#254 Career Skills for Data Professionals with Wes Kao, Co-Founder of Maven
Oct 21, 2024
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Wes Kao, co-founder of Maven and altMBA, shares her insights on vital career skills for data professionals. She emphasizes the importance of effective communication and context when presenting data to various audiences. Wes discusses navigating feedback and fostering a culture of constructive criticism. She highlights 'acting like an owner' and taking responsibility for outcomes in professional growth. The conversation also delves into optimizing meetings, mastering the art of managing upwards, and enhancing judgment and analytical thinking for better decision-making.
Effective communication for data professionals requires framing insights to suit different audiences, enhancing understandability and decision-making impact.
Managing up is crucial for career development as it fosters collaboration with managers by anticipating their communication preferences and needs.
Deep dives
The Importance of Interpretation in Data Communication
Data professionals often make the mistake of presenting raw data without providing context or interpretation. It's crucial to accompany facts with an explanation of what the data signifies and its relevance to the audience. Simply stating numbers can leave the audience confused about the implications, which may hinder decision-making. By serving up the 'so what' of the data, professionals can facilitate more meaningful discussions and help others grasp the significance of their findings.
Tailoring Communication to Your Audience
Effective communication involves adjusting the complexity and detail of information based on the audience's familiarity with the subject matter. Utilizing a concentric circles framework can help professionals visualize the varying levels of context each audience has, from immediate colleagues to external stakeholders. Striking the right balance between providing enough detail without overwhelming the audience can enhance understanding. Furthermore, establishing rapport with audiences, particularly when differing levels of expertise exist, can lead to more productive conversations.
Managing Up for Better Collaboration
Managing up is a vital but often overlooked aspect of professional development that can improve relationships with managers and foster a more collaborative environment. This process includes proactively sharing updates and understanding a manager's preferences for communication, which can streamline interactions. By anticipating a manager's needs and desires, employees can reduce the frequency of interruptions and enhance trust. Ultimately, managing up not only benefits individual career growth but also contributes positively to team dynamics.
Continuous Improvement Through Feedback and Reflection
The ability to seek out and respond to feedback is essential for career progression. Individuals should aim to encourage honest feedback from managers and peers while remaining open to constructive criticism. Furthermore, reflecting on both successes and failures allows professionals to extract valuable lessons that can improve future performance. By fostering intellectual honesty and actively working to enhance judgment, individuals can develop skills that yield long-term career benefits.
Mastering the technical side of data and AI is one thing, but communicating those insights effectively is a whole different challenge. How do you make sure your data is understood, acted upon, and influences decisions? It’s not just about presenting the right numbers—it’s about framing them in a way that resonates with different audiences. But how do you tailor your communication to different stakeholders and ensure your message cuts through? What strategies can you use to make your insights truly impactful?
Wes Kao is an entrepreneur, marketer, coach, and advisor who writes at newsletter.weskao.com. She is co-founder of Maven, an edtech company that raised $25M from First Round and Andreessen Horowitz. Previously, she co-founded the altMBA with bestselling author Seth Godin.
In the episode, Richie and Wes explore communication skills, tailoring to your audience, persuasion vs information, feedback and behavioral change, intellectual honesty, judgement and analytical thinking, management and ownership, dealing with mistakes, conflict management, career advice for data practitioners and much more.