Data literacy & critical thinking
‘Fact-based decision-making’. That sounds like something you can’t argue with. Until you realise that numbers are not the same as facts. Until you realise there are a lot of decisions underneath those numbers. Until you realise you come to a different conclusion than someone else while looking at the same data. Until you realise that numbers only have meaning when you put them in context. In this training, I will address some issues that organisations frequently encounter and provide clear answers. I show how our brains work and what that means for the way we understand data. We examine the most persistent prejudices, misconceptions, and pitfalls that hinder effective decision-making. We look at many examples from inside and outside the commercial environment. This training will help you and your team members become more critical thinkers and, therefore, better decision makers.
Data Storytelling
Data storytelling: a phrase people talk about increasingly. That makes sense, because we are bombarded with data, but we long for stories that give it meaning. In this training, you will learn how that works. With a practical, step-by-step approach, you will learn to grab and hold your audience’s attention. You will learn to distinguish between the story-finding and story-telling phases. We look at filter strategies and the importance of finding patterns in your data. You will learn how context, structure and framing make your stories more powerful. This training will change the way you create reports and presentations for the rest of your career.
Data Visualization
Most data visualisations you encounter are ‘data dumps’. They basically say, “Here are the numbers, what do you think?” These visualisations might look fancy, but they don’t facilitate decision-making. In this training, you will learn to look at data visualisations through a communication & decision-making lens. I will give you the tools to create data visualisations that are quick and easy to understand. You will also learn how to choose the type of data visualisation that fits your message best, how to visualise lots of data at the same time, and how to recognise when data visualisations mislead (which happens more often than you might think…). Although the focal point of this training is data visualisation, we’ll cover the basics of information design, which will help you make better slide decks in general.
Customization
Are you looking for a different training course about data & decision-making? Do you want combinations of the above workouts? Please contact me to discuss how to meet your needs.