Storytelling

Last updated Jun 5, 2023

The process of turning facts into a narrative to communicate something to your audience.

Many experts believe that human brains automatically organize events with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Thinking about things in this way, like stories, helps us make sense of the past, the present, and the future.

“Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a clear and convincing voice.” Stephen Few

Narrative’s elements:

• Characters
  • The people affecred by your story, like Stakeholders
• Setting
  • What’s happening and other background info
• Plot (a.k.a the conflict)
  • The plot is what creates the conflict that compels the characters to act—and what the data analysis seeks to resolve
  • Plot creates tension in the situation.
• Big reveal
  • how data solves the problem
• Aha moment
  • data-driven recommendations

Phases:

• Define your audience
  • Define what matters the most to the audience.
    • What would my audience like to know about the project?
    • What are their most urgent concerns?
    • Which key data points influence the story and project outcome?
• Collect the Data Analysts/Foundations/Data
  • Leverage collected data and Documentation
• Filter and analyze the data ( Data analysis)
• Choose a visual representation
  • Data visualization
• Shape the story
  • One cohesive narrative to reply to the audience’s questions
  • Consider what you hope to achieve, the points you want to make, and the questions and concerns you want to address
• Gather the feedback
  • E.g. Feedback surveys

Links to:

• Communication