{"id":1044,"date":"2024-02-27T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T09:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thoughts.futurepresent.agency\/?p=1044"},"modified":"2024-04-12T13:51:19","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T12:51:19","slug":"data-storytelling-in-4-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thoughts.futurepresent.agency\/news\/data-storytelling-in-4-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Storytelling in 4 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"
You\u2019re standing in front of your manager, your boss, and your boss\u2019s boss. Behind you is a screen with the first slide of the research presentation you spent hours on. You click to a chart filled with numbers and text. Your boss yawns. Your stomach clenches. You wish you hadn\u2019t eaten that burrito at lunch.<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Surveys indicate around 75% of the population fears public speaking. We\u2019re afraid of boring our audience\u2014and when it comes to presenting <\/span>research, data and statistics, we think we\u2019re on the way to Snoozeville.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But you have the power to turn your statistics into compelling, value-adding nuggets of persuasion. When you embed data in a story, you won\u2019t have to fight for your audience\u2019s attention. Read on to learn how to use data storytelling to boost your persuasive power, add value to your insights and make your presentation stick in your audience\u2019s mind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all seen presentations with data that just doesn\u2019t work. From a lack of clarity to data overload, complex jargon and missing interpretation, it\u2019s easy to miss the mark.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But when you get it right, it can have real benefits, including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you build your next presentation, you want to get the most out of your data. One of the best ways to make sure to avoid any of the classic data presentation pitfalls is to use data storytelling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stories are humanity\u2019s bread and butter. We\u2019re hard-wired to tell and listen to stories\u2014and we\u2019re even up to <\/span>22 times more likely to remember information if it\u2019s part of a story<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s why you remember the plot of the movie you saw last year better than last week\u2019s sales figures. (For more on the basics of presentation storytelling, check out our blog, <\/span>Presentation Storytelling in 5 Easy Steps<\/span><\/a>.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Building data into a story adds an extra dimension. It involves deliberately building specific data points into your presentation to complement and support your story. (If you read the opening of this blog, you already know what a data story looks like.)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Using data storytelling supercharges the effect of your story. it can help you connect, boost retention and persuade your audience. Check out the next section for a step-by-step guide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Imagine your airline company wants to be more eco-friendly, but you need to convince an investor. You\u2019ve found data suggesting that 75% of customers prefer environmentally conscious airlines. You might build a story around an imagined customer, or a few customers, all environmentally conscious. After introducing them\u2014and adding a humanising touch\u2014you include the statistic. Your data will have a stronger impact on your investor, and they\u2019ll be more likely to remember it later.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stick to the most relevant data points and leave the rest. It\u2019s tempting to include all your carefully collected numbers, but your audience won\u2019t care about data that isn\u2019t relevant to the wider story. Plus, with too much data, you risk muddling your message.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Show how your data fits into the wider story and use precise terminology to explain exactly what it means. Keep your audience\u2019s level of expertise in mind\u2014they may not understand your field well, so keep your language accessible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Consider creating a data visual like a chart or graph if you\u2019re working with more than one statistic. Clear, effective data visualisations help you convey information and engage your audience. Read on for tips on building data visuals:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now you\u2019ve got the data storytelling skills you need to connect with your audience, increase retention and level up your power of persuasion. To learn more about storytelling in presentations, check out our blog, <\/span>Why do your decks need pro storytelling?<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Benefits\u2014and Dangers of Using Data<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
What Is Data Storytelling?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How to Build Data Storytelling Into Your Presentation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Find your story<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Use data selectively<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Give context.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Use clear data visuals.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n