Ever tried sharing your latest data insights only to be met with blank stares?

Communicating complex data to different stakeholders can be a real challenge. But with the right approach, you can turn those numbers into stories that drive decisions.

This article outlines how to effectively share your data insights with various stakeholders. We'll cover understanding your audience, defining relevant KPIs, choosing the right communication formats, and using storytelling to make an impact.

Related reading: Experimentation with KPIs: Choosing the right primary metric

Understanding your stakeholders and defining relevant KPIs

So you're about to present your data insights, but before you jump in, take a step back and think about your audience. Who are your stakeholders? What's their level of data literacy? What interests them, and what are their goals? By understanding these factors, you can tailor your message just for them. As highlighted in the Data Mesh Accelerate Workshop, aligning tech and business goals through measurable outcomes is key.

Once you know who you're talking to, it's time to align your KPIs with the business objectives. You want your metrics to reflect the company's strategic goals. In A/B Testing: How to Get It Right, they suggest developing a composite evaluation metric (also known as the Overall Evaluation Criterion or OEC). This helps ensure that your short-term metrics are good predictors of long-term success—just like how Bing found success by choosing the right metrics.

Now, pick KPIs that matter to your stakeholders and show the impact of your experiment. In Experiment Scorecards: Essentials and Best Practices, Statsig suggests defining clear objectives, selecting relevant metrics and KPIs, and setting baselines and targets. Common metrics include conversion rates and user engagement—stuff that really shows how users are interacting with your product or service.

Finally, when presenting to executives, remember to adapt your communication style to their preferences. This might mean using structured documents to present your beliefs and data thoroughly, as suggested in How to Present to Executives. Know why you're communicating—is it for planning, reporting status, or resolving misalignment? And make sure to get the executive's perspective to align your message accordingly.

Choosing the right communication formats and language

Now that you know your audience and your KPIs, let's talk about how to present your data. Picking the right format is super important. Maybe a detailed written report is best, or perhaps a concise slide deck hits the spot. Sometimes, an interactive dashboard works wonders for real-time insights.

When you're talking to executives, be sure to match your style to their preferences. As mentioned in How to Present to Executives, structured documents can help you present your beliefs and data thoroughly. Keep your language simple and avoid technical jargon so everyone can follow along.

You also need to adjust the depth of information based on who you're talking to. A marketing team might love detailed metrics and KPIs, while executives might care more about high-level strategy and revenue impact. So, customize your message by considering their interests and goals.

Don't forget to engage your stakeholders in interactive discussions. Address their specific concerns and use questions to make sure they understand. This helps you calibrate the level of detail to their knowledge and interest. Plus, it fosters a conversation that aligns tech and business goals through measurable outcomes.

Utilizing data visualization and storytelling for impact

Let's face it—numbers alone can be pretty dull. That's where data visualization comes in. By using charts, graphs, and other visual aids, you can make complex data more accessible and engaging. It's a great way to communicate key metrics and KPIs to your stakeholders. As David Robinson points out, it's all about articulating your thoughts and sharing complex concepts in simple terms.

But visuals aren't everything. Crafting a compelling narrative around your data is just as important. You need to connect the dots between your analysis and what matters to your stakeholders. Highlight the problem, explain your analysis, and showcase the benefits. This storytelling approach emphasizes the value of your experiment and makes sure everyone understands the business implications.

When you're sharing your findings, focus on the impact and value of your work. Clearly outline how your results can boost performance, increase revenue, or improve satisfaction. Use relevant metrics like ROI or LTV to back up your points. By aligning your data story with the organization's goals—and using tools like Statsig to back you up—you'll effectively communicate the significance of your work and drive data-driven decisions.

Always remember to tailor your communication to your audience's understanding. Use clear and simple language, skip the technical jargon, and be ready to answer questions. By engaging stakeholders through interactive discussions and addressing their specific concerns, you'll make your communication much more effective.

Providing actionable recommendations and driving decisions

So you've got your data and your insights—now what? When presenting your experiment results, make sure to highlight the impact and value. Show how your findings improve key metrics and KPIs, like performance, revenue, or user satisfaction. Use relevant metrics like ROI or LTV to back up your points. For more on this, check out Experiment Scorecards: Essentials and Best Practices by Statsig.

Don't just stop at presenting the data—offer prioritized recommendations and clear next steps. This helps facilitate implementation and decision-making. By providing actionable insights, you make it easier for stakeholders to see the path forward.

To keep the momentum going, suggest future testing or analysis opportunities that align with the organization's goals. Maybe propose additional experiments to refine your findings or explore new areas for optimization. This way, you're providing a roadmap for continued experimentation and iteration, demonstrating the long-term value of data-driven decision-making.

Remember, tailor your recommendations to what matters most to your stakeholders. Consider their technical expertise and focus on the results that are most relevant to their roles. By addressing their specific concerns and objectives, you can foster buy-in and drive meaningful change within the organization.

Closing thoughts

Communicating data insights effectively is all about knowing your audience, choosing the right KPIs, and presenting your findings in a way that resonates. By understanding your stakeholders, picking the right communication formats, and using storytelling and visuals, you can make a real impact. Don't forget to provide actionable recommendations to drive decisions and foster ongoing engagement.

If you want to dive deeper into these topics, check out the resources we've linked throughout this post. And remember, tools like Statsig can help streamline your experimentation process and make sharing insights even easier. Hope you found this useful!