Brent Dykes

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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When we uncover great insights in the data, our instinct is to share them all. That’s where many data stories break down. What feels clear to you during analysis can quickly turn into a data dump… |... When we uncover great insights in the data, our instinct is to share them all. That’s where many data stories break down. What feels clear to you during analysis can quickly turn into a data dump fo...

Don't let communicating multiple insights turn into an unwanted data dump.

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#mavensofdata | Brent Dykes Today, I participated in a live #MavensofData podcast with Kristen Kehrer. One of the first questions was: “What is really an insight?” Many people believe they’re sharing insights all the time. But...

Are you sure you're sharing insights?

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In the right scenarios, slope charts can be a powerful storytelling tool. I’d even argue they’re often more useful in explanatory situations than exploratory ones. Edward Tufte invented and… | Brent ... In the right scenarios, slope charts can be a powerful storytelling tool. I’d even argue they’re often more useful in explanatory situations than exploratory ones. Edward Tufte invented and populariz...

Are you designing your slope charts for success? Here are five data storytelling design tips for slope charts.

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Why Charts Designed For Dashboards Fail In Data Stories Why do clear, well-designed dashboard charts lose impact in presentations? Because dashboards and data stories optimize for different goals. This post introduces four design lenses that explain the tr...

Have repurposed charts from dashboards landed with a "thud" in your data stories? Learn why in my new blog post.

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Each year PolitiFact publishes its “Lie of the Year.” This year, the factchecking nonprofit went a step further, calling 2025 the “Year of the Lies” to draw attention to what it saw as an… | Brent Dy... Each year PolitiFact publishes its “Lie of the Year.” This year, the factchecking nonprofit went a step further, calling 2025 the “Year of the Lies” to draw attention to what it saw as an unprecedent...

After Politifact called 2025 "the Year of the Lies", let's make 2026 the year of better data stories.

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I’ve run many data storytelling polls over the years. This last one broke a familiar pattern. 🤯 I recently asked my LinkedIn network which data storytelling skill they want to improve most in… | Bre... I’ve run many data storytelling polls over the years. This last one broke a familiar pattern. 🤯 I recently asked my LinkedIn network which data storytelling skill they want to improve most in 2026. ...

What's your focus for data storytelling in 2026?

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Your headline promises one thing, but your visual delivers another. I see this disconnect constantly in business reports: a clear, compelling takeaway paired with a visualization that makes the… | Br... Your headline promises one thing, but your visual delivers another. I see this disconnect constantly in business reports: a clear, compelling takeaway paired with a visualization that makes the audie...

Your headline and your visual should work together, not against each other.

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Frequently, reporting is treated as an exercise in summarizing numbers. Summarization can help when you’re constantly bombarded with new data points. But most decision makers aren’t looking for more…... Frequently, reporting is treated as an exercise in summarizing numbers. Summarization can help when you’re constantly bombarded with new data points. But most decision makers aren’t looking for more ...

Only data stories are designed to focus on what matters.

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Occasionally, when I use a bar chart 📊 for time-related data, someone will chime in and say I should have used a line chart 📈 instead. I’ve found they’re often adhering to a misguided “universal”… | ... Occasionally, when I use a bar chart 📊 for time-related data, someone will chime in and say I should have used a line chart 📈 instead. I’ve found they’re often adhering to a misguided “universal” dat...

Should we only use line charts for time-based data? Maybe not.

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I often see people criticize certain charts. "I hate 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 chart!" But more often than not, the problem isn’t the chart. It’s how it’s used. Who actually enjoys a pie chart or stacked bar ch... I often see people criticize certain charts. "I hate 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 chart!" But more often than not, the problem isn’t the chart. It’s how it’s used. Who actually enjoys a pie chart or stacked bar chart with 1...

Binary charts can be great for conveying key data points in your data stories, reports, and dashboards.

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After reviewing countless data slides, here’s a simple recipe that can improve almost every data slide: 1️⃣  𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 If the title of… | Brent Dykes After reviewing countless data slides, here’s a simple recipe that can improve almost every data slide: 1️⃣  𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 If the title of your slide is only a descriptive ch...

Here are three simple things you can do to improve your data slides.

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What happens when bias interferes with good decision-making? 🧠 In many cases, bias is subtle and hard to detect. 🔍 But sometimes, the data overwhelmingly points in one clear direction—and bias… | Br... What happens when bias interferes with good decision-making? 🧠 In many cases, bias is subtle and hard to detect. 🔍 But sometimes, the data overwhelmingly points in one clear direction—and bias still...

Use blind comparisons to overcome strongly held biases when sharing data stories.

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Most executives support using data—until the data tells a story they don’t want to hear. When results fall short of expectations, leaders react. And those reactions can either shut down an insight… |... Most executives support using data—until the data tells a story they don’t want to hear. When results fall short of expectations, leaders react. And those reactions can either shut down an insight or...

How do executives react to your insights? It may be one of six ways.

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Many people continue to believe dashboards tell data stories. They don’t. And they were never designed to (despite what tool vendors say). Dashboards are great for monitoring key metrics and… | Bren... Many people continue to believe dashboards tell data stories. They don’t. And they were never designed to (despite what tool vendors say). Dashboards are great for monitoring key metrics and helping...

Sorry, dashboards don't tell data stories and were never designed to.

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