz tools help in telling better and more compelling narratives about data. Viz tools help in developing better process maps thereby helping to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the team. Also, viz tools help to allocate resources effectively and adjust timelines based on visual feedback. Overall, viz tools help team leaders and their teams make better-informed decisions, communicate ideas more clearly, and foster a data-driven decision-making culture.

One of my favorite ways to leverage visualization tools is the telethon method or thermometer visual. When displayed correctly, in a visual format, a visual goal can boost team morale and solidify team engagement. When the goal isn’t fast enough or has the potential to miss the mark, everyone can see and brainstorm ideas to meet the goal. When the goal is met, the team if pushed to meet a stretch goal. Either way, having a very visible, visual goal is good for the team and allows you as a leader to make better, faster decisions.

Team leaders can maximize their decision-making process by using visualization tools. By creating visual representations of data, you can effectively communicate complex information to your team in a clear and concise way. These visualizations, such as charts, graphs, dashboards, and heat maps, enable you to identify patterns and trends, track progress towards goals, and ultimately drive your team towards success. Embracing these tools will empower you to make well-informed decisions and foster a collaborative and productive work environment. In fact, studies have shown that teams that utilize visualization tools experience a 30% increase in productivity and a 25% improvement in decision-making accuracy.

Visual analytics is used to analyze, establish and define the signs and symptoms of a business scenario where the data generated and the analytics engineered speak volumes to make everyone understand with consummate ease. An Important element before getting into the act of data generation and data evaluation is, that the the very purpose of this entire exercise must be absolutely clear and the objective well defined, at the very outset, so as to establish the CORE around which the analytics shall have to be built. A carefully designed analytics would therefore, make all to understand and reduce loss of precious time and opportunity in making the team understand and arrive at a consensus which would help tide over the situation.

Visualization tools can help team leaders make better decisions by: Clarifying complex data: Visualizations simplify data, making it easier to understand and identify patterns. Enhancing communication: Visuals aid in conveying information more effectively to team members. Supporting strategic planning: Visualizing timelines, project progress, and dependencies assists in decision-making. Simplifying processes: Flowcharts and diagrams streamline workflows and decision processes. Improving engagement: Visual agendas and storytelling with data make meetings more engaging and productive.

I always advocate for organizations to have data readily available to make informed decisions. Not just data but they should also have good data integrity score which means the available data is credible and when used for analysis, the findings will be a true representation of the issues at hand. After having credible data, a good data analyst can visualize the data with either Power BI, tableau or excel. This visualization will reveal trends of 52-12-4 weeks which will totally unpack the problem to be resolved. It is also key that every leader learns the skill of reading data and trends. What the future holds for data analysis is enormous and it starts from now

I have used Assumption Mapping from Lean Startup. This process helps identify the things that are most impactful to the success of the vision and are the most uncertain allow you to visualise the most important assumption to validate first.

Another alternatives that I highly recommend: Resource Allocation: Resource allocation charts, like the "Eisenhower Matrix," can help leaders prioritize tasks and allocate resources effectively based on urgency and importance. Mind Mapping: Visual mind maps can help team leaders brainstorm ideas, explore potential solutions, and organize thoughts, which is especially useful when making decisions that require creative problem-solving. Decision Trees: Visual decision trees can help team leaders and their teams systematically work through complex decisions by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable components. This approach ensures that all relevant factors are considered.

Using tools like Draw.io or Lucidchart allow teams to create multiple versions of visual diagrams to compare and contrast proposed solutions. When solving complex problems or designing systems with team members who aren't co-located in the same office, using a interactive design tool like Google's Jam Board or Lucidchart allow multiple team members who edit the file at the same time all while chatting on a video conference. Essentially you're bridging the geolocation gap that's preventing the team from holding a collaborative whiteboard session.

I primarily utilize data visualization to assess the impact of projects and developments on various products, processes, or areas. Each unit exhibits varying degrees of correlation with different indicators, and devising a solution will favor one area over another. This trade-off becomes apparent when you have a clear understanding of each indicator's influence on each area, and data visualization effectively aggregates and presents this correlation to me.

Stakeholders often are not true experts in the subject. In my experience I found that storytelling and analogies with real world experiences closed to the environment of the business decision are the best way to engage them and get them to understand and support the decision.

Visualization tools can enhance communication with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Visual project roadmaps, flowcharts, or diagrams can make it easier for others to understand complex processes or project plans, leading to more effective decision-making as a group.

Visualization tools like Miro, Mural, or FigJam (or even physical sticky notes if you can meet in person) are excellent ways to organize ideas and engage stakeholders on which path to take. If the work is done to define and align on a clear problem and measure of success, it's much easier to brainstorm solutions, then prioritize / de-prioritize those approaches since you can visually map out those ideas together. By co-creating with stakeholders, you can achieve buy-in on whatever solution you all agree to, and equally importantly, have a common understanding of why you are NOT pursuing certain solutions.

Similarly to how data correlation within an indicator versus area visualization reveals where the greatest impact of each development will occur, data visualization can provide me with a sense of progress and streamline reporting. Effective communication with stakeholders enhances the roadmap's confidence, and data visualizations consolidate a wealth of information, greatly facilitating this efficient communication.

Es muy importante construir matrices de causas (entendiendo los por qué sucedieron las cosas) y deben elaborarse de forma grupal porque la visión de diferentes roles complementa la información no solo para identificar problemas sino visualizar posibles soluciones y planes de prevención y acción; toda la conceptualización del trabajo colaborativo brinda más data dura que reduce riesgos, permite visualizar la complejidad de la situación y reduce la incertidumbre para el proceso de toma de decisiones.

A product launch should be accompanied by evolution metrics to support success or identify shortcomings. This will provide input for the roadmap or signify greater support from a strategic standpoint. You should always aim to expand the usage of your product, and during the launch, market/customer response should be meticulously measured and studied. Therefore, in a well-established visualization, you can track and analyze progress.

Communicating the status of a project or the outcome of test is almost always best communicated through visual dashboards. In the virtual world most of us are all living in now, we have to improve our executive and cross-functional communication skills to be able to get our point across as quickly and clearly as possible. This is best accomplished with the assistance of visual diagrams, charts, and examples that make it easy for others to quickly see, interpret and digest the most important information. Try integrating AI into your workflow by using AI plugins on Google Sheets and ChatGPT-4 that will take your collective data and help create visuals.

In the long term, a well-established visualization with key success metrics (and a defined North Star metric) will provide insights into the product's or feature's health. Engagement dashboards, LTV (lifetime value), and especially a well-constructed ROI (return on investment) will provide you with inputs to lead the team in increasingly efficient improvements, generating greater value. This perspective, initiated by a solid visualization, will make you a more focused and precise leader, driving rapid evolution.

Incorporating tools like mind maps, flowcharts, or diagrams. Visualizing complex information can enhance communication and understanding within the team. Use diagrams to illustrate processes, mind maps to brainstorm ideas visually, and flowcharts to map out decision pathways. These tools not only facilitate clearer communication but also make it easier for your team to grasp concepts and contribute to informed decision-making.

Herramientas hay muchas, todas muy completas que permiten visualizar, analizar y hasta predecir ciertas situaciones, pero lo más valioso que tiene un líder de equipo es precisamente eso, su equipo y ese debería ser el punto de partida de toda decisión tanto en consultas, consideraciones y los resultados de cada miembro.