When reviewing HR dashboards, I often notice a common challenge - cramming too many charts onto one screen. While it's tempting to show everything at once, this often leads to information overload and tiny, hard-to-read visualizations. I use toggle buttons to switch between related charts to solve this problem.
Why Toggle Buttons?
A typical HR dashboard shows various metrics broken down by different demographics like department, location, and reporting structure. While all these views provide value, you rarely need to see them simultaneously. Toggle buttons let you keep all these insights while maintaining a clean, user-friendly dashboard.
Real-World Applications
1. Demographic Deep Dives: Looking at headcount distribution across your organization? Instead of showing separate charts for department, level, and location breakdowns, add simple toggle buttons to switch between views.
2. Time-Based Metrics: Need to analyze headcount trends? Rather than showing both monthly details and annual patterns side by side, let your viewers toggle between these timeframes. This keeps your dashboard focused while maintaining access to all your data.
Simple Tools, Powerful Results The best part? You don’t need specialized BI tools to achieve this—Excel has everything you need. With simple formulas and basic macros, you can create interactive dashboards that look polished and professional without extra software or add-ins.
Final Thoughts Toggle buttons might seem like a small detail, but they're game-changers for dashboard design. They let you present comprehensive data without overwhelming your users. Plus, they make your dashboards more interactive and engaging – turning passive viewers into active participants in data exploration.
If you're new to macros, don’t be intimidated. Start by recording your actions in Excel to see how it works, or search for a quick tutorial—there are plenty of great resources available. And if you want a step-by-step guide to implementing toggle buttons in Excel or PowerPoint, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help!
PS - I love using toggle buttons in survey results dashboards; they let you easily switch between viewing different question responses or demographic filters without overwhelming your stakeholders.
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