How do we stay afloat during the QBR data downpour?

Treading Water in a Sea of Metrics?

Have you heard the expression, ‘Not waving but drowning’? It comes from a poem by Stevie Smith, where a swimmer appears to be waving to onlookers but is, in fact, being dragged under. It captures that eerie mix of being visible but misunderstood and struggling without support.

In my work with organisations across industries, I meet a lot of people who feel that way. Smart, driven and submerged in data: drowning, not waving.

In today’s landscape, the challenge isn’t collecting data. We’ve got more than we know what to do with. The hurdle is turning that data into insights that are clear, actionable, and useful to decision-makers.

Problem: The Fragmentation Puzzle

Take the Quarterly Business Review (QBR) as an example. These sessions are designed to answer core questions: What’s working? What’s not? What’s next? But often, they become metric-heavy discussions without a cohesive story.

In many organisations, the root issue is fragmentation. Sales, marketing, product, finance, customer success - they’re all collecting valuable data. But each team uses different tools, speaks different KPI languages, and stores their insights in separate systems. Pulling this all together is a mammoth task, and often leaves teams with more confusion than clarity.

Solution: Streamline in No Time

I work with clients to bring structure to the chaos. That means helping teams build a single, unified view of performance, one that connects dots, aligns metrics across functions, and focuses attention on what matters most. Rather than a flat static pile of data, they now have a deeply interactive heads-up display. This enables them to interpret data through a narrative arc, which in turn allows them to take action. When it comes to speed and clarity, that’s where the value is unlocked with actionable insights on areas of risk and opportunity, like churn and upsell.

Problem: Complication Inundation

So often, the best insights are buried under layers of complexity. People stop asking questions. They nod along. Decisions get delayed - or made without real conviction.

The real challenge isn’t a lack of information. It’s identifying the signal in all the noise.

Solution: Simplify the Complex

I help clients reimagine how they present information - using bubble charts with custom filters to streamline complex datasets into digestible stories, improving both speed and clarity of communication.

Whether it’s QBRs, growth planning, or retention strategies, the goal is always the same: clarity. And when people understand the story, they’re far more likely to engage with it.

Problem: Overanalysis Paralysis

Too much ‘delving into the data’ can impede decisions. I've seen leadership teams stuck in analysis paralysis: endless meetings where everyone’s staring at charts, unsure which number to trust. Strategic conversations stall. Confidence drops. Decisions get deferred.

Solution: Get to the Heart of the Data

What matters is how easily you see what needs action. I help teams strip away the noise and elevate the signals that matter most. Are there churn risks hiding in the numbers? Upsell opportunities waiting to be tapped? When key insights are at your fingertips, decision-makers take confident action.

So, how do we keep our head above water in the data deluge?

The data deluge leads to fragmentation, inundation and immobilisation. Let’s ditch the PDF rainstorm and spreadsheet soup to build stories people can follow. Imagine never having to wade through a swampy Canva Powerpoint again! I love helping organisations move from being overwhelmed to being empowered - to go from treading water to navigating with confidence.

Because let’s face it: data should be a springboard, not an anchor.

- Adam, Head of Growth