Communicating Data Effectively
In today’s data-rich environment, success depends not just on collecting information but on presenting it in a way that inspires clarity, trust and action. Greg Johnson, Director of Business Intelligence and Analytics at Eisenhower Health, lays out a practical framework for elevating how organizations communicate with data.
Align With Strategy and Governance
Effective communication starts with alignment. Data must connect directly to the organization’s strategic goals and governance structures. By centralizing data sources, standardizing formats and ensuring consistency across reports, businesses can build trust and empower informed decision-making. When stakeholders know the source and context, for example, a Power BI dataset on outpatient tests, they gain confidence in the insights.
Equally important is governance. Johnson reminds us that data isn’t just about systems, it’s about people. Collaboration across IT, operations and business intelligence teams ensures results are validated and accepted, with no surprises. The simple takeaway: prep thoroughly, talk and listen openly, and use prototypes to reach consensus.
Clarity Builds Confidence
Data loses power when it confuses. Clear visuals reduce cognitive load, allowing audiences to quickly grasp insights without wading through clutter. Clarity builds trust in both the presenter and the message, while also enhancing persuasion. Well-designed charts support quicker, more accurate decisions by reducing the chance of misinterpretation.
Simplicity Reveals Insight
Simplicity is not about dumbing down data; it’s about stripping away what doesn’t matter. A clean, straightforward chart highlights the core message, makes data more accessible to diverse audiences and strengthens storytelling. In Johnson’s example, showing that outpatient tests are down 27.4% year-to-date is far more powerful when the visualization is direct and uncluttered.
Persuasion Through Visuals
Numbers inform, but visuals move people to act. Persuasive charts cut through noise and create lasting impressions by tapping into how our brains process images and emotion. They transform data into influence, helping managers drive decisions, motivate teams and shape business outcomes. For instance, showing how reduced outpatient volume justifies adjusting staffing levels ties insights directly to operational decisions.
Storytelling Makes It Stick
Ultimately, the most powerful way to communicate data is through story. Storytelling provides context, guides the audience step by step and makes data meaningful. People remember narratives far longer than raw numbers, which is why weaving insights into a compelling story ensures they are retained and acted upon. A strong example is using data storytelling to explain Emergency Department length-of-stay (ED LOS) analysis, framing the numbers in a way that highlights causes, consequences and solutions.
The Takeaway
Communicating data effectively is about more than charts and graphs, it’s about strategy, governance, clarity, simplicity, persuasion and storytelling. When these principles come together, organizations don’t just see numbers; they see direction, action and progress.
In Johnson’s words, good communication starts with listening, sketching, and prototyping and ends with data that not only informs but truly inspires.
