There
is a fascination test link at the end of this post. Take it and you’ll be surprised with
yourself!
Many
people agree that being a data scientist is not only very fashionable but also
challenging. Of course, the definition
of “what a data scientist is” has not been entirely decided. Some people think a data scientist is some
kind of a technically gifted “geek” ready to use a magic wand and transform legacy
systems into a fascinating set of perfectly usable and well-coordinated set of
new technologies like big data, in-memory application, nosql, cloud, etc. that
will bring instant value to the organization. Great!
However,
there is a catch. You, as a data
scientist, will need soft skills beyond the technical skills to make these
dreams come true…. let’s say fascinating!
Those soft skills include: setting expectations properly, understanding
the environment both technically and politically, creating a compelling vision,
getting alignment between different groups, influencing your audience, building
trust, and educating people with different backgrounds on new technologies.
1. Setting expectations
Are
the expectations clear? Are you planning to involve others in setting up the
expectations? Like in a “What do you
propose model”? Or are you directing
others based on a decision previously made.
Those are important considerations when setting up expectations. Core
values should be used such as: providing valid and complete information, and allowing
for free and informed choices. It is
absolutely unfair to demand some sort of team performance when expectation have
not been made absolutely clear.
What
gets defined and measured gets done.
Thinks about your objectives. What do you want to achieve? How
will you measure success? What kind of indicators could
you use? How will you know the objective is reached? Who do you want to
fascinate? Think about the benefits. What
will it bring? What will it serve? What value will be there that was not there before?
2. Are you listening? – from active listening to fascination
listening.
It
is easy to stop listening when we think we know it all. The problem with this
behavior is that other people are expecting you to listen. Active listening means to listen with all
your senses. Fascination listening means
to go beyond active listening into formulating smart questions with the intent
to understand the human side. This the power of fascination listening.
It is critical to lead by questions. This way you
may understand better the nature of the situation. Key
questions:
1. What are successes? What did you achieve?
2. How do you perform against your targets? – on,
below, above
3. What do you need to improve? Where can you
stretch yourself?
4. How can I support you?
3. Create vision – from
solution to fascination value
Let’s
redefine the challenge: how can you develop vision without consuming yourself,
your team and your environment?
How
to create vision? Consider some activities: Act with a sense of purpose.
Feeling aligned, show yourself truly connected with ones-self and others.
Radiate positive fascinating energy. Imagine and inspire a higher vision. Reconcile performance and fulfilment in a
sustainable way.
What
can help you, and your team, to develop a truly connected, inspired and
fascinated way of leading yourself, others, and your environment or project?
Could it be “know how” (understanding), through state-of-the-art concepts, or “show
how” (behaving), through workshops and role plays, or “be how” (living), through
‘experientials’ and symbols, or a
combination of all the above?
4. Get alignment –
As
a data scientist, you may sense that the people around you are not fully
engaged emotionally on the journey. They are not fascinated! They seem like passengers;
some are even disenchanted... You sense that there is need
to align the organizational processes with the business model. The people with the journey. You know all the classic
recipes - such as setting directions for your teams, establishing a strategic
plan, defining performance indicators, putting processes in place,
communicating with stakeholders... And yet, what happens when all of this has
been done, and you still sense something is missing from the equation? Are you being fascinating enough?
5.
Influencing an audience – be fascinating!
Make
the most effective use of preparation time by clearly identifying the
objectives of your communications. Master public speaking tools. Transform a
‘hearing’ into a ‘listening’ audience – one which is mobilized and fascinated.
Good
communication does not come naturally to everyone.
Each
of us uses words, expressions and attitudes which are unique to ourselves and
which do not necessarily carry the same meaning for another person.
Misunderstandings are therefore, in a sense, ‘normal’. We also make mistakes
using media. The wrong font, the slide
that nobody can read.
Every
message takes place on two levels: content & relationship
All
communication conveys two kinds of information. One concerns facts, feelings
and opinions: ‘content’. The other expresses something about the rapport
between the people involved: ‘relationship’. This relationship often dominates
the content.
The
results of communication lie in the response we receive.
The
reactions to our communication help us evaluate its appropriateness. If our
primary expectations are not met, it is up to us, as communicators, to select a
different mode of expression and a better way to fascinate the audience.
6. Building trust – how to
do this …
Trust
comes from delivering what you promised.
You can build trust by fascinating others with your past performance, track record of delivering results you commit
to delivering, track record of your
accomplishments. Also, your experience in the business or a related one,
your technical expertise, educational background, language, speech, patterns of speech, appearance, dress, grooming. Don’t forget your personality, demeanor, and your professionalism demonstrated by your punctuality, organized approach, and
manners. Include as factors for
fascination, the associations you have -
company, contacts, other customers, clients. Finally, the honesty, sincerity, and team player approach you exhibit. Those are just a few factors involved in
building trust.
7. Educating
A
critical component in data science projects is the need to educate audiences in
technologies that are increasingly complex.
This is not easy to do. For
instance, comparisons between SAS, R, Python, Perl. Or discussion on how to turn unstructured
data into structured data. What is the best
model a star schema or snow flaked schema?
What kind of statistical method to use logistic regression versus
decision trees, or neural networks?
Often
times, knowledge transfer takes the form of a continuous collaboration. This helps the learning process because it is
not a one-time shot. Learning hardly
ever happens in a single session!
Understanding
and transferring knowledge are complementary actions and are mutually
enriching. Being a mentor could be a powerful launch pad for learning and
personal development.
Here
is the link to the free fascination test. You’ll be surprised with yourself!
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