MaryBeth Maskovas, founder and Principal Consultant at Insight Lime Analytics, joins the hosts to explore the importance of curiosity and business context in analytics. They discuss assessing curiosity during interviews, training analysts to be curious, and the value it brings to organizations. The chapter also delves into the role of curiosity in marketing analytics, balancing curiosity and productivity, and exciting updates like the Scribe AI Chrome extension.
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Quick takeaways
Curiosity is a valuable characteristic for analysts, allowing them to uncover insights and drive exceptional results.
Training analysts to be curious is crucial, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and providing the right resources and context.
Curiosity should be balanced with focus and efficiency, encouraging exploration within a well-defined project plan.
Deep dives
The Importance of Curiosity in Analytics
Curiosity is a valuable characteristic for analysts. It allows them to delve deeper and uncover insights. Consultants should encourage curiosity in their teams to maximize their growth and drive exceptional results. Psychologist Daniel Berteline coined the term 'epistemic curiosity' to describe the desire to acquire knowledge. Analysts should strive to be curious and innovative, continuously exploring new avenues for analysis.
Developing Curiosity in Analysts
Training analysts to be curious can be challenging but rewarding. Helping them understand the importance of curiosity and its role in analysis is crucial. A willingness to explore and ask questions is more important than being innately curious. Training methodologies like behavioral interviewing and providing the right resources and context can help develop curiosity in analysts.
Balancing Curiosity with Focus
While curiosity is an asset, it needs to be balanced with focus and efficiency. Analysts should be encouraged to explore ideas and think outside the box, but within the framework of a well-defined project plan. This plan should include exploratory time and regular check-ins to ensure analysts stay on track. Setting expectations and prioritizing ideas can help strike the right balance.
Avoiding the Pitfall of Overwhelming Curiosity
Too much curiosity can sometimes lead to disorganization and lack of focus. Analysts need guidance to channel their curiosity effectively. Encouraging them to think through project plans, estimate timelines, and engage in project management practices can help them stay focused while still exploring new avenues. Regular check-ins and collaboration can ensure analysts maintain the right balance of curiosity and productivity.
The Journey towards Curiosity
Developing curiosity in analysts requires a combination of training, exposure to business context, and learning from real-world experiences. The process takes time and is often a journey of trial and error. By providing the right resources, training, and support, analysts can progress in their ability to think critically, ask the right questions, and ultimately become exceptional analysts.
We were curious about… curiosity. We know it's a critical trait for analysts, but is it an innate characteristic, a teachable skill, or some combination of both? We were curious. How can the breadth and depth of a candidate's curiosity be assessed as part of the interview process? We were curious. Who could we kick these questions (and others) around with? We were NOT curious about that! MaryBeth Maskovas, founder and Principal Consultant at Insight Lime Analytics, joined Michael, Julie, and Tim to explore the topic. For complete show notes, including links to items mentioned in this episode and a transcript of the show, visit the show page.
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