Brent Dykes
@analyticshero.bsky.social
Author of Effective Data Storytelling
Chief Data Storyteller / Founder at AnalyticsHero, LLC
Chief Data Storyteller / Founder at AnalyticsHero, LLC
Don't let those default "extras" interfere with your data visualizations by adding unwanted noise.
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As I review client presentations, I’m constantly reminded how often charts are burdened with unnecessary “extras.”
Borders, gridlines, axis lines, tick marks, etc.
These elements may seem harmless,…...
As I review client presentations, I’m constantly reminded how often charts are burdened with unnecessary “extras.”
Borders, gridlines, axis lines, tick marks, etc.
These elements may seem harmless, ...
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November 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Don't let those default "extras" interfere with your data visualizations by adding unwanted noise.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Sorry, I disagree that you should "make the audience the hero of your story."
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
I have a bone to pick.
I’m sure some of you won’t agree with me.
You’ve probably heard this advice before:
👉 “Make your audience the hero.”
It sounds empowering and audience-centered—but it… | Bren...
I have a bone to pick.
I’m sure some of you won’t agree with me.
You’ve probably heard this advice before:
👉 “Make your audience the hero.”
It sounds empowering and audience-centered—but it actuall...
www.linkedin.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Sorry, I disagree that you should "make the audience the hero of your story."
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Don't limit the number of slides for presentations. Instead, limit the time for the presentations.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Executives often limit the number of slides for a presentation. The goal is fair—keep the content concise and respect their limited time.
But limiting slides usually backfires. Analysts cram too… | B...
Executives often limit the number of slides for a presentation. The goal is fair—keep the content concise and respect their limited time.
But limiting slides usually backfires. Analysts cram too much...
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September 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Don't limit the number of slides for presentations. Instead, limit the time for the presentations.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Beware of the Data Meddleman! Don't let them interfere with your data success.
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A while ago, I chatted with an analyst who was frustrated. Her business team refused to let her meet directly with executives. All she got was vague requirements for an executive dashboard.
She… | B...
A while ago, I chatted with an analyst who was frustrated. Her business team refused to let her meet directly with executives. All she got was vague requirements for an executive dashboard.
She went...
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September 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Beware of the Data Meddleman! Don't let them interfere with your data success.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Leaping to judgment is always a problem. Data storytelling is about slowing down, resisting shortcuts (not jumping to conclusions), and making better decisions. One statistic is just a clue—you need context and deeper analysis to see and understand the full picture.
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Too often, people leap to judgment with data.
They see something in the numbers, make a snap judgment, and quickly form a supporting narrative—frequently, the wrong one or one they later have to… | B...
Too often, people leap to judgment with data.
They see something in the numbers, make a snap judgment, and quickly form a supporting narrative—frequently, the wrong one or one they later have to just...
www.linkedin.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Leaping to judgment is always a problem. Data storytelling is about slowing down, resisting shortcuts (not jumping to conclusions), and making better decisions. One statistic is just a clue—you need context and deeper analysis to see and understand the full picture.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Annotations are an integral part of data storytelling. However, people often confuse them with commentary, which serves a different purpose. In this post, I review three types of annotations and contrast them with commentary.
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September 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Annotations are an integral part of data storytelling. However, people often confuse them with commentary, which serves a different purpose. In this post, I review three types of annotations and contrast them with commentary.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
If you're sharing insights, you'll definitely run into cognitive dissonance. Data storytelling is your secret weapon for helping audiences to overcome it.
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If you’ve read my book or attended one of my workshops, you know I’m fascinated by the psychology behind data communication and decision-making.
For example, when your data challenges what people… | ...
If you’ve read my book or attended one of my workshops, you know I’m fascinated by the psychology behind data communication and decision-making.
For example, when your data challenges what people bel...
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September 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
If you're sharing insights, you'll definitely run into cognitive dissonance. Data storytelling is your secret weapon for helping audiences to overcome it.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Have you tried using the jitter effect? In some situations, it can be helpful to spread out data so patterns are easier to see.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Not every visualization challenge requires switching to an entirely different chart type. Sometimes, a small adjustment can have a big impact.
When data points stack directly on top of each other… | ...
Not every visualization challenge requires switching to an entirely different chart type. Sometimes, a small adjustment can have a big impact.
When data points stack directly on top of each other, yo...
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September 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Have you tried using the jitter effect? In some situations, it can be helpful to spread out data so patterns are easier to see.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
"Shooting the messenger" ruins your data culture
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Most organizations talk about being more “data-driven,” but one destructive leadership behavior quietly undermines that goal: shooting the messenger.
When analysts or managers are punished for… | Bre...
Most organizations talk about being more “data-driven,” but one destructive leadership behavior quietly undermines that goal: shooting the messenger.
When analysts or managers are punished for sharin...
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August 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
"Shooting the messenger" ruins your data culture
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
In #datastorytelling, narrative isn't just good for your audience, it's good for you as the presenter.
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Recently, I was discussing the benefits of data storytelling with a client. Most people see narrative as something that benefits the audience.
It makes your data communications:
✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠… | Brent ...
Recently, I was discussing the benefits of data storytelling with a client. Most people see narrative as something that benefits the audience.
It makes your data communications:
✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 – capture...
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August 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
In #datastorytelling, narrative isn't just good for your audience, it's good for you as the presenter.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
How do you use color in your #datastorytelling? Here are five ways to take advantage of color in your data stories.
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In my data storytelling workshops, I often say color is one of the most powerful tools in your visual storytelling toolbox. | Brent Dykes
In my data storytelling workshops, I often say color is one of the most powerful tools in your visual storytelling toolbox.
Here are five key ways color can enhance your data stories:
1️⃣ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢...
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August 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
How do you use color in your #datastorytelling? Here are five ways to take advantage of color in your data stories.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Color highlighting is essential in #datastorytelling. There are two approaches with different trade-offs.
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In data storytelling, color highlighting is a powerful way to guide your audience’s focus. | Brent Dykes
In data storytelling, color highlighting is a powerful way to guide your audience’s focus.
Many people are familiar with pairing a bold color with grayscale for the background values.
Another highli...
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August 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Color highlighting is essential in #datastorytelling. There are two approaches with different trade-offs.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Here's my breakdown of a data chart from last Thursday's White House presentation with economist Stephen Moore and President Trump. It was the only one based on publicly available data.
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Up for a simple “critical thinking with data” exercise? | Brent Dykes
Up for a simple “critical thinking with data” exercise?
Last Thursday, economist Stephen Moore presented charts alongside President Trump at the White House. One chart, showing how the BLS (Bureau of...
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August 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Here's my breakdown of a data chart from last Thursday's White House presentation with economist Stephen Moore and President Trump. It was the only one based on publicly available data.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
I'm getting tired of the "humans process visual information 60,000 times faster than text" myth. It doesn't want to go away or die.
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Recently, I was excited to read a new report on data storytelling from a data visualization vendor. | Brent Dykes
Recently, I was excited to read a new report on data storytelling from a data visualization vendor. But halfway through, I came across the tired old myth:
“The human brain processes visuals 60,000 ti...
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August 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I'm getting tired of the "humans process visual information 60,000 times faster than text" myth. It doesn't want to go away or die.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
I'm not a fan of radar or spider charts because the axis sequence changes the shape of these charts. For me, that makes them problematic and less reliable.
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In my data career, I’ve rarely used radar or spider charts. | Brent Dykes
In my data career, I’ve rarely used radar or spider charts.
They can make your data look novel or dramatic—until you realize the shape is just a side effect of the axis order. Once I understood that,...
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July 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I'm not a fan of radar or spider charts because the axis sequence changes the shape of these charts. For me, that makes them problematic and less reliable.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Analytics can't stop at "What". We must include "So What" and "Now What."
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Analytics teams spend weeks perfecting their reports and dashboards only to hear: “This is interesting, but what should we actually do?” | Brent Dykes
Analytics teams spend weeks perfecting their reports and dashboards only to hear: “This is interesting, but what should we actually do?”
Recently, a marketing professor DM’ed me about his students st...
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July 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Analytics can't stop at "What". We must include "So What" and "Now What."
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...