Creativity plus Analytics equals Amazing

Creativity plus Analytics equals Amazing

Episode 008

Creativity and analytics. Think that's like oil and water? More like Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Often times, data and analytics are thought of as black and white concepts. They are the OPPOSITE of creative thinking. They provide facts, reason, and cut through the emotion.

But thinking about it that way really limits what data can do.

In this episode, Dave and Matt will talk about curiosity, creativity and the type of people that will be most successful in an analytics role. Hint: it’s the people that can think outside the box, come up with new ways to solve problems, and creatively communicate what’s going on in their organization

We also touch on the concept of “Design-Focus” and “Human-Centered Design”. It’s the belief that everyone has creativity in them, and with basic tools, can create new and wonderful things. It’s making sure that whatever is created has the end-user in mind.

It’s also important to balance colorful & whimsical design vs. modern and functional design. When creating something like a dashboard, it’s important to ensure it’s both functional to read AND pleasurable to view. Design without purpose isn’t useful.

Until next week!

Thanks and Happy Listening!

---

Improve your analytics skills with... Improv?

Improve your analytics skills with... Improv?

Episode 007

Improv: The ability to think on your feet, ask good questions, and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

Everyone wants to get better at their jobs, right? For people who use data in their work, they usually look to more technical training… Excel, Tableau, Python, R, SQL, Qlik, PowerBI, etc.

What if I told you that you could get the same, if not MORE, useful training by taking an Improv course at your local comedy troupe?

Yep, we said it. And we stand by it too. Improv helps you think on your feet, ask good questions, and connect with your audience in meaningful ways. Does that sound like something useful to an analyst?

If you’re trying to bring data to your organization, then being able to captivate your audience, communicate effectively with the person across from you, and respond appropriately and confidently goes a LONG way towards moving the needle.

Perhaps you’re asked to present your analysis to some executives at your organization. You’ve worked tirelessly on the deck and your speaking points. And within 5 minutes, the execs have asked a ton of questions, thrown off your script, and moved the conversation in an unexpected direction. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the skills to react quickly, keep your composure, and respond to their new and changing topics?

That’s Improv, baby! Go find your local comedy club and sign up for a course today.

Until next week!

Thanks and Happy Listening!

---

The making of a good analytics leader pt 2

The making of a good analytics leader pt 2

Episode 006

What is the makeup of a good analytics leader? How do leaders become successful in leading analytics teams?

Make sure you check out Good Analytics Leader Part 1 that focuses on executive leaders.

What does it take to be a great front-line leader for a team of analysts?

Leading a team of analysts is a rewarding but can be challenging as well. Many analysts are great with numbers, math, code, and visualizations, but can sometimes lack the softer skills like effectively communication, project management, or requirements gathering.

These are necessary skills, and you as their leader must help them get there! But also have empathy. Recognize each person’s individual strengths and opportunities and then position them to leverage their strengths and minimize the opportunities. Recognize that your amazing SQL developer shouldn’t (and probably doesn’t want to) be put in charge of project managing your biggest deliverable.

There are also some critical skills that you might need for yourself. First, an ability to change quickly. The analytics field is shifting very quickly. New methods, new tools, your team being hired away by bigger companies with seemingly endless pocket books.

You’ll also need to be VERY good at being a champion, spokesperson, and advocate for your team, and for the work they do. Most front-line teams (and even executives) don’t really get what your team does. It’s up to you to sing from the rooftops all the ways that your team adds value.

Managing is a journey, and you won’t be good at it on day 1, but as long as you are channeling your team’s successes and put them in the best position possible, you’ll do great.

Until next week!

Thanks and Happy Listening!

---

The making of a good analytics leader pt 1

The making of a good analytics leader pt 1

Episode 005

What is the makeup of a good analytics leader? How do leaders become successful in leading organizational analytics?

Whether you’re in analytics, product, finance, operations, or any other department, there are lots of good leaders out there. There are also lots of bad ones.

In this two-part series, we’ll be exploring the analytics leader, how it might be the same or different from other types of leaders in other departments, and what it looks like.

In this week’s episode, we’re going to focus on the top-level leader. The “Chief Data Officer” if you will. Whether they actually have the title, or something like “VP of Analytics”, or “Director of Customer Insights”, someone at your organization is playing the CDO-role whether you know it or not.

So where do these types of people come from? How do you become a Chief Data Officer? Do they come up the ranks of the analyst track? Or do they come from other disciplines, and they just happen to understand data as well?

Regardless of where they come from, the most important thing that a CDO-role will need to do is make sure that the organization as a whole is thinking “data-first”. This means consistently challenging the gut decisions of her C-Suite peers. The CFO might state that “We know that our customers want cheaper prices”. Do they? What data led us to this conclusion? Can the analytics leader help bring data to the table to verify?

The great leader knows how to place themselves in the right conversations, and then make sure that data is a part of that conversation.

It’s about building the CULTURE of analytics. It starts at the top, with executives, but it also means they need to lead a capable data team, and ensure that each line of business is being served and that they are capable of doing something with the data once they have it.

It’s not an easy position to be in, but it’s certain a necessary one for any organization who wants to be more data-informed.

Until next week!

Thanks and Happy Listening!

---

The data driven and data informed culture

The data driven and data informed culture

Episode 004

What does a data culture mean? And is there a difference between Data-driven vs. Data-informed?

An organization that uses data in their decision-making process. From the highest executive to the summer intern.

Sound far-fetched? It shouldn’t! Most organizations are on their own journey towards using data to drive significant value for their customers and shareholders.

But many organizations aren’t there yet. And that can be frustrating. Building a data-informed culture doesn’t happen overnight, but it does lead to great results.

In this episode of Data Able, we talk about the Data-driven culture, and the Data-informed culture. Mostly semantics, the difference is in the level of maturity the organization has with using data. Ideally, every business line is comfortable with combining their deep industry expertise with their data and insights that lead to the best decisions and outcomes possible.

Until next week!

Thanks and Happy Listening!

---