#50 Stop letting Excel choose your charts for you
From Make Data Talk by Dr Selena Fisk
March 31, 2026 · 11 min
About this episode
Dr. Selena Fisk discusses the pitfalls of Excel's default chart recommendations and offers strategies for creating more effective data visualizations.
In this episode of Make Data Talk , Dr. Selena Fisk breaks down why "recommended charts" and default visualisations often hide the real story in your data... and what to do instead. You'll learn how Microsoft Excel's chart choices can unintentionally mislead your audience, distract from your message, or make insights harder to see, especially when you're presenting to leaders, clients, or time-poor teams. If you've ever wondered: why your chart feels "technically correct" but still confusing what makes a chart persuasive, not just pretty how to avoid common Excel chart traps (hello, clutter and unnecessary complexity) …this is for you. Selena shares practical rules of thumb for choosing visuals based on the question you're answering , not the chart type Excel serves up. Expect clear examples, quick decision prompts, and a simple framework you can apply immediately - whether you're building a board report, a dashboard, or a one-slide update for an audience. In this episode, you'll learn: The hidden bias baked into Excel's default chart recommendations A fast "purpose-first" method for choosing better visuals How to make your charts clearer, calmer, and more convincing Perfect for…
People in this episode
Host: Dr Selena Fisk
Topics covered
- data visualization
- Excel charts
- chart design
- data storytelling
- business reporting
Keywords
- Excel charts
- data visualisation
- choosing the right chart
- dashboard design
- data storytelling
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Excel
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