7 Effective Tips for Presenting Data at Work!
About this video
Drawing on his background as an ex-management consultant and product marketing manager, Jeff Su shares seven tips for presenting data so an audience can interpret it, arguing data by itself is useless. Tip 1: never present a single number without context — compare it to historical performance or, failing that, industry benchmarks, and never compare apples to oranges such as quarterly data to year-to-date data. Tip 2: give every table, chart, or graph only one focal point because brains spot patterns and anomalies; if you must show multiple datasets, reveal them in stages — with an exception for standalone decks meant to be read without a presenter. Tip 3: use color for contrast, with his convention of light gray for much earlier data, dark gray for the period just before, his company’s brand color for the current period, and a lighter shade of that color for forecasts. Tip 4: be consistent with style and format throughout, including highlight colors, headers, and ordering. Tip 5: use comparison charts that show two scenarios side by side when pitching a proposal or asking for investment, with a call-out sticker detailing key elements. Tip 6: use appropriate chart types — avoid pie charts, use line graphs for change over time starting from zero where possible, and use waterfall charts to show how contributing factors bridge one number to another. Tip 7: use stickers to protect yourself: WIP for work in progress, For Discussion for a rough draft needing review, Preliminary when the slide is done but data is still being collected, and Illustrative when a diagram is not 100% accurate but the message holds.
Key takeaways
- Never show a lone number — anchor it with historical data or industry benchmarks and match time frames when comparing
- Keep one focal point per visual and stage complex data in steps so the audience is not overwhelmed
- Use a consistent color system — grays for past periods, brand color for current, lighter shade for forecast — and keep formatting consistent deck-wide
- Use side-by-side comparison charts for investment pitches and waterfall charts to explain how one number becomes another
- Label slides with stickers — WIP, For Discussion, Preliminary, Illustrative — to set expectations and protect yourself
Episode details: published July 13, 2021 · 7:32 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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