![\"\"](\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/09\/robot-lawyer-digital-data-300x198.jpg\")
Storytelling might be the oldest form of culture known to humanity. It was once the main way we preserved and passed on our history, knowledge, and beliefs. In the present day, it is still just as important, but the manner in which it occurs has most certainly changed. One of the modern ways we share stories is through data storytelling.<\/p>\n
Data storytelling is the practice of building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations; this is done to help convey the meaning of that data in an impactful way. It is an art, one that involves turning text or numbers into an image — a visual representation. Every data point tells a part of the story, so data storytelling enables you to unlock the full narrative.<\/p>\n
We need to normalize data analysts equipped with the ability to communicate. The insights the data generates don\u2019t do much good if they cannot be effectively shared with decision-makers. Learning how to weave the various strands of data into a clear and cohesive tapestry of communication is a quintessential skill — one that must be intentionally developed.<\/p>\n
When you are trying to tell a great data story, you\u2019ll want to do it relatable way, finding a way that the plot points will really hit home. You are aiming to communicate something (or perhaps a few things) as best you can. What this means is that you have a LAND SITE.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s that? A handy little acronym that breaks down the fundamentals of a good data story. Here is a breakdown before we go into some more depth:<\/p>\n
Data storytelling is not just about representing data in different ways; its goal is to represent the information in an accessible and engaging manner. Thus, consider employing Richard Feynman\u2019s preparation technique of pretending you are talking to an 11- or 12-year-old child. This will help you to rule out any niche, field-specific language (i.e., lingo<\/strong>) that might not be understood by your audience<\/strong>, which is, perhaps, the most important element to consider. If you do not build a connection with them and communicate clearly, then you are just wasting their time — and your own!<\/p>\n This is why you use numbers<\/strong> very intentionally. Nobody cares much for statistics, so make sure to link them to something the reader\/listener can care about. This is also why minimal details<\/strong> are key; you want to present an accurate story about the data, but you may reserve the specifics for references or questions, focusing on the story for the most part.<\/p>\n That sets us up for the second word in our acronym: SITE.<\/p>\n Simplicity <\/strong>is vital in storytelling. If you are aiming to tell a high-impact<\/strong> story, you\u2019ll need to construct a narrative that flows well and is easy to follow. That is why, when you are considering titles <\/strong>for the data visualization, you only do so once you have fleshed out the whole narrative, ensuring that you are fully aware of its development and focus.<\/p>\n The last factor to address is ethics<\/strong>. Data can be very easily manipulated. If an investment yields a 1% return, then a 100% increase just brings the total to 2%. Be aware that you are not presenting the data in a misleading way. You can be telling the truth and still be deceptive, so make sure to consider the ethical implications.<\/p>\n Data storytelling is a priceless skill with an unbelievable ROI. If you do it correctly and effectively, you will find your LAND SITE, delivering a high-level, impactful story. As a skill, it is interdisciplinary, applicable to virtually every career. It functions as a means of uniting the expert and the amateur, the entrepreneur and the investor, the specialist, and the manager.<\/p>\n It is simply a matter of learning how to weave the various strands of data into a clear tapestry that communicates a story.<\/p>\n Which makes it an art.<\/p>\n Data storytelling is a priceless skill with an unbelievable ROI.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27805,"featured_media":477416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[232,7],"class_list":["post-19286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-olga-v-mack","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Olga-Mack-150x150.jpg\")
Olga V. Mack is the CEO of\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Parley Pro<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Women Serve on Boards<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"