“Don’t show data. Show decisions.”
This was the advice I got from Brad Kolar, a colleague from my Accenture days and one of the smartest people I know.
I shared with him the system we’ve been building for Personality Poker. The top image is where I started. Lots of data. Bars, colors, charts, percentages. I thought it looked impressive.
Brad had a simple question: What should someone actually do with this information?
That question changed how I thought about the dashboard.
After several iterations and more feedback from him, we landed on the version in the second image. The data is still there for people who want to explore it, but now the focus is on what matters most.
What’s working? What’s not working? What needs attention? What should be monitored? What can be left alone for now?
Instead of asking leaders to interpret the data and figure out their next steps, the dashboard points them in the right direction. In just a few seconds, they know where to focus their attention.
It’s a lesson that extends far beyond dashboards. Think about the presentations you give, reports you create, or recommendations you make. Are you simply presenting information and expecting people to figure out what it means, or are you helping them understand exactly what they should do next?
The easier you make it for people to take action, the more likely your message will stick.
Thank you, Brad, for your wisdom.