TURNING STORIES INTO IMPACT: HOW WE USE DATA TO SHOW THAT NEGOTIATION WORKS!
By Isa Salazar, Programs and Evaluation Coordinator
At Negotiation Works, the heart of our mission is simple: giving people tools to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and the ability to advocate for themselves. Teaching those skills, however, is just the start! Just as important is understanding whether the lessons stick, where they make the most difference, and how we can keep improving. That’s where our volunteer data team comes in.
When someone signs up for a Negotiation Works course, their journey with us begins with a short survey. These pre-course surveys give us a snapshot of how participants think about negotiation before they’ve learned how to strategize with the tools we share. In the survey, they share how they might respond to conflict with their landlord and with a loved one. Throughout the course, participants then reflect on their life experiences, i.e., moments when they tried to apply the tools or times when conflict felt especially challenging. After the course ends, we ask them to revisit those same questions, which lets us see how their strategies and confidence have shifted. It doesn’t just end with the classes, though. After six months, we reach back out to ask how they are still using negotiation in daily life.
Behind the scenes, our data volunteers transform this mix of surveys and reflections into something much more meaningful. First, they organize and clean the responses so that everything is clear and consistent. Then they look at the big picture: What themes and concepts appear again and again? Do participants describe using active listening more often with family than at work? Which tools and strategies, such as BATNA or focusing on the other party’s position and interests, show up most in real-world stories? Where do people feel most empowered, and where do they still struggle?
The analysis helps us spot trends and measure growth. It also keeps us accountable to our participants. If we see that participants are finding one part of the curriculum harder to apply, we know to adjust. If the data shows that certain exercises are especially effective, we make sure to keep building on them. In this way, the information we gather doesn’t just sit in a report nor is it just for partners and funders. We use this information to help us improve the ways we teach and serve our communities better.
The work is made possible by thoughtful volunteers like Margie Henry, Brian Gunia, Sofia Pignataro, James Palmer, Brittany Cheadle, and Varun Sharma, who bring their diverse skills and perspectives to the process. They ensure that each survey response isn’t just a piece of data but a voice contributing to a larger story of growth and resilience. The data process at Negotiation Works is very much a team effort. Our volunteers roll up their sleeves to clean and organize surveys, spot meaningful patterns, and turn those findings into insights that make our programs stronger.
For data analyst Sofia Pignataro, that hands-on approach was part of what drew her in. “I wanted a volunteering opportunity to help others using my data skills,” she said. “Negotiation Works stood out to me because it empowers others to be agents of change in their own lives.”
“I’m inspired by the tangible impact of our work—whether it’s improving the effectiveness of the class programs or helping increase awareness of their powerful outcomes”
Over time, Sofia has found even more reasons to stay involved. “I’m inspired by the tangible impact of our work — whether it’s improving the effectiveness of the class programs or helping increase awareness of their powerful outcomes,” she explained. And for her, the people matter just as much as the mission: “The supportive and welcoming environment makes the collaboration enjoyable and meaningful.”
Volunteers like Sofia—and the rest of our data team—help connect the dots between the numbers and the real-life stories behind them. For us, the data is never just numbers; each chart or trend line represents someone who practiced speaking up, listened more closely to a loved one, or stepped into a difficult conversation with new confidence. Thanks to our volunteers’ work, we’re able to celebrate successes, learn where to grow, and show our community how Negotiation Works changes lives.