Making Your Numbers Relatable
5 Simple Tricks You Can Count On To Help Others Connect
Many people believe that numbers are often impersonal. It simply isn’t that simple. Some numbers are immensely personal — the number of children you have and there ages — as an example. But some numbers are very difficult to relate, too. Your SSN and telephone number for example.
When it comes to KPI and Business Intelligence, making numbers relatable is a huge challenge. But the basics of keeping numbers relatable isn’t that hard. This article counts out a few tricks to help.
ONE — Define Your Unit
Every company has a unit and by extension unit economics. Units make it easier for others to relate, though sometimes they are difficult to determine.
For some of you, it is as simple as one customer, one product, or one service. Others may need to think about one portfolio, one business, one department, or one class. Either way — take a lesson from City Slickers, find your one thing.
TWO — Provide Something To Compare To
Comparison and benchmarks are critical for making your numbers relatable. My favorite benchmark will always be prior year performance, but that isn’t always an option.
Benchmarks and comparisons allow people to view things relative to another item. This can allow you to put something that feels complicated in a context to something that isn’t. Sometimes you need to get creative. Take a lesson from UNICEF — it takes just 50 cents per day.
THREE — Significant Figures
Nothing makes a number less relatable than an endless string of numbers. This is why social security numbers and today, even telephone numbers seemso impersonal.
As a rule, I have always taught my analysts to use three significant figures. It is actually more of guideline, but it is a good one none-the-less. Less digits are easier to remember and more likely to connect with your audience.
FOUR— For Pete’s Sake Define Your Numbers
More numbers have been deemed unrelatable for definitional issues than any other. You need a common definition. If one doesn’t exist, write out the definition so that at least everyone viewing your numbers will know.
Don’t take this lightly. Business’ often struggle defining simple terms like customer. Even the NFL has a lesson to teach.
FIVE— Never Have Too Many
Pie charts are some of the simplest (and flawed) data visualizations. Show me a pie chart with 52 slices and I will declare it an unrelatable mess.
Too many segments, too many numbers, too many anything is a turn off to your audience. Now is five the right number? I think so, but this is more of a guideline also. Anywhere above seven and you can be sure your audience is tuning you out.
Five simple rules or guidelines to help you keep your numbers relatable. If you have any other tricks or tips, leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
