When Over-Reliance on Power BI Rules & Best Practices Limits Growth

In Power BI, whether it’s data visualization, data modeling, or DAX, we often seek clear rules and best practices to follow. “Do this; don’t do that” feels more actionable than the uncertainty of “it depends.” This is especially true for beginners who lack the experience to navigate complex scenarios.

Best practices like optimized data models, efficient DAX, and structured report layouts help beginners build better Power BI solutions. However, rigidly following rules without understanding their nuances can sometimes limit effectiveness. The real-world Power BI landscape is messy—requiring flexibility and exceptions to achieve the best results.

When to Deviate from Common Power BI Rules:

• 3-30-300 Rule for Reports: Generally improves report layout and user experience, but exploratory dashboards or paginated reports may need a different approach.
• Avoid Many-to-Many or Bidirectional Relationships: Typically prevents ambiguity, but in cases like multiple fact tables (e.g., Sales vs. Forecast with different granularities), these relationships may be necessary.
• Don’t Filter Tables in DAX Measures: Reduces performance issues, but strategic filtering can sometimes be required for specific optimizations.

While rules provide a great starting point, they are summaries of deeper principles. True mastery in Power BI comes from knowing when to follow them—and when to break them for better results.