The number one piece of advice we can give to analysts at any level, even those leading data teams. Share your insights, share what you have found out, share what others in your team have found out. Get the work out there! Just doing this can spark an idea in your head that leads you to another action. It can also lead to a lightbulb moment for someone else and drive whatever they’re doing forwards.
There’s been quite a few times in my career where I’ve had a colleague come up to me and say “nobody is paying attention to my work” the following couple of minutes then goes something like this. “Have you spoken to [insert name 1] about it?” “no.” “Have you spoken to [insert name 2] about it?” “no.” “Have you spoken in their team meeting?” “I mentioned I’d completed the analysis, but nobody asked me any questions about what I found out.”
How do you expect anyone to care about the work you’ve just completed if you’re not giving them a reason to care?
Some tips:
- When you’ve completed your analysis ask yourself who could benefit from this piece of analysis. Write their names down. Depending on how big your organisation is, write down their managers name too.
- Are there any changes that need to be made to the product or any engineering changes that need to be made? If so, get some representatives from that area.
- Are there any reports that you could produce that will track the improvements generated by the change you’re suggesting?
- Does this change affect any of your company’s main goals or objectives? If so it could be a good idea to set something up with your leadership team and get their backing.
Please share your insights. This will drastically change how you are perceived in your company and the changes you can influence.
