Guide to Charts and Data Visualization Techniques in Business Presentations

Our objective today is to help you use graphs and charts effectively. The language you will practice in this module is crucial, not only when giving presentations but also during discussions and reports in your daily work. We'll begin with the language used to describe graphs and charts, then focus on accurately using large numbers, and finally, we'll study the vocabulary for describing trends. Let's get started.

In this lesson, you'll use specific language to draw attention to data on a slide, explain the main points that are the takeaway from the chart or graph, and summarize its importance and relevance to your topic. Remember that slides support your main ideas. Use graphs and charts only when necessary, keep them simple, and avoid overloading them with information. Complicated charts are difficult to explain and for the audience to read. If a slide is unclear, either avoid using it or provide it as a handout if necessary. Give your audience enough time to view the slide and focus only on key details relevant to your main point.

Now, let's review some vocabulary for common visuals in business to describe data. A table uses rows and columns to display text and numbers. Generally, tables are not ideal for presentations due to information overload. It's better to convert table data into a different visual format. A line graph is a diagram showing the relationship between two sets of numbers, for example, changes over time. The x-axis is the horizontal line, and the y-axis is the vertical line. We usually use a line to depict changes. Additional lines may use different colors, dotted, or broken lines, but these distinctions can be hard to see on slides.

A bar chart or bar graph is often easier to view on a slide because it uses larger visual elements to display data. Bar charts show quantities in columns, often in different colors, which is useful for comparing multiple items, such as mobile device usage over time versus desktops or laptops. A pie chart is often used to show percentages. In marketing, pie charts often depict market share or segments. Pay attention to the key that explains colors; ensure it is readable or label segments clearly instead of relying on a key.