When creating a career roadmap for data analysts, people often focus on technical skills like SQL, R, Python, and Tableau/Power BI. However, they often overlook storytelling, a crucial soft skill that can help data analysts stand out from the crowd.
Now, what is storytelling in the first place?
Storytelling in data and Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the practice of using data to communicate insights, trends, and important information in a narrative and compelling way. Instead of presenting raw data or charts and graphs without context, storytelling involves structuring data into a coherent and persuasive narrative that helps decision-makers understand the significance of the data and make informed decisions. Effective data storytelling not only communicates the ‘what’ of the data but also the ‘why’ and ‘so what,’.
Here are some of the benefits of having data storytelling skills:
➡️ 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Data storytelling helps you communicate your findings in a clear and concise way that answers critical business questions and supports data-driven decisions. This can make you a more valuable asset to your organization.
➡️ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬: Data storytelling is not a skill that can be easily copied or replaced by AI. By developing your storytelling skills, you can set yourself apart from other data analysts and make yourself more marketable.
➡️ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Data storytelling is a universal skill that can be applied in any industry. This gives you more flexibility and makes you more adaptable to change.
➡️ 𝐁𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Data storytelling allows you to be creative and think outside the box. By exploring different perspectives and use cases, you can generate new ideas and widen your thinking capabilities.
As you continue your journey in the world of data and BI, it’s worth asking: Could storytelling be a missing puzzle piece in your professional toolkit, capable of amplifying your influence and fueling your career growth?