Here's how you can overcome your boss's lack of understanding or appreciation for data visualization.

Okay, don't do this... "Start by explaining the basics: data visualization is the representation of data in a graphical format, like charts or graphs, to make information more accessible and understandable." The boss needs to know why it's worth your time and energy, not the dictionary definition. Patronizing your boss is not going to be the best way to make your case.

In my experience, many people initially underestimate the impact of data visualization until they see it in action. When explaining its benefits, I focus on how it transforms complex datasets into accessible, actionable insights. For instance, while working on a project to analyze customer feedback, I used word clouds and sentiment analysis charts to visually represent the most frequent topics and overall sentiment trends. This approach made it easier for the team to understand customer concerns and preferences, leading to improved service strategies.

One of the easiest ways of demonstrating the value of data visualisation is to show a table of data and ask them to pull out key insights (such as the highest performing). Then, show that same data visualised in a chart and ask them the same question. As long as you've made the visualisation correctly, they should see the second option allows for a much shorter time to insight, and make conversations easier in the future.

Start with small, manageable projects where data visualization can make a clear difference. Demonstrate the value through these projects and use them as a stepping stone to larger initiatives. When presenting data visualizations, ensure they are clear, intuitive, and directly tied to the business goals or challenges your boss cares about. Avoid overly complex visuals that could confuse rather than clarify. Be patient and persistent in your efforts to educate and demonstrate the value of data visualization. Consistently showing positive outcomes can gradually build support and appreciation.

Don’t describe the dish, just let them taste it! Then be honest about what it took to make such a delicious dish and let them decide if it’s one they want you to continue providing. You can help them understand that it’s not just this one dish though. There is a menu of similar options that can be enjoyed! It’s a very meta “show, don’t tell” use case. Good vizs help the audience engage with data in a different way. It’s an experience. Let them experience the data viz and appreciate its value, then inform them afterward about the technique. Let the viz speak for itself. Make it so compelling that they say, “I liked that. I want more of that moving forward.” Get a sense of their reservations and needs, then plan a responsive approach.

A quick way of demonstrating the ROI of data visualisation is to highlight the time to insight. If it takes an analyst 30 minutes to gain insights from a table of data, and they carry out that task 5 times a week, that's 2.5 hours. If you visualise it and it takes them 5 minutes to get to the same conclusion, that's now only 25 minutes to get to the same conclusion, a saving of over 2 hours. Over the course of the year, you've saved over 100 hours of time which can be used on other activities.