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. The result? Chaos. It’s overwhelming, and without a system to sort through it all, you risk spending way too much valuable time on low-impact work.
Instead, imagine a process that helps you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most to your business.
That’s exactly what the Discover > Categorize > Prioritize framework does.
Step 1: Discover the Right Questions
Before you can tell an impactful data story, you need to uncover the questions driving the data requests. Many stakeholders may not fully articulate their needs, leaving you to bridge the gap between vague requests and meaningful insights.
That’s why I like to ask, “Tell me more.”
This simple phrase opens the door to deeper conversations. It encourages stakeholders to elaborate, helping you uncover the core business challenges and goals behind their requests. Often, what seems like a straightforward question can lead to a richer understanding of their priorities.
By focusing on uncovering the right questions, you shift from simply reporting data to crafting stories that solve real problems and drive decision-making.
Write down the questions you discover:
Step 2: Categorize the Choas
Once you’ve identified the key questions behind your data requests, the next step is to bring structure to the chaos by categorizing them.
Many people collect data requirements but fail to organize them in a way that reveals patterns or priorities. That’s where categorization comes in.
Start by grouping related questions into themes, business areas, or strategic goals. This simple step not only makes your work easier to manage but also ensures your data storytelling aligns with the bigger picture.
Group the questions into categories:
Step 3: Prioritize What Matters
A lot of people handle data requests as they come. But few take the time to step back and prioritize them based on their strategic value.
Remember, not all questions are equal. Some align closely with organizational goals and can deliver high-impact insights, while others might only provide marginal value.
That’s why it’s critical to focus your efforts where they’ll have the biggest impact. Start by identifying the questions that matter most to the business, then deprioritize those with limited strategic relevance.
By zeroing in on high-value questions, you’ll ensure your data stories drive meaningful results and directly support your organization’s key objectives.
Prioritize the high-value questions.
Challenge
Pick one data project and put the Discover > Categorize > Prioritize framework into action. Start by turning data requests into clear business questions. Next, group them into meaningful categories, and finally, prioritize the questions that delivers the most strategic value.
Takeaway
When you use this framework, you transform chaos into clarity. By focusing on high-value questions and aligning your efforts with business goals, you create data stories that drive real impact and deliver meaningful outcomes.
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