Back to School, Data and Performance Edition
It's Back to School time, and whether or not you have a personal connection to the academic calendar, it is in the air. A sense that summer is over, fall is coming, and it's time to get down to work. And as Meg Ryan emails in the 1998 classic rom-com "You've Got Mail":
“It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”
Our longing for school supplies made us think - what is their analogue in our professional world? So without adieu, here are the five must-have "school supplies" that your organization needs to do its very best this academic year in the subject of Data and Performance.
Pencils with good erasers = An iterative approach to measurement. Pencil in the proxy measures and erase them when your data elsewhere improves.
Highlighters = Tools to underscore and point to your data takeaways. Remember to use them strategically though - if everything is highlighted, the takeaways are just as hidden.
Sharpies = Definition around ownership of data roles and tasks. Some things need to be written in ink.
Syllabus = A plan for the year. What you're looking to accomplish by the end and how you think you'll get there.
Backpack= A sturdy “container” for your data efforts via a well-resourced and supported data team. If the container is flimsy, you're going to have trouble working with the materials within it.
Ok… so you might not be able to get these things at Target. But trust us when we say that they will last a lot longer than the supplies that you can buy off the shelf AND have a lot more impact. With these supplies and the knowledge you and your team pick up along the way, we know you'll find your way to an “A.”