> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lightdash-mintlify-882ee588.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Business user training outcomes

> A checklist of skills and outcomes a business user should be able to demonstrate after completing Lightdash BI training.

Use this checklist to confirm that a business user has the skills they need to explore data, build charts and dashboards, and share insights in Lightdash. Each section maps to a training module and links to the relevant docs.

<Tip>
  Ask trainees to tick each outcome only after they've done it themselves in a real project — not just watched a demo.
</Tip>

## Prerequisites

Before starting training, the user should have:

* An active Lightdash account with access to at least one project
* Viewer or Interactive Viewer permissions (or higher) on that project
* A short list of business questions they want to answer with data

## 1. Navigate Lightdash

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Log in and identify the homepage, navbar, and their user menu
* [ ] Return to the homepage by clicking the Lightdash icon
* [ ] Browse saved charts, dashboards, and Spaces from the `Browse` menu
* [ ] Open the global search with `Cmd + K` / `Ctrl + K` and find a chart, dashboard, table, or field by name
* [ ] Apply search filters to narrow results by content type or date

Reference: [Exploring your content](/get-started/exploring-data/exploring-your-content)

## 2. Understand metrics and dimensions

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Explain the difference between a **dimension** and a **metric** in their own words
* [ ] Give a business example of each from their own data
* [ ] Recognise metric and dimension icons in the sidebar of an explore
* [ ] Read a field's description and formatting to understand what it measures

Reference: [Intro to metrics and dimensions](/get-started/exploring-data/intro-metrics-dimensions)

## 3. Query data from a table

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Open an explore from the `Tables` menu
* [ ] Select dimensions and metrics to build a results table
* [ ] Apply filters to limit the data returned
* [ ] Sort and pivot results
* [ ] Add a custom metric on the fly (e.g. count distinct, average)
* [ ] Add a table calculation (e.g. percent of total, running total)
* [ ] Download results as CSV or Excel

Reference: [Querying from tables](/get-started/exploring-data/using-explores)

## 4. Build and configure charts

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Switch between chart types (bar, line, big value, table, pie)
* [ ] Choose the correct chart type for a given question
* [ ] Configure axes, series, formatting, and reference lines
* [ ] Save a chart into an appropriate Space with a clear name and description

References: [Chart types overview](/references/chart-types/overview) · [Configuring charts](/guides/configure-charts) · [Formatting your fields](/guides/formatting-your-fields)

## 5. Build a dashboard

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Plan a dashboard around a specific audience and question
* [ ] Create a new dashboard and add saved charts to it
* [ ] Add markdown tiles for context and headings
* [ ] Arrange and resize tiles for readability
* [ ] Add dashboard-level filters and temporary filters
* [ ] Save the dashboard into the right Space

References: [Planning your dashboard](/best-practice/planning-your-dashboard) · [Creating dashboards](/get-started/exploring-data/dashboards)

## 6. Explore dashboards interactively

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Apply and clear dashboard filters
* [ ] Use date zoom to change the time granularity
* [ ] Drill into a chart from a dashboard tile
* [ ] View underlying data behind a chart value
* [ ] Comment on a chart or dashboard to ask a question

References: [Exploring dashboards](/get-started/exploring-data/interactive-dashboards) · [Date zoom](/guides/date-zoom)

## 7. Share insights with the team

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Share a chart or dashboard link with a teammate
* [ ] Export a chart as an image or CSV
* [ ] Set up a scheduled delivery to Slack or email
* [ ] Create an alert on a metric threshold
* [ ] Recognise verified content and know when to trust it

References: [Sharing insights](/get-started/exploring-data/sharing-insights) · [Scheduled deliveries](/guides/how-to-create-scheduled-deliveries) · [Alerts](/guides/how-to-create-alerts) · [Verified content](/guides/verified-content)

## 8. Use the metrics catalog

By the end of this module the user can:

* [ ] Open the metrics catalog and browse available metrics
* [ ] Read a metric's definition, owner, and description
* [ ] Find charts and dashboards that use a given metric
* [ ] Explore a metric directly from the catalog

Reference: [Metrics catalog](/guides/metrics-catalog)

## Sign-off

Once every box above is ticked, the trainee is ready to work independently as a Lightdash business user. Recommended next steps:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="The Lightdash way" icon="compass" href="/best-practice/lightdash-way" horizontal />

  <Card title="Keyboard shortcuts" icon="keyboard" href="/guides/keyboard-shortcuts" horizontal />

  <Card title="Custom fields" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/guides/custom-fields" horizontal />

  <Card title="Period over period" icon="calendar" href="/guides/period-over-period" horizontal />
</CardGroup>