Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several years, you know the importance of using data to drive your decisions. However, while we have an army of well-trained data scientists and analysts producing data and findings, there hasn’t been that much attention paid to the people consuming that data. Knowing how to …
Read more “Three beliefs that might be hurting your data-driven decision making”
Recently a client was walking me through a presentation. The presentation was trying to build a case for the impact that one of his programs had on the business. When he got to the slide that had the key data to make his case, I had a strong negative reaction. At first, I couldn’t explain …
Read more “Hidden in plain sight – data that unconsciously influence your decisions”
Leaders are realizing that maintaining the status quo is no longer a sustainable strategy. Many are pondering the question of how to create a culture of people who are more willing to take risks. However, as soon as that desire is expressed, it is almost always qualified. What if this new out of control workforce …
Read more “Risk taking is ok. It’s recklessness that is the problem.”
The other day I was speaking with a leader about bringing my Rethinking Data workshop into her organization. Before I could get too far she stopped me. She said, “Brad, we don’t need your workshop. We are a heavily data-driven organization.” Then, to back up her statement, she showed me several “data-rich” presentations and reports. The presentations contained …
Read more “Is your company data-driven or just obsessed with numbers?”
We’ve all been through those long boring presentations that slog through chart after chart with no end in sight. Surprisingly, despite all of the data, those presentations rarely end with decisions. The problem is that our brains weren’t designed to absorb a lot of data. We need a lot of data to ensure that what …
Read more “Use the 50/10 rule to improve your presentations and drive decision making”
Remember the “Five Second Rule”? It was that magical bit of kids’ wisdom for redeeming a dropped treat. If you scooped it back up within five seconds, it was germ free and ok to eat. Whether you agree with the rule or not, its underlying principle provides insight for working with data. The longer something …
Read more “Applying the “Five Second Rule” to your data and presentations”
Let’s face it, the business world has become quite uncertain. Helping people manage through that uncertainty can be difficult. Many leaders feel similarly challenged as they are often as unsure about what is happening as are their teams. We know that uncertainty breeds anxiety. An anxious workforce is not a productive, happy, or engaged workforce. …
Read more “Three steps for helping your people cope with ambiguity”
Are you an effective data-driven decision maker? Do you spend more time wading through data than acting upon it? Are you getting buried under mounds of data? Is that slowing down your decision making? Do you have trouble getting your audience to let you get your recommendation out before they start to interrupt? Would you …
Read more “Join our FREE Ten Rules of Rethinking Data workshop”
Blind auditions in a symphony are a common practice today. But that wasn’t always the case. Before the 80s, many symphony selection committees saw the person who was auditioning. They also saw a larger number of men than women moving forward from the auditions. To combat this, the symphonies introduced the blind audition. In a blind …
Discussion: Thursday, February 4 or Monday, February 8. Both sessions start at 1:00 CST. Why do big changes fail? That question has been answered over and over. Yet, we are still asking it. Many change models focus on the enablement part of change – give people a good reason, the right rewards, and the necessary information, …