When data novices find themselves stumped, they often waste no time in calling a data expert.
Soon enough, the problem is solved. But what did they learn?
It’s like the adage about giving someone a fish vs. teaching them to fish for themselves.
That’s why Scott Beliveau, Principal Innovation Architect at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, recommends that data experts give novices an opportunity to work through problems on their own.
One way to do that is to hold off on responding to calls for help, at least for a while. Left to their own devices, those novices might find they can sort things out after all.
“Sometimes you need to be a little passive-aggressive to get them to learn how to fish,” Beliveau said.
That’s not to say you should let them flounder. You need to understand where a person is in their data journey. Do they have the right tools for what they’re trying to do? Do they have adequate training?
If all the pieces are there, then you might want to give them some time — and maybe some encouragement — to work things out for themselves, Beliveau said.
A 2022 workforce survey found that the primary way employees learn about data is on the job, rather than through formal training.
“Of those who took it into their own hands to become data literate, 74% felt more confident in their ability to talk about data-related matters,” the report states.
This article appears in our guide “How to Change Things Up (and Make It Stick).” To read more about ways to innovate successfully, download it here: