How do you explain data insights to non-technical clients?

1 Know your audience

Before you start preparing your presentation, you need to understand who your audience is, what their goals and challenges are, and what level of detail they expect from you. You can do this by asking them questions, researching their industry and context, and reviewing previous reports or feedback. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your message, tone, and style to their needs and preferences.

2 Simplify your language

One of the most common mistakes that consultants make when explaining data insights to non-technical clients is using too much technical jargon, acronyms, or complex terms. This can make your presentation hard to follow, boring, or intimidating for your clients. To avoid this, you should simplify your language as much as possible, using plain English, everyday examples, and analogies. You should also define any terms that are essential for understanding your insights, and avoid using unnecessary or redundant words.

3 Visualize your data

Another way to make your data insights more accessible and engaging for non-technical clients is to use data visualization. Data visualization is the process of transforming data into graphs, charts, maps, or other visual formats that can help your clients see patterns, trends, or outliers in your data. Data visualization can also help you highlight the key takeaways, comparisons, or recommendations from your analysis. However, you should be careful not to overload your presentation with too many or too complex visuals, and make sure they are clear, accurate, and relevant to your message.

4 Tell a story

A good presentation is not just a collection of facts and figures, but a story that connects your data insights to your clients' problems and solutions. To tell a compelling story with your data, you need to have a clear structure, a logical flow, and a strong narrative. You should start with a hook that grabs your clients' attention and explains why your insights matter to them. Then, you should provide some background and context for your analysis, and present your findings in a clear and concise way. Finally, you should end with a call to action that summarizes your main points and suggests the next steps for your clients.

5 Invite feedback

The last tip to explain data insights to non-technical clients is to invite feedback and questions from them. Feedback is a valuable way to check if your clients understood your insights, if they found them useful and relevant, and if they have any concerns or objections. You should encourage your clients to ask questions, share their opinions, or provide suggestions. You should also be prepared to answer their questions, clarify any doubts, or address any issues. By inviting feedback, you can show your clients that you value their input, that you are confident in your insights, and that you are open to collaboration.

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?