story data is a valuable asset for the modern business. Whether it’s used for operational improvements or to drive strategy, organizations perform better when more people can analyze data. But identifying insights is only the first step; they need to be weaved into a narrative that drives change and makes an impact. Storytelling with data is critical to this objective, but it’s difficult at scale.
A narrative that explains why a certain data point is important helps audiences understand and connect with it. It’s also a way to frame the information in terms of what’s realistic and possible, which is important to your audience.
The Power of Story Data: Unveiling Insights from Narratives
The story itself is often framed using visuals, and it’s important that the visual components support your message. For example, one study found that the first place people look when looking at a graph is the title and label text. And if you’re using line charts to communicate correlations and changes over time, then you might want to use symbols to illustrate uncertainty at the end of the graph or on an additional axis.
It’s essential that your data stories are accurate, and that your narratives are truthful. Otherwise, your audience will lose trust in you. There have been many documented cases of businesses manipulating data to fit their desired narratives, but you can avoid these mistakes by ensuring that the data and visuals match up. Using high-quality data that’s sourced and collected with a clear purpose is an important step in this process.
