How to Select the Right Chart to Tell Your Data Story – Answer These 3 Questions

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In the last issue, we covered how to create an infographic in four easy steps. Finding the perfect images and icons for your A3, infographic, or presentation is oftentimes easier than selecting the right type of chart to represent your data. Do you find that to be true?

If so, then struggle no more!

Consider this article as a reference guide that you can use in determining the best chart to select in generating a certain response based on data you’ve collected.

It’s all about answering these three questions:

1. What Data Do You Want to Share?

2. What Story Do You Want to Tell?

3. Which Chart Will Have the Most Impact?

1. What Data Do You Want to Share?

As you know, data comes in many forms. At a high level, it's classified as qualitative or quantitative. Depending on your collection method and the volume collected, sifting through and making sense of data can be a laborious exercise. Synthesizing it in a way that's easy to understand and contributes to your narrative is critical to getting across your message.

The above image comes from fullstory and nicely summarizes the differences between the two main types of data. Once you know the data you want to share, then you're ready to answer the next question.

2. What Story Do You Want to Tell?

Notice I did not put this question first. It's tempting to want to tell the story first and then find data that fits your narrative. This can lead to purposeful data omissions and can compromise your obligation to communicate without deception. Does your data support or refute your original thought?

Let's say you have a hypothesis or hunch about the reason why so many businesses fail within their first year of operation.

Your research yields data that does not support that. Do you change your original position or do you omit the data altogether?

3. Which Chart Will Have the Most Impact?

Just as there's a wide variety of data to collect, there's also no shortage of charts to select from. And what better way to show that selection than through an infographic? The infographic below comes from the world-renowned Financial Times and offers a robust depiction of chart options. I've included a snippet of it.

The full version of this infographic includes 9 main categories of charts. You can download that full, more legible version in pdf or png format here.

For the sake of simplicity, I'll use the infographic from iDashboards (now TruOI) further below to explain how to select the chart that will generate the most impact.

1. Scan the first row of the infographic that contains four chart categories.
2. Choose the category that best describes how you want to show your data.
3. Scroll down the column of the selected chart category to analyze the various types.
4. Select the chart type that you think is most appropriate for helping viewers of your A3, infographic, or presentation quickly understand the data shared. For example, if your goal is to report on how your team feels about a new project to automate a process, then which do you think would be more impactful - a pie chart showing the distribution of those who like, love, hate, or are neutral

Distribution

Histograms, Pareto Charts, …

Relationships

?Composition

This is a pie chart I created for a client showing the distribution of people from a survey.

Comparison

Create Your Chart & Add the Finishing Touches

Now that you know how to best represent your data, it's time to create your selected chart. There's no shortage of chart-creating software, but I'll share those that I'm most familiar with. MS Excel offers a comprehensive suite of charts to illustrate many of the charts shown in the above infographic.

However, you may need a more advanced charting tool like Minitab, QI Macros, or Tableau to produce your chart. Minitab is a phenomenal tool for statistical analysis. The wonderful feature about QI Macros is that it acts as an MS Excel add-on and does not require accessing a different software. It simply attaches to your copy of MS Excel (if you have one). And if you want super sleek charts (on par with charts you might see in high-profile publications and on news channels), then you'll love Tableau.

If you need help creating your chart, then check the help section of each software. You can even search for tutorials on YouTube and other online forums. Once you've created your chart, insert it into your A3, infographic, or presentation. Another great use of charts is in dashboards. That's what we'll explore next.

If you enjoyed this article, then subscribe so that you don't miss this next issue and can continue receiving operational tips and tactics like this!?Also, consider connecting with me here on LinkedIn.

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Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc. – an operations management firm specializing in business infrastructure for fast-growing small businesses. She’s the author of the two-time Amazon bestseller Behind the Fa?ade and host of the top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast. Alicia’s also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s advised, designed, and optimized processes for companies including Shell Oil, Coca-Cola, and The Home Depot.