Learning the technical skills required for data analysis is challenging. However, to impact the company’s bottom line with your work requires more than just the ability to write code or query a SQL database. Instead, it’s about conveying and applying your analyses effectively in business contexts to create impact. Here are 4 tips that’ll help you make sure the right people actually listen to what you have to say!
1. Spend Time To Understand Your Data
In a fast-paced, deadline-driven society, it can be tempting to skip parts of the data science workflow. However, don’t be tempted to dive right into cleaning and analysis before really taking the time to get to know your data. By cutting corners, you’re liable to make a mistake. Furthermore, presenting your managers with clouded or biased findings may damage their trust in you, and in data analysis in general. Instead, take the time to fully understand the requirements of your analyses, do your due diligence to understand the industry/market and ask for clarifications if needed!
2. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
As cliché as this sounds, it is very true when it comes to data. Many people have trouble pulling insights from a spreadsheet, or a written report full of statistics. However, one thing for sure is that everybody understands the good ol’ pie and bar graph. With little context, we’re sure that your audience is able to identify the sources of income from an unlabelled pie chart. So now, imagine how effective a well-labeled visualisation in a clearer context can be!
3. Who Is Your Audience?
Are you talking to a bunch of data scientists, or giving a report to non-technical leadership level executives? Why do we ask? Because what kind of information they require, or even understand differs. The former will probably require you to get into the technical nitty-gritty. However, a conversation with the latter calls for big-picture thinking, clear visualisation, and a focus on actionable intelligence that relates to the company’s bottom line. If unsure who your audience is, or the technical level your audience possess, our advice is to stay on the safe side of keeping things simple and non-technical, and prepare for technical questions to be asked after your presentation!
4. Keeping It Simple
Remove redundant elements and focus on the most important thing in your analysis. This advice doesn’t only apply to visuals as it’s always a rule of thumb to keep all of your communication simple and clear. We understand that with soooo much data available, as data analysts, we tend to be detail-oriented, and chances are you found lots of cool tidbits as you worked through your analysis. You probably also encountered and navigated some interesting coding roadblocks along the way. But keep this in mind: not everyone cares, or needs to know about everything interesting you’ve found. What your clients or bosses care about is your findings and recommendations that can create a positive impact to the company.
With data science becoming more of an essential skill in the 21st century, have you started upskilling yourself with the necessary skills to stay relevant? Hackwagon offers a range of technical courses such as Data Science for students with different level of proficiency. What are you waiting for? Sign up here today!