Here's how you can improve communication with stakeholders using data visualization tools.

No visualization tool alone can improve your communication with stakeholders. However, they can help you draw their attention and connect with them if you: - Present with clarity and simplicity - Make effective storytelling choices - Address stakeholders' Interests - Anchor your reports to business value - Aim to provide potentially actionable insights

Simplifying your message is key; focus on the most important insights and avoid clutter. Creating a compelling narrative around your data through storytelling techniques can make the information more engaging and memorable. Always maintain the integrity of your data by ensuring accuracy and clarity in your visualizations. Interactive dashboards are particularly powerful, allowing stakeholders to explore the data themselves with filters, drill-downs, and other interactive elements. Regularly updating these dashboards and incorporating stakeholder feedback helps keep the data relevant and the visualizations effective.

Explain the data and the meaning behind it in a way your audience can understand. How an accountant explains leases is different between other accountants, shareholders, and location managers. Each has their own knowledge base, interests and questions.

Before presenting the data, briefly refer to the vision statement of the organization. In one sentence reignite the flame that inspired that statement and link it to the importance of the work that everyone is doing, which should align with the mission statement. This will help focus on the identified needs and the proposed resources and actions to meet these needs and overcome the challenges.

To improve communication with stakeholders using data visualization tools, first, understand their needs. Choose the right tools wisely, and simplify complex data for clarity. Tell a compelling story with the visuals and iterate often based on feedback. Provide training and support to stakeholders. Personal Touch: In my experience, tailoring visuals to stakeholder preferences and offering hands-on training sessions significantly improved their understanding and engagement. This approach has been crucial in effectively communicating insights and driving informed decisions.

Focus on the ideas that your visuals should illustrate. Select wisely the style, format, and each feature so that your visuals help stakeholders understand the importance of the data. Avoid elements that distract such as, unnecessary animations, transitions, sounds, etc. Use visuals that make the impact that best support your arguments.

Choosing the right visualization is crucial for effective communication. Each chart type serves a specific purpose: pie charts excel at showing proportions, while bar charts are ideal for comparing quantities. Matching the visualization to the data’s message ensures clarity and prevents misinterpretation. Misaligned visuals can confuse or mislead, so it’s essential to select the most suitable format to convey your insights accurately. By aligning your visual aids with the data’s narrative, you enhance understanding and facilitate informed decision-making.

This is the trickiest part There are now many hundred types of visuals available but for the ease of understanding of the Audience Best is to stick to traditional 20-30 charts that we have all grown up with First decide the data that you want to visualize falls in which of the 5 main categories Comparison Composition Relationship Distribution Geographical And once you identify that you can quickly Google which all charts fit the best in each For example Comparison: Line Chart, Area Chart, Column Chart, Bar Chart, Clustered Column, Clustered Bar and so on Composition: Pie Chart, Treemap, Small Multiple, Funnel, Sunburst, Waterfall, donut and so on Relationship: Scatter plot, Bubble Chart, Sankey etc

Consider adding one simple statement at the end of each visual that summarizes the key points that visual illustrates. For example, “There are three factors that have influenced this trend,” or “The initial investment began rendering results once the interventions took place.”

Complex data can overwhelm stakeholders, impeding meaningful conclusions. Simplify data visualization by eliminating extraneous details and emphasizing key trends, patterns, or outliers. Focus on the essentials rather than overwhelming with all data points. Use colors, shapes, and sizes strategically to direct attention to critical insights. The objective is to communicate clear, actionable insights, not to display every piece of data collected. By distilling complexity into clarity, you empower stakeholders to make informed decisions efficiently.

Simplifying data through visualization is crucial for helping stakeholders extract meaningful insights without feeling overwhelmed by complexity. During my experience, including at Ernst & Young (EY), I've emphasized the importance of clarity in data presentation. By removing unnecessary details and highlighting key trends, patterns, or outliers, I ensured that stakeholders could quickly grasp essential insights. Strategic use of colors, shapes, and sizes in tools like PowerBI effectively directed attention to critical data points, facilitating more informed decision-making. This approach highlights the value of prioritizing clarity and relevance in data visualization to enhance communication and decision-making processes.

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Dashboards and Visuals should be as easy to comprehend as a good movie How will it happen? When there is less cognitive load 1. So wise, subdued, complimentary colours, 2. Data labels only where necessary 3. Axis are correct and have right intervals 4. Charts are selected optimally 5. Visuals have appropriate labels 6. The layout is in Z or F Format as that is how many humans traverse an on-screen page 7. Relevant metrics are selected 8. Most important metrics are prioritized 9. Tooltips/Additional details are visible when one hovers over the visual 10. Slicers/Filters are available for deep diving

Storytelling with data is a powerful method to engage and inform people effectively. During my college project for 'Storytelling with Data', I analyzed prison statistics by combining different datasets. I explored where each dataset came from to identify key events and trends. This allowed me to uncover correlations between demographics and crime rates, and to evaluate the impact of rehabilitation programs. Crafting a clear narrative around these insights helped stakeholders emotionally connect with the data and make informed decisions. Learning about storytelling with data in college underscored its importance in simplifying complex information and influencing decisions effectively.

Corporate stories are a little different than the traditional stories we have consumed since childhood Executives prefer the end result first (just like a movie that starts with a flashback & then goes back into how it all happened) So Results first, comparison with last year or quarter, highlight what is going better what is going worse Ex. Revenue might be up but sales volume might be lower so it means revenue is driven by price hike not by increased consumption/market share So similar to the first one Identify key metrics, show them well, prioritize them in the right order & then offer to have an in depth explanation for each if/when asked by different stakeholders You can't have corporate stories that start with Once upon a time

Think of your data as the characters of a story. What happened at the beginning? Who did what that made a change? What piece represents the challenge? What elements could bring the expected outcomes? The conclusion is up to the decisions the stakeholders will have to make to write a happy ending.

Determine a format that will help you review the feedback you receive. Perhaps a T-chart that includes pros and cons would be helpful to zoom in for details and zoom out for perspective. Share that with the stakeholders as well and point out the input they provided. This will strengthen the synergy in the team.

The only constant in life is change So while you may have made the most perfect dashboard in life, it may have garnered all the accolades But things change with each week/month or quarter So go back to review if there are any updates in the dataset for example new products introduced Or new geographies Also you simply might have some inspiration from others when it comes to dashboard layout or theme or visuals or colours And Kaizen says small incremental improvements add up to deliver a beautiful product in this case an Aesthetic, Intuitive, & Insightful Dashboard

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Be patient with your personal and professional growth. Invest time in learning, adapting, and practicing what you learn. Consistency is key - with dedication and persistence, results will inevitably follow. Embrace the journey, stay committed, and watch your progress unfold.