Storytelling with You

chapter 7show data in graphs

We use data to inform, build credibility, support ideas, battle false preconceptions, help people understand something in a new way, and drive change. Executed well, a graph brings an awesome “aha” moment of understanding, turning data into information that can be used to make a smarter decision, have a more robust conversation, or act with greater confidence.

Before we get into how exactly to do that, I have one important caveat: just because you have data doesn't necessitate its inclusion in your presentation. When integrating numbers and graphs into a communication, step back and ask yourself why precisely you are doing so. What will the given data point or graph achieve? This practice will help the data you incorporate be more effective. Also, when you clearly know the reason for communicating specific data, it is easier to create data visualizations that accomplish what you intend. We'll discuss practical ways to do this over the course of this chapter.

For more on data visualization, read my first book

For a foundational review of communicating effectively with data, check out my first book, storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals. You'll encounter some concepts that will be familiar from your reading here (in particular, the importance of audience, message, and story), plus greater depth on communicating with graphs in particular. This includes thorough discussion of common business visualizations, ...