Writing with Numbers

Have you ever poured hours into a report, gathering data, building charts, checking every number, only to have it fall flat? Or opened a report hoping for answers, only to find yourself lost in a sea of stats with no clear takeaway? Even strong results can be overlooked when data is unclear or disconnected from its purpose. Whether you're writing or reading a report, it's frustrating when the real message doesn’t come through.

When organizations struggle to communicate data clearly, important insights are missed, and decisions get delayed. Performance reports fail to reflect real achievements. Proposals don’t inspire confidence. Strategy documents raise more questions than answers. When the story behind the data is missing, people are far less likely to engage or act. In workplaces that rely on evidence-based decisions, how we write about data can make or break its impact.

This workshop helps you bring clarity, context, and purpose to the way you write about numbers. Through real-world examples and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to simplify complex information, present data in a way that makes sense, and highlight key insights that matter to your audience. You’ll explore strategies for writing about numbers clearly and persuasively, whether your readers are technical experts or decision-makers.

By the end of the session, you’ll be able to turn raw data into meaningful messages that inform and guide action. You’ll leave with practical tools to communicate numbers more clearly, improve understanding, and strengthen the impact of your writing.

What You Will Learn

Apply the principles of data storytelling to communicate numbers in a way that engages and persuades.
Use data strategically to highlight results and support key messages.
Frame numerical information to align with audience needs and organizational goals.
Incorporate real-world examples to make data more relatable and meaningful.
Simplify complex information while maintaining accuracy and credibility.
Present numbers in a way that encourages action and supports informed decision-making.
Ensure ethical and responsible use of data in written communication.
Use clear, audience-friendly language to make numerical content accessible to non-technical readers.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is for professionals who work with data and want to improve how they communicate it through writing. If you share numerical information with internal teams, leadership, funders, or external partners, this session will help you write about numbers in a way that is clear, meaningful, and motivates action.

You should attend if you

Struggle to turn raw data into clear, persuasive writing that supports your goals
Want to make numerical information more accessible to non-technical audiences without losing accuracy
Are unsure how to highlight key takeaways or explain statistics in a way that tells a clear story
Need to align data with strategic priorities and communicate it in support of decisions or action
Work in roles where writing with data is part of your responsibilities, such as performance measurement, evaluation, or funding communication

Attending this session gives you the tools to communicate numbers more clearly and effectively. You’ll be better equipped to highlight what matters, increase understanding, and ensure your data supports the decisions and outcomes you and your organization care about.

Workshop Format

In this session you’ll practise turning complex data into clear, persuasive communication. You’ll work with real examples to structure information in ways that resonate with your audience. You’ll experiment with different ways to present numbers, analyze tone and language, and use your own documents to test out strategies. You’ll participate in guided discussions, individual exercises, and group activities designed to reinforce clarity, relevance, and ethical presentation of information.

You’ll also take away a practical workbook with tools, examples, and checklists to use back on the job.