Inside all data there are stories. The challenge is when these stories are not well told. For a well told story you need: 1. A clear purpose to the data 2. One or more stories you wish to tell 3. An accessible deck - make sure your data is accessible even to people with for example visual impairments. Make sure you describe what’s on the screen! Some examples from work we have done for example are large household survey data which is combined with qualitative data. The qualitative data helps you tell the why. The visuals from the quantitative help you give data and impact into the what of the story. There are biases towards one gender or one impairment type, and we know why due to the qualitative data. Final point - less is more!

When you’re buried in stats during a meeting, the trick is to make the data actually mean something to your audience. Start with the “why”—what do the numbers show, and why should anyone care? Keep the energy up by presenting with enthusiasm and using examples people can relate to. Don’t throw everything at them at once; walk them through the key points step by step so it’s easy to follow. Make it a conversation, not a lecture—pause to ask questions, check if they’re on the same page, or get their thoughts. When you keep it clear and interactive, even the most data-heavy meeting can feel engaging and useful.

Here are my best practices: 1. Know Your Audience: Tailor your presentation to their level of understanding. 2. Focus on Key Messages: Identify the main points you want to convey. 3. Use Visual Hierarchy: Highlight the most important figures or trends in your visuals. 4. Choose the Right Visuals: Use bar charts for comparisons. Use line graphs for trends over time. Use pie charts carefully. 5. Narrative Structure: Start with why the data matters, walk through the findings step by step. 6. Interactive Elements: If presenting live, involve the audience through polls or Q&A about what the data might imply. 7. Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate where your audience might need clarification and have backup data ready.

Some best practices to consider: Know Your Audience: Tailor the complexity of your data to the audience's knowledge level. Focus on Key Insights Keep it Simple: Avoid presenting too many numbers at once. Simplify the data by summarizing key points Use Effective Visuals: Visual aids like bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs can help your audience grasp the data quickly. Make sure your visuals are clear, well-labeled, and easy Tell a Story with the Data: Place the numbers into a context that resonates. Interactive Elements: If possible, involve the audience by letting them explore the data themselves. Practice Timing: Don't linger too long on any one chart or data point. Pause for Questions

Tell a story. Imagine a meeting presenting performance latencies of API endpoints. What's the meaning of those median, P99 values. What does it mean for Bob who is trying to use the software to manage their servers or Joe trying to order a birthday cake for his son by tomorrow? Simplify it. Reduce the metrics. I often find myself defining all sort of clever metrics.. but then it usually ends up becoming too many. Reduce it to 1-3 tops and then it'll be a lot more meaningful. Less is more in many many situations.

1.Use clear visuals: charts, graphs, or infographics. 2. Highlight key insights and actionable outcomes. 3. Relate data to a compelling story. 4. Ask questions to encourage interaction. 5. Foster collaboration by seeking opinions.