Mark Palmer

Choose and analyze the best data quickly, then learn the art of creating a call to action (CTA). CTAs are crucial for meeting deadlines, gaining buy-in, and alleviating pressure. For example, if you're asked to analyze a sales forecast and you don't have enough historical data, note that blindspot and its implications as you present your findings. Then, at the end of your presentation, confidently suggest a CTA to acquire that data and deepen your analysis. Great CTAs are an act of leadership, and if you feel stressed or overwhelmed by deadlines, remember: you are the one who knows the data best. Your proactive approach will be appreciated by leadership, and your competence will shine through.

Visionaries from Ada Lovelace and Steve Jobs were driven by the idea that the job of technology is to improve the human experience. Lovelace coined the term Poetical Science,” to convey the idea that computing magic lies at the intersection of humanity and technology. Treat curiosity, like math, as a skill that must be nurtured. Go outside your math comfort zone. Visit museums to get inspired by big ideas. Explore the business side of your domain. Practice the art of story-craft. Ultimately, your findings only matter if they’re generous, generative, and make the world a better place. Search for that impact. As Steve Jobs said, “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Stay Curious.

Remember this: curiosity is worth 50 IQ points! Instead of narrowly “solving” the problems, search for the question behind the question. Challenge your assumptions. Be just as curious about the data you don’t have as the data you happen to have on hand. Ask questions like: “What data are we missing?” “What are the implications of <insert finding>” “Why does <insert finding> matter?” Pull your nose out of the data and steep yourself in the nontechnical aspects of your domain. If you’re in healthcare, visit a pharmaceutical research lab. If you’re in financial services, observe a trading floor. Keep a journal. Summarize your data in words and images. Curiosity is king!

Thank you Darren!

Learn to use metaphors, analogy, and surprise. Neuroscience shows that these communication techniques trigger the update of belief systems and learning. Data analogies help humans absorb new ideas by comparing them to something they already know and believe. Like water, data can flow through people and organizations, finding its way through hearts and minds. That’s a metaphor. Use them! Finally, surprise your audience. Teach them something they didn’t know. Challenge conventional wisdom. Bust myths. Surprise changes minds. These communication devices are powerful ways to change the world. Learn them and use them!