Your analysts aren’t lazy, they’re underused. Learn why top data talent is quietly disengaging, and what you can do to turn reporting roles into strategic engines.
Are your metrics telling different stories? Becoming a data whisperer means learning to hear what others miss: the signals behind the noise, the insight behind the contradiction, and the full picture behind the numbers.
Most data training teaches tools, not thinking. This article explores the missing layer of data fluency: how we approach, interpret, and act on data, and introduces human-centered models to build confident, adaptive data thinkers.
What does it mean to be 'Data Literate?'
Data literacy can be defined in various ways, but it's not merely about data science or predictive analytics. It involves understanding how to transition from raw data to valuable insights within your specific role.
If you're involved in preparing the data, you need a certain set of skills and mindset for its transformation. If you are consuming the data, perhaps interpreting a report someone else has created, comprehension at a high level is required. For instance, if given a statistical report with 95% probability, there's always risk associated as it isn't 100%.
It's essential to remember that although technical skills are important in understanding data, decision-making also requires human and soft skills such as challenging biases and considering diverse perspectives.
I have created two assessments that are referenced in the book Data Literacy in Practice which I co-authored with Angelika Klidas to test knowledge of data literacy. You can take the assessments online here.
Real data culture isn’t built in training sessions, it’s built through trust, relevance, and everyday influence. Discover 10 practical principles to drive lasting change, even when you don’t have formal authority.
We’re still teaching math like it’s 1895: formulas, drills, and test scores, while the world runs on data. Discover why it's not just a math gap, but a thinking gap, and what today’s students really need to thrive in a data-driven future.
Most orgs don’t have a data problem—they have a decision problem. This executive memo reveals why dashboards and training won’t fix culture, and what leaders must do differently to turn data into real decisions.
Think your org is data-informed? Think again. Most companies are still making bad decisions—just with dashboards attached. Discover why traditional data literacy fails—and what it really takes to build a culture where data drives action.
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