What: you should always include your interpretation of the visuals you are presenting or sharing. What’s the lesson behind them? How should we move forward?

Wait… what?: if you have been requested to analyse some data issue or to dig deeper on some data, I’m sorry for this but your job includes adding your expert opinion.

Why: otherwise you are giving extra work to the requester or audience (may be your manager, a product manager or the CEO…). You have spent a lot of time and energy analysing and crafting those visuals, nobody else is better positioned to understand your work. On the other hand, it doesn’t look good if you do not include this interpretation… better to be wrong but articulate than saying nothing at all.

When you say nothing at all

How: interpreting a visual is not the same as describing it. Anyone can describe what’s on a graph, the money is on the so-what.

Where: presentations, documents or the typical email where you answer some request.

Conclusion: always try to sowhat it!

Find below a small poem created by chatGPT to remember this lesson

In visuals shared, stories unfold,
Interpretations woven, tales untold.
To sowhat the essence, the so what behind,
Lessons hidden, a narrative bind.

Forward we venture, guided by light,
A poetic dance, embracing insight.
Through the lens, a world unveiled,
In every frame, a story detailed.