Ever feel overwhelmed with data? I’ve been there.
Earlier today, I was knee-deep in building reports and dashboards for a client. I caught myself doing something I’ve done for years without realizing it—asking the same two questions over and over.
It hit me: these simple questions have been the secret sauce in my approach all along.
The Two Questions
When building metric reports for my clients, I always ask myself:
- How can I make this easier to understand?
- How can I automate this for others to use?
That’s it. Two questions. Nothing fancy.
But the impact? Massive.
Why This User-Centric Approach Works
This simple framework has helped my clients in four major ways:
1. Decision Makers Always Have the Latest Info
Automation means reports update themselves. No more waiting for someone to manually refresh the data. Leaders can make decisions based on real-time insights, not yesterday’s numbers.
2. Reports Are Clear, Not Confusing
When you focus on simplifying information, you strip away the noise. What’s left is clarity. Executives can glance at a dashboard and immediately understand what’s happening—no PhD in data science required.
3. Metrics Are Easy to Grasp
Complex metrics presented simply mean broader adoption. When everyone on the team can understand the numbers, you get better alignment and faster action.
4. Consistency Thanks to Automation
Human error disappears when processes are automated. The same calculations, the same formats, the same reliability—every single time. Teams can trust the data because it’s always built the same way.
Technology Should Serve People
Here’s the thing most data professionals miss: technology should help people get things done, not create more work.
Too often, I see dashboards built to showcase technical prowess rather than solve business problems. They’re impressive but unusable. Beautiful but confusing.
The best data tools are invisible. Users don’t think about the complexity behind them—they just get their answers and move on with their day.
Turning Overwhelm Into Insight
Looking back at my career, I can see how this two-question approach has turned overwhelming data situations into actionable insights time and time again.
Whether it’s building real-time analytics infrastructure, designing executive dashboards, or automating reporting pipelines—these questions keep me focused on what matters: making life easier for the people using the data.
The Lesson
Sometimes, the most powerful tools are the simplest questions.
Not “What’s the most sophisticated model we can build?”
Not “How can we use the latest technology?”
But rather: “How do we make this useful for actual humans?”
That shift in perspective changes everything.
What questions guide your data work? Get in touch to discuss how user-centric data reporting can transform your organization.