Improve Your Data Storytelling

How to increase your impact by persuading, influencing and shaping decision-making with effective data communication. Turn numbers into compelling stories and drive results.

Course Overview

We’re surrounded by data. In virtually every professional role, dashboards, charts, metrics, and reports are only a click away. The problem isn’t access—it’s knowing how to use that data to make your point. Too often, we’re tempted to “let the data do the talking,” flooding our audience with numbers and visuals that overwhelm them and bury the real message.

In this 45-minute Smith OnDemand course, communications expert Matt Reesor shows you how to cut through the noise. You’ll learn practical frameworks to structure your message, highlight the most important insights, and build a narrative that connects the dots—so your audience not only understands your data but acts on it.

Finally, the antidote to death by dashboard.

What You'll Learn

  • Techniques to tailor your message to any audience—from execs to end users
  • How to avoid the communication trap of “just letting the numbers speak for themselves”
  • The TIPS CAP model for turning data into clear, audience-focused messages
  • How to translate complex analysis into actionable implications
  • The five-step storytelling framework that keeps your audience engaged

Who It’s For

  • Analysts, consultants, and strategists
  • Leaders who present KPIs or dashboards
  • Professionals who want to persuade, not just report
  • Anyone tasked with making data meaningful to non-data people

Instructor

Matthew Reesor

Lecturer, Former Director MBA program, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University.

Matthew Reesor

Matt Reesor is a communications expert who has helped hundreds of leaders at top organizations to sharpen their messaging.

Since 2013, he has held a professor appointment at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University and designed numerous Masters and MBA level business communication courses. In addition, Matt was approached to design the highly successful Communicating With Impact program within Queen’s Executive Education (QEE) which he continues to deliver multiple times throughout the year. Matt has created custom communications programs for a growing list of clients including, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Canada Life, Canada Post, The Canadian Olympic Committee, CIBC Asset Management, Homestead Land Holdings, EY (Consulting), Kellogg’s Canada, the NHL Alumni Association and various government departments and ministries.

Prior to teaching at Smith, he spent his early career in Japan as a junior faculty member at Nagoya University of Business and Commerce where he conducted academic research and published the bestselling textbook, Tell Me More: Effective Communication Strategies for the Japanese Student with MacMillan Publishers.

In addition to his teaching and consulting duties, Matt served as the Director of the Full-time MBA program at Smith School of Business from 2016-2023.

$295.00 CAD + applicable taxes

  • Program runtime: 45 mins
  • Unlimited access for 30 days from purchase
  • Watch on desktop or mobile
  • By purchasing you agree to the Terms & Conditions

Smith OnDemand content is currently not available for purchase in the European Union.

Digital badge for Improve Your Data Storytelling

By completing the program, you will receive the Improve Your Data Storytelling digital badge credential.

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