What does it mean to be data fluent – and how can your business get there?

How to build a data-fluent workforce

1. Foster a data-driven culture

It sounds easier said than done but taking the steps to build a data-driven culture is incredibly important to encourage data fluency as a skill that must be continuously honed. 

While offering training and introducing new data tools are key components that can definitely improve the data fluency of your workforce, business leaders must first think about shifting the mindset of their entire organisation to see data as the foundation for decision-making at all levels. Employees should feel empowered and encouraged to use data in their roles, rather than relying on intuition or outdated processes.

Hence, one way to orient the company culture to be more data-minded is by encouraging employees to make decisions backed by data rather than assumptions. Reinforce this mindset by:

• Starting meetings with a discussion of key business metrics such as performance numbers, customer trends, and operational insights.
• Ask data-based questions to encourage teams to justify their recommendations with evidence.
• Celebrate data-driven wins by highlighting cases where data analysis led to successful outcomes.
• Setting data-driven goals and KPIs.
• Using data in company-wide presentations and strategy discussions.
• Encouraging teams to back up proposals with data-driven insights.

2. Train employees on data concepts and tools

Many employees hesitate to work with data because they feel overwhelmed or unsure about interpreting metrics correctly. By providing the right training, companies can bridge this gap and empower teams to confidently use data in their daily decision-making. This might involve investing in a training program that equips employees with both foundational data knowledge and hands-on technical skills.

First and foremost, leaders and managers need to ensure their current employees have a good grasp on the data basics. This includes what business metrics impact company performance, how to identify trends and insights hidden within data, and how to validate, clean, and interpret data correctly. 

Afterwards, providing hands-on training with industry-standard data tools allows employees to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

• Excel and Google Sheets – Essential for data analysis, from organising data, performing calculations, and generating basic reports.
• SQL and databases – Useful for querying and managing data; filtering, sorting, and joining datasets, and understanding database structures and relationships.
• Tableau and Power BI – For visualising insights effectively, building interactive dashboards and reports, and creating compelling visual insights for leadership teams.

3. Empower teams with self-service analytics

For businesses to truly embrace a data-driven approach, employees must have direct access to the data they need, when they need it. Too often, teams rely on IT or data specialists to generate reports, leading to delays and missed opportunities. 

Self-service analytics tools bridge this gap, allowing employees to explore, analyse, and visualise data independently, without requiring advanced technical expertise. They refer to easy-to-use data platforms that allow employees, regardless of technical background, to:

• Access and interpret real-time business data.
• Create reports and dashboards tailored to their department’s needs.
• Uncover insights about customer behavior, operational efficiency, and market trends.

By giving employees access to user-friendly analytics platforms such as the following, you can empower employees to explore data without extensive technical training:

• Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) – A powerful business intelligence platform that helps teams explore, visualise, and share data insights easily.
• Power BI (Microsoft) – A widely used analytics tool that integrates seamlessly with Excel and other Microsoft products, enabling advanced data visualisation.
• Tableau – A leading business intelligence tool known for its drag-and-drop interface and robust data visualisation capabilities.

4. Encourage data storytelling & communication (data visualisation)

More than just analysing numbers, being data fluent also means being able to communicate insights effectively. Employees must be able to not only interpret numbers but also tell a compelling story with data that is effectively communicated across all levels of an organisation and leads to informed decision-making.

To ensure that data insights don’t get lost in translation, businesses should encourage employees to:

• Present data visually using charts, graphs, and dashboards, which can make it easier to digest and interpret. 
• Avoid data jargon and explain findings in simple, actionable language which makes it accessible to all stakeholders.
• Turn insights into clear and actionable recommendations for leadership teams.

By strengthening data communication skills, businesses can ensure that insights don’t just sit in reports but actively influence decision-making, strategy, and business success.