‘Storytelling is going to be critical’: How HR can leverage real-time data

When we think about the future of HR, we know data will play a pivotal role in driving strategy.

From regular pulsing surveys to the diversity make-up of a workforce, being armed with the right data is the first step in developing initiatives that truly work.

With an overwhelming amount of data now available to HR leaders, thoughts have turned to what those statistics tell us about our employees and the critical role they play in informing decision-making.

One trend that is already proving to be a powerful tool is the ability to tell stories through real-time data.

HRD spoke to Ryan Ghisi, general manager, global people programs at tech company Xero, and speaker at HRD’s upcoming National HR Summit New Zealand.

Ryan Ghisi was recognized as one of the Best HR Executives in New Zealand. Check out all the winners here.

He highlighted the importance of overcoming the current disconnect between the numbers and the narrative behind real-time data.

Read more: Putting the ‘human’ back into HR

“Like Xero, many organisations have real-time data available through reports and dashboards. But there are some challenges we've all been grappling with and one is that these tools only present data as numbers and charts,” he told HRD.

“They lack the vital component of narrative for effectively communicating information and insights. They tell you what is happening, but not why.

“As humans, we are naturally hard-wired to share stories as a means of sharing information. Now, with so much data available to us, only data storytelling can put a human perspective on the increasingly complex and rapidly changing world of the digital era.”

The importance of data storytelling has never been more apparent than during the pandemic, when office closures saw employees relying on technology to stay connected to their workforce.

Many companies relied on frequent surveys to assess the changing needs and struggles of their employees as they grappled with working from home.

But as we move into 2021 and a period of recovery for many businesses, storytelling will also prove pivotal to influencing stakeholders at all levels.

Data plays into all facets of HR, from tackling employee engagement to driving successful diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Read more: Will technology help or hinder D&I efforts?

So, what can HR leaders learn from the extraordinary period we’ve experienced this year?

Ghisi said at Xero, it was critical to understand how their employees were coping with remote work.

But raw data can only go so far, and the real power is in using those statistics to inform, educate, and ultimately share employee-led narratives in real time.

“Rolling surveys provided us with near real-time data, which we quickly analysed and presented back to our executive team, using charts and narrative,” Ghisi said.

“This allowed us to provide new and updated resources, tools and support for our employees, based on their feedback.

“As we look to upskill our HR team and leaders to become more data-savvy and start to make data-driven decisions, storytelling is going to be a critical component to our people analytics strategy.”

To hear more from Ryan Ghisi and other leading HR experts, sign up to the National HR Summit New Zealand.