Learn business skills to transform your data into stories.
Every Tuesday, get one actionable tip teaching you how to craft impactful data stories, master visual communication, and drive outcomes for your business.
Read Time – 6 minutes
The Problem: Endless Follow-Up Questions
You present a dashboard or slide deck, and the moment you stop talking, the hands go up.
“Can we see this by region?”“Which sales reps contributed the most?”“What’s the trend over time?”
The cycle repeats in every meeting. You answer ...
Read time: 5 minutes
Let’s be honest—tables are boring.
They’re dense.They’re overwhelming.And worst of all, they hide the real story in the data.
But sometimes, tables are the only option.
So instead of fighting them, enhance them.
Here’s how to transform any wall of numbers into a clear, engagi...
Read time: 3 minutes
Stakeholders often think they know how they want data presented.
They request raw spreadsheets, giant pivot tables, and long lists of numbers, believing that more data means more control.
But here’s the problem: What they ask for isn’t always what actually helps them make bet...
Read time: 4 minutes
When everything looks important, nothing stands out.
Dashboards, reports, and presentations often overwhelm audiences with walls of numbers—forcing them to search for the insights that matter most.
But here’s the fix: Use big numbers strategically.
Big numbers cut through the...
Read time: 3 minutes
Have you ever presented a dashboard only to see blank stares or confusion from your audience? Chances are, the issue wasn’t your data—it was the words you used to narrate it.
Here’s the problem: technical jargon creates confusion, not clarity.
When you describe your dashboard...
Read time: 3 minutes
I’ll come right out and say it: most dashboards fail to tell a cohesive story.
We’ve all seen it—dashboards crammed with charts, numbers, and filters, trying to be everything for everyone. They’re supposed to be the holy grail of data storytelling, yet they often leave audien...
Read time: 4 minutes
When presenting data, don’t overwhelm your audience with a ton of colors in your charts if you want to tell a clear and compelling story.
Why?
When your charts look like a rainbow of colors, your audience is left confused, distracted, and unsure of what to focus on. Multiple ...
Read time: 6 minutes
Early in my career, I skipped sketching my ideas and dove straight into creating polished data presentations.
I remember one project vividly. I was tasked with delivering a dashboard for a high-profile client. In my rush to deliver something impressive, I bypassed sketching a...
Read time: 4 minutes
This week’s tip: Use the “Tell Them” method to guide your audience, eliminate confusion, and make your presentations unforgettable.
Use These 3 Steps to Engage and Guide Your Audience
I’ve been presenting for over 20 years, and during that time, I’ve spoken at conferences, l...
Read time: 5 minutes
This week’s tip: A great opener sets the stage for everything that follows.
I’ll never forget a defining moment in my college experience. I was a freshman at the University of Washington, taking Speech Communication 220—an introductory public speaking class. For our final ass...
Read time: 5 minutes
This week’s tip: Simplify your charts to amplify stories and outcomes.
I’ve been refining data visualization techniques for almost 20 years, and no matter the complexity of the data, these three techniques ensure clear and effective charts every time.Â
Let me show you how, st...
Read time: 4 minutes
This week's tip: Learn how to discover, categorize, and prioritize the most important data stories for maximum business impact.
Why You Need to Prioritize Data Requests
We’ve all been there: a flood of data requests from stakeholders, each accompanied by a sense of urgency. T...
