Benefits of Data Visualization for HR

In this time in our history, the struggle is not a lack of data but the opposite. We find ourselves with massive volumes of data at hand and the challenge of making sense of all of it. We sat down with ‘data whisperer’ Christina Stathopoulos, MSc to learn more about data visualization and how it can benefit the field of human resources and human capital management. Read the full article here.

What is data visualization?

Data visualization is a powerful tool to help us make sense of large amounts of data. It's a way to take complex data sets and turn them into visuals that are easy to understand and interpret. This can range from simple charts and graphs to complex interactive dashboards.

Data visualization is an important skill for everyone these days, and it's becoming increasingly important in many fields. For example, it can be used in business to help?make better decisions, in healthcare to track the effectiveness of treatments, and in education to track student performance. We are seeing an increase in people analyst roles in Human Resources and People Operations, a sign that?people data and analytics?are increasingly important to organizations.

“Large amounts of data can be easily digestible when it is presented visually in a graph or a picture instead of a table of numbers.” - Analytics Specialist Christina Stathopoulos, MSc

Why is data visualization important?

Whether you're a data scientist, a marketer, a student, or a HR?professional, data visualization can be a powerful tool. With the right data visualization techniques, you can unlock the full potential of your data and make better decisions.

Data Visualization Statistics

• 90% of information transmitted to our brains is visual
• People remember 80% of what they see but only 20% of what they hear
• We absorb imagery 60,000 faster than words

Presenting data visually, through images, not only allows us to understand data quicker but also helps us remember key points.

“We cannot assume this is a natural ability. But with proper training, really anyone and everyone in a team can be empowered to get most out of data.”

5 ways data visualization helps HR

Do you want to motivate team leaders? Inform the decisions of C-levels? Address concerns of employees? Data visualization can help! Make sure to find the right data that meets the objective and the message you want to get across to your audience, and be clear on how you present the data and insights.

1. Make better people decisions.

Faster and more objective decisions such as headcount planning, data-informed recruitment of new team members.

2. Improve collaboration with other departments.

To create more efficient HR resources, Christina recommends implementing HR training and development programs for all employees. "The goal is to better understand your employees' needs so that you can provide them with the appropriate training and resources," she says. By providing employees with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, these programs can help to improve overall HR efficiency and support the overall success of the organization.

3. Better understand your employees.

You can use data to spot risks as well as opportunities within your workforce.

4. Predict workforce needs.

By gaining a deep understanding of your employees through unbiased (preferably anonymous) data, you will be better equipped to respond to your employees' needs and anticipate potential challenges, such as employee turnover. This agility and preparedness to adapt to?daily workforce insights?can help to improve HR efficiency and support the success of the organization.

5. Win leadership buy-in.

Data visualization can be a powerful tool for influencing and convincing c-level executives because it provides a clear and concise way to present complex information in a way that is easy for people to understand and interpret. It can make it easier to convince c-level executives of the value and importance of your recommendations, and help them to see the potential benefits and opportunities that the data presents. Additionally, because data visualization is objective and based on facts, it can provide a strong foundation for your arguments and can be difficult for leaders to refute.

Keep this in mind for data analysis and visualization

In order to fully leverage the benefits of data visualization, we must also consider its potential risks and limitations. Christina notes that a lack of data literacy within teams can lead to incorrect interpretation of the data and false assumptions. Another risk is?bias, as the designer or presenter may unintentionally show one-sided information leading to incomplete or misleading conclusions. Therefore, it is important to ensure that teams have the necessary data literacy skills and to carefully consider potential sources of bias when creating data-based visuals. This will help to avoid presenting incorrect or incomplete information to the audience.

“Be brief, be true, be relevant, and be clear."

Want to learn more about how to harness the power of data visualization and storytelling as an HR professional and people leader? Check out the full article!