Care about your message

(as well as communicating it)

It's not enough to be able to communicate your data message; you've also got to care about getting your data message across.

Here's a way of looking at the 'soft' skills an information analyst needs in order to communicate their data messages effectively. Along the horizontal axis we've got the know-how (or not) necessary in order to talk about data and string data exhibits together. And up the vertical axis, we're measuring the extent to which the data anlayst *cares* about the message they're putting across.

In his book How to Disagree, Ian Leslie says: "In the ideal discussion each individual focuses mainly on the search for reasons for their preferred solution, while the rest of the group critically evaluates those reasons. Everyone throws up their own hypotheses, which are then tested by everyone else". He's describing a thesis > antithesis > dialectic here. As long as the disagreement is civil, then a decent amount of disagreement is needed in order to advance our knowledge and insight.

But the disagreement doesn't just have to be civil; there's another necessary ingredient, too. This alchemy of disagreement only works if the views being put forward are deeply held. Which is why Data in the Line of Fire uses scripted (and semi-scripted) role play to simulate proper, robust meeting room disagreements.

Data in the Line of Fire can be booked as an on-site face-to-face course for £1,250+VAT, and up to eight participants can be accommodated in each workshop session. Email info@kurtosis.co.uk to start making arrangements. Open course places cost £350+VAT.

We use PowerPoint in this course.