What are the tools and skills you need to create an effective performance dashboard?

1 Define your purpose and audience

The first step to creating an effective performance dashboard is to define your purpose and audience. What are you trying to achieve with your dashboard? What are the key questions you want to answer? Who will use your dashboard and how? What are their needs, expectations, and preferences? By clarifying these aspects, you can focus your dashboard on the most relevant and useful information, and tailor your design and layout to suit your audience.

2 Choose your data sources and metrics

The next step is to choose your data sources and metrics. Data sources are the places where you collect and store your data, such as databases, spreadsheets, APIs, or web analytics tools. Metrics are the numerical values that measure your performance, such as revenue, conversion rate, customer satisfaction, or quality. You need to select data sources that are reliable, accessible, and compatible, and metrics that are relevant, meaningful, and measurable. You also need to ensure that your data is clean, accurate, and consistent, and that your metrics are defined and calculated correctly.

3 Select your tools and platforms

The third step is to select your tools and platforms. Tools are the software applications or programs that you use to create, manage, and update your dashboard, such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or Google Data Studio. Platforms are the devices or systems that you use to access and display your dashboard, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, or mobile phones. You need to choose tools and platforms that are suitable for your data sources, metrics, design, and audience. You also need to consider the features, functionality, cost, and security of your tools and platforms.

4 Design your layout and visuals

The fourth step is to design your layout and visuals. Layout is the way you arrange and organize the elements of your dashboard, such as charts, tables, text, icons, or images. Visuals are the graphical representations of your data, such as bars, lines, pies, maps, or gauges. You need to design your layout and visuals to make your dashboard easy to read, understand, and navigate, and to highlight the most important and relevant information. You also need to follow the principles of data visualization, such as choosing the right chart type, using colors and labels effectively, and avoiding clutter and distortion.

5 Test and refine your dashboard

The fifth step is to test and refine your dashboard. Testing is the process of checking and evaluating your dashboard for errors, bugs, or issues, such as broken links, missing data, incorrect calculations, or poor performance. Refining is the process of improving and enhancing your dashboard for quality, usability, or aesthetics, such as adding filters, interactivity, or animations. You need to test and refine your dashboard regularly and systematically, and solicit feedback from your audience and stakeholders. You also need to monitor and update your dashboard as your data, metrics, goals, or audience change.

6 Communicate and share your dashboard

The final step is to communicate and share your dashboard. Communicating is the process of explaining and interpreting your dashboard for your audience, such as providing context, insights, or recommendations. Sharing is the process of distributing and delivering your dashboard to your audience, such as via email, web, or presentation. You need to communicate and share your dashboard effectively and appropriately, and use storytelling techniques to engage and persuade your audience. You also need to respect the privacy and confidentiality of your data and dashboard.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?