9 The People Analytics Data Consumer

As humans we are natural data consumers. We tend to seek out information and apply what we know to the problems and questions we face at any given moment. But few people realize the strength of this natural inclination or put in the time to enhance it as a skill. If you do, you will have a major advantage.

Those who are expert at data consumption quickly become the “go-to” member on any team. They are the person whose opinion is sought, and they are respected because their ideas are backed with facts, insights, and a broader view of the world. Once someone becomes the de facto ‘expert’ on a topic, they also become the first to be thought of for new opportunities and promotions.

It may seem overly simplistic that I’m encouraging you to be a data consumer. Maybe it even seems too easy. Find some information, consume it, done. Right? Sort of. It is true that it is now easier than ever to find lots of information but there are now so many ways and formats that you can consume data that being an effective data consumer is a real skill that needs to be built.

Let me explain with a (possibly bad?) analogy to the hobby of bird watching. Though billions of birds exist, seeing one doesn’t make you a birdwatcher. Similarly, just because data surrounds us doesn’t mean we understand it. Expertise comes through persistent practice.

Like any skill, birdwatching is built through consistent practice. Birders develop their observational and identification abilities over time, learning to see the nuances invisible to the untrained eye.

Learning to be a data consumer is like bird watching. It’s more complicated to be an expert than it seems but it also doesn’t require much more than dedication, commitment, and patience.

At first, all you will likely know are simple things like: it’s a bird, it’s blue. But the more you look and the more you study you start to see the nuances that only someone with experience and exposure can see (Oh look, a Jay! Is it a Blue Jay or a Scrub Jay?). And the more different pieces of information you take in, the more you learn how much there is still yet to learn (There are FORTY different species of Jay, what?!).

To be an effective birder, you will have to go where the birds (or information) are. Sometimes you won’t see any, but slowly you will learn locations where you might have better luck. Just like birds have specific habitats and activity patterns, different data sources offer varying levels of relevance and quality of information. Over time, you’ll learn to identify these patterns and find relevant resources with increasing ease.

Start by simply observing and taking notes. Even if you don’t realize it, your knowledge will accumulate over time. Eventually, you might even identify the rare data point that transforms a business issue into a solution, much like a birder spotting the rare Island Scrub Jay. By simply exposing yourself to relevant information, you’ll develop nuanced perception skills that will prove invaluable later.

So, how can you get started? Focus on these non-technical skills that will make you a better people analytics data consumer:

• Analytical & Critical Thinking
• Systems Thinking
• Curiosity & Creativity

And, try out some of the ideas in this chapter’s “Explore & Engage:  Consume People Analytics Information” section to get started.