In my last post, I talked about Data Citizenship and why you and I should be making this a goal for 2020. You may have gotten to the end of my post and thought that you could cross this off your list. Rightly, you may have recognised that your organisation is full of excellent Data Citizens. But, are they all speaking equally? Are some of your citizens out in the spotlight and others are in the dark? Do you or any of your citizens act as the office lone wolf when it comes to the way data is handled? If you said maybe or yes to any of those points, it is more likely that you are running a Data Dictatorship than a successful Data Community.
Like all other things in the workplace, there is no I in “team”. I can easily think of numerous projects of a professional and a social nature that collapsed because of one person who wouldn’t let go of the microphone. Back in 2006, I started a project called PHLAB which was a WordPress plugin that allowed templates to be built in Flash. I had a few other people helping me who in reflection had a much stronger vision and structure for the project. In the end, I decided my structure was right and the only way to proceed. The project failed in the end. Years later, I heard about the term “Benevolent dictator for life” and later realised that in acting this way, I destroyed the project through not taking a communal approach.
As I have gotten older and a little bit wiser in my present field, I have realised that dictators can be present in the data industry. For clarity, I’m not talking about those who are passionate- we need more of those people. These are the people who within their specific business or subject matter area who believe that their approach and understanding of the data that matters to them is the only way forward. These type of people are dangerous because the needs and requirements of those out outside of their subject matter area can be ignored. From experience, these people are even more dangerous when they have been given a poor data experience in the past as their passion and enthusiasm for better data will make them even more oblivious to the rest of the Data Community.
To establish a well-working Data Community, we first have to recognise that although Data Dictators exist, they are not wrong. As I mentioned in my previous post, everyone wants good quality data. And just like I mentioned in my previous paragraph, it is generally the data environment that they have been exposed to which creates these dictators. In the last couple of years, I have found that educating people on the importance of the Data Community has helped to turn potentially destructive Data Dictators into the most engaged and productive members of the Data Community. For me in this situation, I end up with the best of both worlds. I get some of the strongest ideas for the Data Community to build up a complete strategy and I end up with supporters and endorsers for the community as well.
Removing the presence or feeling of Data Dictators will then help to grow the confidence of those around them that are not currently bringing anything to the community. We know that all workplaces are filled with Extroverts and Introverts, all with equally good ideas. I have found that providing them with the same education as the dictators, but also educating them on the power of doing nothing is the winning ticket. The danger with Introverts is that if they don’t feel that they can contribute to the community, they will also internalise their hatred for the data they have to work with. Potentially in this situation, you could also lose your best people.
When it comes to bringing your Dictators and your Introverts together, I educate them with one simple message- we are all Data Citizens and we are all members of the Data Community. I know I’m repeating myself when it comes to this point, but I feel it is a point that needs to be made continuously so that it sticks in your head. It is a simple message that communicates to all that you got to be mindful of those around you and that if you don’t speak out about what you need, you will never get it. This is what I love about data, it is the sense of a community coming together to build something great. For that community to work, everyone needs to have a voice.