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