How do you train others to present data analysis?

When it comes to presenting data, having a strong idea of your audience is a necessity. Maybe your stakeholders don't have any idea what Tableau is, or maybe your audience is at a conference, etc. The data is the data, however, it's your job to change the tone, presentation, and format depending on each situation. Every presentation has its unique audience.

Packaging your data analysis within a workbook combining multiple dashboards, reports, tables, and notebooks for the same datasets makes it a lot easier for less-experienced practitioners to pick the level of granularity with which they will be the most comfortable, while allowing mentors to drill-down whenever necessary.

I can't stress enough how many data presentations I've seen where the wrong charts and graphs were used. Our job is to ensure the end user fully understands our message. Using appropriate colors to ensure people who are color blind is one small example. Sometimes straightforward and informative charts are more valuable than flashy, fancy visuals.

Avoid multiple graphics with the same information! Many times, I've had requests to show a pie chart when the same information is deducible from an existing cluster chart and sometimes more intuitive. I believe simplicity in representing data is key to driving the important points. Just because we can display an analysis in multiple ways doesn't always mean we should clutter a report with graphs that say the same things.

When most people see a data presentation, they just see charts and visuals. What I look for, though, is a story behind the visuals. You are trying to deliver a message and let the visuals do the talking. Keeping it simple and clear will ensure your audience is engaged with your work. Presentations are more than just visuals, it's all about how you construct it.

Being able to tell a story that really connects to your audience is so important. Not just to grab your audiences attention or to make your presentation memorable, but in order to get your audience to take action. The purpose of telling a story through the data is to resonate with your audience and make it so that they want to make a change.

You can't be an excellent presenter without some constructive feedback. No one is ever perfect and there is room for practice and improvement. It's important not to always view the negatives and embrace where you excel at. However, to truly succeed in this industry, you must allow yourself to take the feedback and make your next presentation even better. Never settle for just good, be great.