Data is everywhere. Whether it's businesses making key strategic decisions, healthcare professionals analyzing patient trends, or everyday people tracking personal finances, understanding and interpreting data is more critical than ever. However, the truth is – data can feel overwhelming. Many individuals try to avoid it altogether, not because they don’t want to understand it, but because they’ve never been provided the proper tools to understand and interpret it in a meaningful way.
So, how can data literacy be improved in a way that feels approachable, practical, and enjoyable? Let’s look at a structured learning approach that helps people work with data and truly make sense of it.
Data literacy goes beyond just knowing how to work a spreadsheet. It’s the ability to read, understand, create, and communicate data effectively. It requires technical and critical thinking skills by being able to analyze numbers, but also, knowing how to ask the right questions, recognize bias, and apply insights in multiple contexts
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Improving data literacy and comprehension skills do not happen overnight. These require a mix of education, practice, and reflection on a continual basis. Findings relayed by Tableau and Forrester found, “82% of decision-makers say all employees should have basic data literacy, but only 47% report access to relevant training.” This highlights the importance of embedding data literacy into core operations and establishing a culture of shared understanding. Below are key steps to help individuals and organizations boost their data skills and confidence.
The first step is ensuring learners have a clear, structured way to build their knowledge. That means starting with the basics:
Organizations should offer internal training programs and learning modules focusing on these concepts. Exploring books, online tutorials, and case studies can provide a solid foundation for self-learners. According to a survey by Qlik: “85% of data literate employees say they’re performing very well at work, compared with just 54% of the wider workforce.” When data is applied to real-world scenarios that is when concepts begin to solidify and intentional learning begins. Simply because reviewing data without interpreting it is no longer good enough in the modern workplace.
Think about learning a new language. You can study vocabulary and grammar all day, but until you start speaking, you won’t truly grasp it. The same is true for data literacy. Hands-on experience is critical. Here’s how to obtain and refine these skils:
Organizations can foster this experience by integrating more data-related tasks into employees’ daily workflows, encouraging staff to ask data-driven questions, and providing mentorship from experienced analysts.
Data literacy isn’t just about working with numbers, it’s about thinking critically. A data-literate person should always ask:
By developing a healthy skepticism toward data, individuals and teams can ensure they aren’t just accepting numbers at face value but are genuinely understanding their meaning and impact.
For organizations, the ultimate goal should be to create a culture where data isn’t just something used by analysts, but rather that it informs decisions at all levels. Here are some ways to ensure this happens:
For individuals, one of the best ways to keep improving data literacy is simply to make data analysis a habit. Whether tracking personal finances, analyzing social media trends, or even evaluating fitness statistics, practicing data skills in everyday life reinforces learning.
Data literacy isn’t just for analysts or tech professionals, it’s a universal skill that has broad reaching impacts and should be looked at as a shared language across different functions within your organization. Stronger data skills lead to better decisions, more meaningful insights, and greater confidence in understanding the world. It’s becoming a skill that anyone can develop with the right approach and practice.
So whether you're an organization looking to train your workforce or an individual hoping to level up your skills, taking small, consistent steps toward better data literacy will pay off immensely.
At Data Society, we offer comprehensive training programs to help professionals and businesses establish data literacy. More learning and insights can be found here.
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