Sometimes, the key takeaway isn’t just a spike 📈 or a dip 📉 in the numbers. It’s the fact something didn’t change when it should have. Most data professionals are trained to hunt for unusual… | Bren... Sometimes, the key takeaway isn’t just a spike 📈 or a dip 📉 in the numbers. It’s the fact something didn’t change when it should have. Most data professionals are trained to hunt for unusual pattern...

Sometimes, 'nothing happened' is the story...

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I’m going to say it: Most labels don’t need a leash. 🦮 You’ll often find leader lines in charts that connect a label to a data point. While they can be helpful, they can also be misused and… | Brent... I’m going to say it: Most labels don’t need a leash. 🦮 You’ll often find leader lines in charts that connect a label to a data point. While they can be helpful, they can also be misused and overused...

Not every label needs a leash. Leader lines can be helpful, but they're often misused or overused.

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Most charts place the y-axis on the left. No one questions this because it’s the default. When it comes to data storytelling, we sometimes need to break away from these common data visualization… | B... Most charts place the y-axis on the left. No one questions this because it’s the default. When it comes to data storytelling, we sometimes need to break away from these common data visualization conv...

Override the default and put the scale where your audience needs it to tell a better story.

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If you work in analytics or data science, your job is as much about change management as it is about data. Data culture doesn't emerge just because you deploy a new platform or share more… | Bren... If you work in analytics or data science, your job is as much about change management as it is about data. Data culture doesn't emerge just because you deploy a new platform or share more dashboards....

Here are three groups that could be undermining your data culture...

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In business reporting, every value typically gets labeled. The logic makes sense because you don’t know which data points your audience will need, so you label everything to be on the safe… | Brent Dy... In business reporting, every value typically gets labeled. The logic makes sense because you don’t know which data points your audience will need, so you label everything to be on the safe side. Many...

Over-labeling is a common problem in data presentations. Selective labeling is an integral part of effective data storytelling.

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Exciting news! After years of development, I'm thrilled to announce the launch of 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲™, the world's first fully automated data storytelling platform. Just add data—any data—and… | Brent... Exciting news! After years of development, I'm thrilled to announce the launch of 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲™, the world's first fully automated data storytelling platform. Just add data—any data—and AutoStory handle...

Announcing AutoStory(TM), the first fully automated data storytelling platform...

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Most data never leads to action. It doesn’t crash. It quietly takes an offramp. There are seven exits where data leaves the highway before it becomes a decision, change, or result. Exits 1-3 are… |... Most data never leads to action. It doesn’t crash. It quietly takes an offramp. There are seven exits where data leaves the highway before it becomes a decision, change, or result. Exits 1-3 are an...

Are you on the Data-to-Action highway? Or is your team constantly taking offramps?

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Data professionals routinely mistake analysis journeys for data stories. If you work in data or analytics, you’ve probably sat through many of these data presentations. A well-intentioned analyst… ... Data professionals routinely mistake analysis journeys for data stories. If you work in data or analytics, you’ve probably sat through many of these data presentations. A well-intentioned analyst s...

Are you sharing analysis journeys or data stories (based on a golden path)?

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Joining a webinar tomorrow with @datacamp.bsky.social on Data Visualization for Data Storytelling. Register here:

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Data Storytelling 101: A Beginner's Guide To Turning Insights Into Action Think your numbers speak for themselves? Think again. Even the most powerful insights fall flat without the right storytelling approach. This comprehensive guide walks you through the five foundationa...

Happy World Storytelling Day! In celebration of this day, check out my beginner's guide to Data Storytelling:

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When you're tasked with communicating insights, one of the most common challenges is finding the right balance of information to share. Share too little, and your audience can't make an info... When you're tasked with communicating insights, one of the most common challenges is finding the right balance of information to share. Share too little, and your audience can't make an informed dec...

If done right, each stage in the data storytelling process can help you produce a better data story.

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Combination charts can clarify your story or quietly undermine it. When used well, they can reveal a relationship between two metrics—something you wouldn’t see by looking at either one alone. When…... Combination charts can clarify your story or quietly undermine it. When used well, they can reveal a relationship between two metrics—something you wouldn’t see by looking at either one alone. When ...

Combo charts can be useful when they're used honestly and purposefully.

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Your analytics tool isn’t trying to undermine your storytelling, but its default settings might. Most tools are designed for flexibility, so their defaults are built to handle a wide range of… | Bre... Your analytics tool isn’t trying to undermine your storytelling, but its default settings might. Most tools are designed for flexibility, so their defaults are built to handle a wide range of scenar...

Don't let your tool's chart defaults trip up your storytelling.

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There's an ancient Buddhist parable about blind men encountering an elephant for the first time. Each man touches a different part—trunk, tusk, ear, leg, tail—and walks away convinced he understa... There's an ancient Buddhist parable about blind men encountering an elephant for the first time. Each man touches a different part—trunk, tusk, ear, leg, tail—and walks away convinced he understands ...

Many equate data storytelling with data visualization only. This perspective ignores the importance of the data and narrative elements. Effective data storytelling focuses on combining all three elements into a compelling data story.

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I often advocate for making your charts as simple as possible, especially in data stories where information needs to be understood quickly and clearly. A common question I hear is: Are complex… | Bre... I often advocate for making your charts as simple as possible, especially in data stories where information needs to be understood quickly and clearly. A common question I hear is: Are complex charts...

When are complex charts okay? As long as the extra cognitive effort to interpret the chart is worth the mental investment. Is there a mental ROI? An epiphany payoff.

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Recently, someone reached out to me with the following question: “As someone early in my analytics career, I’m curious what skills you think differentiate strong junior analysts from average ones.”… ... Recently, someone reached out to me with the following question: “As someone early in my analytics career, I’m curious what skills you think differentiate strong junior analysts from average ones.” ...

Someone recently asked me, “As someone early in my analytics career, I’m curious what skills you think differentiate strong junior analysts from average ones.”

Here's my answer...

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When I wrote Effective Data Storytelling, I was very intentional with my phrasing. One example is my use of “data scenes” to describe the visuals within a data story. I borrowed the term from… | Bre... When I wrote Effective Data Storytelling, I was very intentional with my phrasing. One example is my use of “data scenes” to describe the visuals within a data story. I borrowed the term from cinema...

When you work on a data story, are you building charts or data scenes? There's a difference.

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Do we fully understand the responsibility that we hold as data storytellers? I’m not sure we do. We spend a lot of time debating chart types, color usage, headlines, and delivery methods. But it’s…... Do we fully understand the responsibility that we hold as data storytellers? I’m not sure we do. We spend a lot of time debating chart types, color usage, headlines, and delivery methods. But it’s ...

Framing is a critical responsibility of data storytellers. How we choose to frame our insights matters.

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Throughout my career, I’ve met plenty of people who dismiss pie charts (and donut charts) as useless. I’ve even delivered data storytelling workshops to teams that officially outlawed them. (Yes… | B... Throughout my career, I’ve met plenty of people who dismiss pie charts (and donut charts) as useless. I’ve even delivered data storytelling workshops to teams that officially outlawed them. (Yes, plu...

Some people hate pie charts. Part of this stems from a misconception about how we interpret them. While pie charts may not be the most useful tool in your visualization toolbox, they're also not completely useless either.

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Most overloaded slides don’t happen by accident. They happen because we’re trying to be helpful. And safe. So we show: ✔️ The volume ✔️ The % of total ✔️ The growth rate ✔️ Maybe one more… | Brent Dy... Most overloaded slides don’t happen by accident. They happen because we’re trying to be helpful. And safe. So we show: ✔️ The volume ✔️ The % of total ✔️ The growth rate ✔️ Maybe one more metric…just...

How much is too much? Every metric must earn its place in your data stories.

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We need to stop designing dashboards that try to do everything. I’ve written often about the limitations of storytelling with dashboards. But there’s another design conflict that gets less… | Brent ... We need to stop designing dashboards that try to do everything. I’ve written often about the limitations of storytelling with dashboards. But there’s another design conflict that gets less attention...

Why do we keep designing dashboards that try to do everything?

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We can easily overlook simple chart formatting options like borders. However, they can make a difference for your audience. I’ve mostly gravitated to white borders because I like how they separate… |... We can easily overlook simple chart formatting options like borders. However, they can make a difference for your audience. I’ve mostly gravitated to white borders because I like how they separate va...

Yes, chart borders--a tiny formatting choice--can affect how people interpret your data.

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Many teams approach data storytelling the wrong way. They treat it like decorating. They tweak charts. Adjust colors. Polish the wording. When the story doesn’t drive action, they wonder what went…... Many teams approach data storytelling the wrong way. They treat it like decorating. They tweak charts. Adjust colors. Polish the wording. When the story doesn’t drive action, they wonder what went ...

Building a data story is like building a house...

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At Super Bowl LX, Bad Bunny faced what some viewed as an uphill battle: performing almost entirely in Spanish to a massive English-speaking audience. He turned to storytelling—and delivered one of… |... At Super Bowl LX, Bad Bunny faced what some viewed as an uphill battle: performing almost entirely in Spanish to a massive English-speaking audience. He turned to storytelling—and delivered one of th...

How Bad Bunny used storytelling in his Super Bowl halftime show to bridge a language and cultural barrier.

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On the surface, line charts feel simple to interpret. But differentiating lines isn’t, especially when you have multiple series. In reality, we only have a handful of design levers to work… | Brent D... On the surface, line charts feel simple to interpret. But differentiating lines isn’t, especially when you have multiple series. In reality, we only have a handful of design levers to work with: ✔️ L...

How do you use these design levers in your line charts to differentiate lines?

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I'll admit crafting a good data story can take some effort. But that doesn't mean you need to tell one every time. Sometimes storytelling is overkill. Other times, it’s absolutely critical. When… | Brent Dykes I'll admit crafting a good data story can take some effort. But that doesn't mean you need to tell one every time. Sometimes storytelling is overkill. Other times, it’s absolutely critical. When your data carries high potential value (“this could save us $10M annually”) and you expect resistance (“we’ve never done anything like this before”), you can’t expect the numbers to just speak for themselves. Whenever you’re sharing a true insight—something that’s naturally unexpected, counterintuitive, and disruptive—you’ve entered The Story Zone. Without a story, your audience may: ❌ Misinterpret the finding ❌ Undervalue its significance ❌ Ignore the implications ❌ Push back on its validity That’s why, with insights, data storytelling isn’t optional—it’s required. You don’t turn to storytelling because it’s flashy or trendy. You do it because the stakes are high and resistance rooted in outdated assumptions can be costly. Knowing when storytelling is required matters as much as knowing how to do it well. Where have you seen key insights fail because the story was missing? 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 Craving more of my data storytelling, analytics, AI, and data culture content? Sign up for my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/gRNMYJQ7 Check out my data storytelling masterclass: https://lnkd.in/gy5Mr5ky Need a virtual or onsite data storytelling workshop? Let's talk. https://lnkd.in/gNpR9g_K

Do you always need to tell a data story? No. But if you're sharing an insight (real one), it's mandatory.

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At two similar companies, a monthly report can trigger very different reactions. At one organization, data feels like a threat. It raises anxiety. It puts people on the defensive. In another, that… ... At two similar companies, a monthly report can trigger very different reactions. At one organization, data feels like a threat. It raises anxiety. It puts people on the defensive. In another, that s...

How we react to new data is shaped by our organization's data culture--blame-driven vs. growth-driven.

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Some people avoid using scatterplots in their data stories because they can feel overwhelming to audiences. They’re often dense, complex, and intimidating, especially when you’re showing a large… | B... Some people avoid using scatterplots in their data stories because they can feel overwhelming to audiences. They’re often dense, complex, and intimidating, especially when you’re showing a large numb...

How do you ensure your scatterplots are effectively communicating your key takeaways? These highlighting techniques can help.

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Why AI’s Productivity Promise Falls Apart Without Human Expertise Executives are betting on AI productivity gains. But human expertise determines whether that speed boost delivers shippable work or just more incomplete drafts.

Here's my Forbes article on AI productivity and human expertise: www.forbes.com/sites/brentd...

What makes someone a great analyst can make them struggle with data storytelling. Most analysts are comfortable and highly skilled at building dashboards. While dashboards and data stories look… | B... What makes someone a great analyst can make them struggle with data storytelling. Most analysts are comfortable and highly skilled at building dashboards. While dashboards and data stories look simi...

What made you great at building effective dashboards can actually impede your ability to design good data stories.

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