A bar chart is a decision in costume. You chose categories, counts (or percents), an order, and a baseline. Each choice nudges the reader toward action. Start by sorting the bars to make the point obvious. If the labels are long, rotate the chart and go horizontal… readability beats tradition. Use percent when group sizes differ; use counts when the total is the story. Save decoration for birthdays; bars don’t need gradients, 3-D, or drop shadows to tell the truth. The test is simple: can a busy colleague glance once and repeat the takeaway in one sentence? If not, you didn’t fail at design; you failed at commitment. Tighten the question, then let the bars answer it.
