In my work consulting on data storytelling I am often asked: Who is the hero and who is the villain in the data?
Trying not to take the typical star wars analogy I use another stereotypical image: Harry Potter. 🧙🏻(I would use Marvel, but it is more likely, that they know the story of HP...) 🕷🦸🏽
So Lord Voldemort is the villain.😈 In your data story, this is everything that keeps your hero from winning. Any dip in sales that you found insights on, any loss in gross profit, any faulty process in your value chain. This is the obstacle the hero has to overcome and you have data insights on.
Now, wouldn't you wish to be the hero in your own data story? Wouldn't everyone? But no. You are not. The hero, the Harry Potter, in this analogy is your audience. They are the ones that make the decision at the end of your presentation, they call the shots and they will take action.
Question remains: who are you?
The good news: You are Dumbledore!🧙🏽♂️ Congrats to that! You are the guide, the narrator, the one who seems to know it all. The one who has a plan and who carefully guides the hero through their quest.
But: With great power, comes great responsibility (ok, there is my Marvel moment)! So be aware, that the hero still needs to call the shots!
Happy presenting!
Photo source: Warner Bros.
