The two core skills of leadership are spreadsheets and storytelling. Know your numbers and craft a narrative.

Most of us have a natural inclination toward one of these, but both are required.

Numbers are a record of what has already happened–it’s looking backward. Honest examinations of the data keep us grounded in reality. And the stories we tell help us imagine what could be and make a better reality. Which skill do you need to improve, telling the story or reporting the numbers?

Also, while each is important by itself, the combination of data and storytelling multiplies their value.