36 Self-Discovery: People Analytics Community Building Skills

Where are you today?

Take a moment to assess your skill level in these areas and consider actions you will take to improve in the future. Circle the level where you believe your skills are today.

Bonus Activity – Consider what level you would like to reach on each skill and identify specific steps you can take to practice and build them. Remember, the journey itself is an invaluable learning experience. Embrace it, build genuine connections, and celebrate your career successes with your community.

Take some time to reflect on your current skill level in these areas. Consider actions you can take to improve in the future. You might ask yourself:

• How comfortable am I working with diverse teams?
• Do I actively seek out collaborative work projects with others?
• How comfortable am I reaching out to new people and building connections?

Focus on building these skills not just for your career, but also to add fun to your workday and joyful social connections to your life. Even introverts find that social connections when the conversation is focused on a shared professional interest (rather than just socializing) can be energizing and fulfilling. When you enjoy the process and build meaningful connections, it will not only lead to professional success, but can also transform your experience. Being part of a people analytics community will change you from being someone who ‘does’ people analytics into someone who is a part of a profession.

Bonus Assessment: Who’s In Your People Analytics Community?

When considering what types of people you might want to add to your network, consider the following questions. For each question, list the name of a person you would contact for help on that item. If you can answer a name to each question, you are off to a great start. You might list the same person for more than one question, but try to diversify your answers as much as possible and try to list more than one person where you can. If there are questions that you can’t currently name a person for, you might want to consider focusing on building connections with people in those areas.

List the name of a person you would call if:

• You need someone to check if your analyses are done correctly?
• You want to know which types of analysis techniques are best to use for a certain set of data, type of issue, or question?
• You want feedback on a data visualization? a presentation?
• You need to understand data privacy and security?
• You want advice for how to get promoted?
• You need to convince others to take action on your people analytics findings?
• You need inspiration for new ideas and how to bring value through your work?

Remember that being part of a network is not one-sided. As you think about these questions, consider whether you could be a source of advice or support for someone else on any of these topics. Who would answer these questions with your name? If you can’t think of anyone, maybe it’s time to consider how you can offer your help and expertise to others in your network.

Bonus Assessment: Are you a Giver, Taker, or Matcher?

The concept of Givers, Takers, and Matchers originates from the work of organizational psychologist Adam Grant. It describes how individuals approach reciprocity in relationships. Here’s an (over) simplified description of each type:

• Givers prioritize helping others and contributing to the community. They readily share knowledge, offer mentorship, and go the extra mile without expecting anything in return.

• Takers focus on maximizing their own gain. They may seek help and resources but rarely reciprocate. They prioritize their own success and advancement over the needs of others.

• Matchers strive for balance in relationships. They offer help when needed and expect the same in return. They value fairness and reciprocity in their interactions.

Many people automatically assume some types are “better” than others. But, they all have pros and cons. Givers are often labeled “best” because they seem so altruistic, but constantly giving without boundaries can lead to burnout and can hinder your career progress. Matcher can seem like a nice “middle ground” since there’s balance between taking and giving – but treating relationships like a transaction can be depersonalizing and resentment from perceived misalignment can harm relationships. Being a Taker all the time hinders your professional growth because of the damage it causes to relationships. But, you also shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it and can’t identify anything to offer in return. We all have a natural tendency toward each of these types of approaches in different amounts. Taking a moment to consider your own natural tendency can be useful because it will allow you to think more intentionally about how you want to interact with others in your people analytics community allowing you to strive for a balanced and sustainable way of giving and receiving. Here are some questions to help evaluate your natural tendencies. Keep in mind, there are no “right” answers, this is just about self-discovery.

• Do I readily share knowledge and resources with colleagues?
• Do I feel comfortable asking others for help when needed?
• Do I keep track of favors owed or received?
• Do I genuinely enjoy helping others succeed?
• Do I feel resentful when my help is not reciprocated?

When considering your natural tendencies, how do you want to approach your future interactions and reciprocity with your community?