Norwalk, Connecticut, finance leader Sergio P. Mendes explains how individuals can stop feeling overwhelmed by data and start using it to make clearer decisions.
NORWALK, CT, April 18, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Two months ago, a mid-level manager at a regional company in Connecticut found herself stuck.
She had access to reports, dashboards, and weekly updates. But none of it felt clear. Numbers changed every week. Meetings felt rushed. Decisions were delayed because no one agreed on what the data meant.
"I had everything I needed," she said. "But I didn't know what mattered."
Then something shifted. Instead of trying to understand everything, she focused on one report. She picked three metrics. She asked simple questions. Within weeks, her team began making faster decisions. Meetings became shorter. Results improved.
This situation is not unique.
Sergio P. Mendes, a commercial finance and revenue management executive based in Norwalk, Connecticut, says this type of confusion is becoming more common as organizations rely more on data.
"Almost every decision connects back to data," Mendes said. "The challenge is not access to information. The challenge is understanding what the numbers actually mean."
A Widespread Problem Across Teams
The gap between data availability and data understanding is growing.
A Deloitte study found that 67% of organizations rely heavily on data, but fewer than 30% believe employees use it effectively
According to Harvard Business Review, only 26% of managers feel confident interpreting financial data
A Gartner report shows that over 60% of companies struggle to translate analytics into decisions
Workforce surveys indicate that nearly 1 in 2 professionals rely on others to explain performance metrics
Mendes sees this pattern across teams and roles.
"Data by itself isn't enough," he explained. "You have to connect analysis to real decisions. When teams understand the drivers behind performance, they can move faster and operate with more clarity."
Why Most People Get Stuck
Many professionals try to understand too much at once.
Dashboards are complex. Reports are detailed. Metrics are often disconnected from daily work.
Mendes believes the issue is not a lack of effort but a lack of focus.
"I think most companies have too much data, not too little," he said. "The real skill is knowing what actually matters."
Copy This Framework: 5 Phases to Use Data Better
Mendes recommends a simple, structured approach that anyone can apply.
1. Focus on What Matters
Pick 2–3 key metrics that directly impact your role. Ignore everything else for now.
2. Understand the Drivers
Ask what influences those numbers. What actions cause them to change?
3. Connect to Outcomes
Tie each metric to a real business result. What happens when it improves or declines?
4. Review Consistently
Look at the same data weekly. Track patterns over time instead of reacting to one-off changes.
5. Take Action
Use the insight to make one clear decision. Then measure the result.
"Finance should help people understand what's happening in the business and why it matters," Mendes said. "If you don't act on the data, it doesn't have value."
Quick Wins You Can Apply Today
-Choose one report and simplify it into plain language
-Identify the top three metrics you see every week
-Ask "what changed?" and "why?" in your next meeting
-Compare this week's results to last week's
-Write down one insight before leaving a meeting
"These are small steps," Mendes said. "But they create clarity quickly."
Red Flags to Watch For
-Reviewing too many metrics at once
-Relying on others to explain basic data
-Making decisions without checking performance trends
-Treating reports as summaries instead of tools
-Focusing on numbers without understanding context
When these patterns appear, decision-making slows down.
Turning Insight Into Action
The biggest difference between high-performing teams and others is not access to better data.
It is how they use it.
Mendes emphasizes that clarity drives speed.
"Leadership used to ask what happened," he said. "Now they ask what's happening right now."
That shift requires individuals at every level to improve their interpretation of information.
Take One Step This Week
Improving how you use data does not require new tools or major changes.
Start small.
Pick one report. Focus on a few metrics. Ask better questions.
"Curiosity is what helps you improve," Mendes said. "Once you understand the system, you can make better decisions."
Apply this framework to your own work this week. One small change can lead to clearer thinking and better outcomes.
About Sergio P. Mendes
Sergio P. Mendes is a commercial finance and revenue management executive based in Norwalk, Connecticut. He serves as Vice President of Commercial Finance and Revenue Management at Palm Bay in New York, where he leads financial planning, performance analysis, and strategic modeling across national operations. With more than a decade of experience, Mendes focuses on helping organizations turn complex data into clear, actionable insights.
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