Place every chart beside the question it answers and the decision it informs. Add a single sentence of context, a previous period for contrast, and the likely cause. Surrounding facts tame surprise swings and keep your reasoning honest under pressure.
Prefer clean lines, big labels, and scales that tell the truth. Show fewer series, highlight only the takeaway, and annotate pivotal moments. When insight matters more than decoration, your audience leans in, asks better questions, and collaborates on improvements.
After every project, capture a one‑page summary: what we tried, what happened, what surprised us, and what we will change. Share it early, invite comments, and store it where future you can find it. Learning compounds when memories are searchable.