Propose one practice for presenters to specifically avoid when presenting data to key stakeholders.

This course is all about data, but if the data is not presented in a meaningful way that catches the eye of the reader, then one of the prime goals of data analytics is missed. On the Presentation Tips web page, best practices related to presenting data and information are discussed. These practices are the following:

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• Explain the two best practices and explain why they would be considered important when presenting.
• Reflect on a time when you viewed a presentation that adhered to these two best practices. Share your perspective of the presentation.
• Propose one practice for presenters to specifically avoid when presenting data to key stakeholders.

Propose one practice for presenters to specifically avoid when presenting data to key stakeholders.

Introduction

The key to presenting data effectively is to understand what will be most useful for the audience. Presenting data in a way that doesn’t meet the needs of key stakeholders can lead to missteps in your presentation and ultimately lower their trust in you as a communicator. In this article we’ll look at some common pitfalls that presenters should avoid when presenting data to key stakeholders (like investors).

The overuse of slide numbers

It’s a common mistake to use slide numbers to communicate data. The use of slide numbers can be distracting, unnecessary and confusing for the audience.

Slide numbers are not just used for slides; they’re also used on charts and maps that are not part of your presentation. This can make it difficult for people to follow along with what you’re saying, because they may have trouble remembering which chart or map corresponds with each point in your talk.

The overuse of tables and graphs

The overuse of tables and graphs can make your presentation seem like you are reading off a script. While it is important to demonstrate data, graphs should be used sparingly. If you must use them, consider using color-coded axes instead of line graphs to help illustrate trends in your data set.

• *Tables and graphs are actually very difficult to read because they’re often formatted at an angle or on top of each other. This makes it harder for the audience to understand what’s going on with each piece of information and how it relates back together as well as where one piece begins or ends relative to another piece within their own dimension (e.g., from column A through row 1).
• Graphs often use colors that aren’t easy for people unfamiliar with them (like myself) so I tend not too stick around them when trying decide which one would best represent my findings accurately: red means bad; blue means good!

Lazy comparisons

Lazy comparisons are a common mistake, and they often result in making the wrong point. Here’s how you can avoid lazy comparisons:

• When comparing two numbers, always do so with both figures shown in their entirety. If one number is missing from your presentation, use it as an example of how to replace that value with another number or value from your data set (e.g., “If we compare our gender distribution between men and women…”).
• Avoid using mean or median values unless they are necessary for explaining the context of your study (e.g., if you’re presenting research results on how many people have graduated from college). Instead explain each statistic individually when possible.

Presenters should avoid the common pitfalls when presenting data to key stakeholders.

Presenters should avoid the common pitfalls when presenting data to key stakeholders.

• Presenters should avoid the overuse of slide numbers
• Presenters should avoid the overuse of tables and graphs
• Presenters should avoid lazy comparisons

Conclusion

Presenting data is a crucial part of the scientific process. It’s crucial that we make sure all of our presentations are as clear, concise and compelling as possible. We should avoid the common pitfalls when it comes to presenting data to key stakeholders. This will help ensure that our audience understands what they’re seeing so they can make informed decisions based on sound science!