One of the most demoralising things for a dedicated analyst is to pour over an analysis for weeks, sometimes even months. Spending hours with stakeholders to collect and validate their requirements, source (or even create) data to design a beautiful dashboard only to find that it’s not that useful. In fact, the only use that those who bother logging into it find is in that export to excel button that they strategically asked to be programmed. Over time, with neglect, this dashboard like all the others becomes another wasted effort that is no longer maintained and destined to remain on the shelf, untouched and taking up storage space until someone is brave enough to decommission it, only to then replace it with the next attempt at useful automation. So here are a few thoughts on how to avoid the wastage and look after your poor analyst’s wellbeing.
- Keep an open mind and listen to understand. When collecting requirements, it is easy to assume that we know what is right for the business, especially if they are unable to articulate it to us clearly or in a way that makes sense to us. Stay open to hearing what it is that they are asking for because if you are not able to deliver the specific thing that they need then there is little point in giving them something that they don’t need or could have gathered themselves. Have a value-add mindset.
- Don’t dismiss what is being asked because it’s too hard. This is similar to the point above but talks to this concept of “low hanging fruit”. While quick wins are great initially, we must quickly get to a point where we are tackling the real challenges not just skimming around the outskirts. If we avoid solving the real problem, then the business will and usually it will involve excel.
- Sometimes data isn’t all you need. As controversial as this is for data lovers, sometimes the challenge that the business is trying to solve isn’t a data, reporting or analytics challenge. Sometimes they need tools to enable their business, keep listening.
- Finally, consider whether democratisation of data is the right thing for your business. Centralisation is great, IF, you have the resources, business knowledge and skills to satisfy every data need that your business could ever have. However, businesses are living organisms that need to be able to use data to react to what can be constant change. If you don’t enable your business users in the right way, then they will do it for themselves and drift further away from you. Remember, we are better together!
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