Storytelling with KPIs

Missing the Storytelling Trick?

I spend hours on Facebook Reels.

And not many of us like to admit to this similar addiction, but it seems we're mostly hooked on those quick social media info hits.

It’s what makes these YouTube, Instagram stories, and Facebook reels so hard to resist.

From relatable truths to wild theories, these bite-sized stories grab our attention and have an uncanny ability to consume endless hours of our day.

Interestingly, people are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it's presented as part of one of these stories.

And guess what? This totally holds true in the business world too. Numbers and data on their own? Pretty forgettable. But wrap them in a compelling narrative, and suddenly, they stick.

It's funny, though, we often keep this storytelling magic just for external marketing – you know, tales of customer transformations or our company's epic journey, complete with the smiling pics of customers and staff.

We seem to miss a trick by not realizing it's just as powerful for talking within companies, teams or departments.

Using storytelling with your data, metrics, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) taps into that natural human love for stories and facts. It can completely change how your staff engage with and use data, making everything way more efficient.

Let’s face it – we’re wired for stories, not spreadsheets

Yet, when it comes to our internal data, we all tend to make the same move: reaching straight for the spreadsheet. What we get is data stripped of any story, wide open to wild guesses and misinterpretations – and let's not even start on the plague of errors.

But deep down, we already know this.

Have you ever thought about why some internal presentations truly stick with us while others seem to drift away?

It’s not solely about the information – it’s all about the story that accompanies it.

This truly isn’t just fluff – it’s supported by science! A fascinating study by Princeton University discovered that when people hear a story, their brains align with the storyteller’s, which makes the information even more memorable and impactful.

Why Storytelling Matters in Internal KPI Reporting

Being honest, internal KPI reporting often has a reputation for being dry and routine.

But it doesn’t have to be; the fault lies squarely with us.

If we craft a narrative around our KPIs, we’re doing more than just showing our teams how our business is performing – we’re demonstrating why it matters and what actions can drive us towards our goals.

So, how do we turn our internal KPI reports into compelling stories?

Setting: The Environment That Shapes Your Narrative

Just like every great story needs a plot, a cast, and a setting, your internal KPI story is no different.

Start by setting the stage. Describe the business environment your company is operating in, including the market conditions, internal challenges, or organizational shifts that influenced your KPIs.

This could be a new initiative, a strategic pivot, or the launch of a new product; providing this context helps your audience understand why certain KPIs matter and how they reflect broader business realities.

Conflict: The Hurdles That Make Your Story Gripping

Every great story has a little drama, and that is no different for your data.

So, what hurdles did your company have to climb? For example, did a project hit a wall, or did outside factors (usually clients) throw a wrench in the works?

Then you can use your KPIs to illustrate these conflicts and demonstrate how your company's resilience, creativity, or collaboration led to a successful resolution.

It’s a brilliant way to show how overcoming adversity and challenges can be blended with actual facts and data.

Crafting Your Internal KPI Story on a Dashboard

Start with the End in Mind

Just like any great story, it's important to know what you hope to achieve before diving in!

And we are all guilty of jumping into a project without a FULL set of clear goals.

So, whether you're looking to identify areas for improvement or set future goals, starting with a clear outcome in mind will help your KPI story unfold with a captivating and meaningful narrative.

Pick your ‘Star’ KPIs

The single biggest mistake in KPI tracking is tracking everything. So be picky.

Focus on the numbers that really back up your main message and help your story.

Then, lay them out logically on a dashboard. You’ll want that story to flow smoothly and make a real impact, not leave people scratching their heads.

Link KPIs to Internal Milestones

Instead of simply presenting the data, connect those KPIs to the milestones!

Think about that fantastic new project you launched, the huge challenge you tackled, or the smart shift in strategy you successfully implemented.

This isn't just extra information; it provides everyone with that "aha!" context. It truly highlights how your team's hard work is driving the entire business forward and creating amazing things.

Use Visuals on KPI Dashboards, lots of them.

Visualized data is king. It’s how you take mind-numbing KPIs and make them easily digestible, meaningful, and memorable.

Create graphs that show how things are trending, incredible comparisons between teams, or even just a compelling visual that screams, "We're hitting that goal!"

Turning Challenges into Triumph

We’ve all dealt with a department struggling with declining productivity.

But rather than merely presenting the depressing numbers, we craft a narrative around the department’s recovery journey.

Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) such as task completion rates, team engagement scores, and efficiency metrics.

By linking these KPIs to specific actions – like implementing new tools, restructuring workflows, and boosting team morale – they transformed their story from one of struggle to one of success.

Celebrating Cross-Team Collaboration

Another common scenario is a company-wide project that requires collaboration across multiple departments.

We focus the KPI story on how cross-team efforts were measured through KPIs like project timelines, quality of outputs, and team satisfaction.

By narrating how these KPIs reflected the collaborative spirit and problem-solving abilities of different teams, the company created a sense of shared achievement and strengthened internal bonds.

Best Practices for Effective Internal KPI Storytelling

• Keep It Simple: Focus on the core KPIs that best illustrate your story. Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much detail; instead, make your narrative clear and compelling.
• Be Consistent: Stick to a consistent set of KPIs throughout your narrative. This helps maintain clarity and allows your audience to track progress over time.
• Make It Personal: Add a human touch to your KPI story. Share team achievements, customer testimonials, or personal anecdotes that bring your KPIs to life and create an emotional connection with your audience.

Conclusion

If there's one big thing to take away from all this, it's that relying purely on data alone or trusty old spreadsheets is like showing up to a storytelling festival with a phone book.

We're all wired for stories; it's how facts catch fire in our brains, how data ditches boring, and how numbers actually start to mean something.

If you're still just slinging raw data at your team internally, you're absolutely missing a massive trick.

This isn't just about jazzing up presentations or making meetings a bit less of a drag.

It's about tapping into that fundamental human thing that makes information stick.