data-storytelling

SKILL.md

Data Storytelling

Transform raw data into compelling narratives that drive decisions and inspire action.

When to Use This Skill

Presenting analytics to executives

Creating quarterly business reviews

Building investor presentations

Writing data-driven reports

Communicating insights to non-technical audiences

Making recommendations based on data

Core Concepts

1. Story Structure

Setup → Conflict → Resolution

Setup: Context and baseline
Conflict: The problem or opportunity
Resolution: Insights and recommendations

### 2. Narrative Arc

Hook: Grab attention with surprising insight

Context: Establish the baseline

Rising Action: Build through data points

Climax: The key insight

Resolution: Recommendations

Call to Action: Next steps

### 3. Three Pillars

| Pillar        | Purpose  | Components                       |
| ------------- | -------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Data**      | Evidence | Numbers, trends, comparisons     |
| **Narrative** | Meaning  | Context, causation, implications |
| **Visuals**   | Clarity  | Charts, diagrams, highlights     |

## Detailed patterns and worked examples

Detailed pattern documentation lives in `references/details.md`. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.

## Best Practices

### Do's

- **Start with the "so what"** - Lead with insight
- **Use the rule of three** - Three points, three comparisons
- **Show, don't tell** - Let data speak
- **Make it personal** - Connect to audience goals
- **End with action** - Clear next steps

### Don'ts

- **Don't data dump** - Curate ruthlessly
- **Don't bury the insight** - Front-load key findings
- **Don't use jargon** - Match audience vocabulary
- **Don't show methodology first** - Context, then method
- **Don't forget the narrative** - Numbers need meaning