Live with Purpose
Finding the balance between maintaining and changing.
It can be hard to identify the problems within your own business, and even more difficult to think of solutions. Even if you know the problems, how do you know if you are making decisions that will benefit your business in the long run?
That’s where the use of data comes in. Data is essential to make informed business decisions. If you don’t know what is going on in your business, how can you possibly make decisions to grow and improve?
As a data strategist, I use my experience working with data, technology, and operations to enable growth and success. Together, we evaluate and identify the challenges in your business and I offer creative and innovative solutions. I work to empower and train your existing staff and open their eyes to the potential of effective data management so that your business can grow exponentially.
How is growth achieved in business? Here are four strategies to consider: process improvement, human-centered design, data-driven cultures, and fact-based decisions.
Process Improvement
You can’t optimize a bad process. As technology improves and the way we work changes, it is inevitable that some processes will be found to no longer serve a higher purpose. Our first step is to evaluate the processes that you use to get tasks done. Then together we determine if it’s worthwhile to keep the process or to scrap it and start fresh.
Human-Centered Design
Everything in this world involves humans in some way. In today’s world, for the vast majority, humans play a key role in ensuring the success of a project, product, or company. Any solution provided must keep the people and players in mind.
Data-Driven Cultures
Technology has changed rapidly over the past decade. If you were to go back even just a few years, you would find limitations that no longer exist today. The key to being competitive is to leverage the innovations and enhance our offerings. Data is dubbed as, “The new gold!” The most successful teams and companies use data in ways we have never seen before! It is the center of conversations, decisions, and driving results.
Fact-Based Decisions
With data-driven cultures come fact-based decisions. We don’t need to rely on memories and gut feelings anymore. Now, we can have access to the cold, hard facts and explore trends that span for many years; with all possible outcomes at the tip of our fingers. This is the key to having an advantage over competitors and setting up for success.
FINDING BALANCE
Run the Business
Bottom line: we need to keep the lights on. There are core functionalities in any business that just need to be done. Not everything can be transformative and, quite regrettably, funds are limited. Running the business is always the highest priority, and change comes second. Everything is competing against us and we must do what is necessary to get the job done.
What is the right balance for me?
There is no clear-cut answer or formula that works for everyone, which is why flexibility is essential. We adapt to changing needs as necessary, understanding that it is a balance between keeping the lights on and making meaningful changes that can grow and improve the overall sustainability of your businesses in a rapidly changing environment.
Change the Business
If all our efforts are focused on running the business, how will we ever find the time and resources to change the business? If analysts are already struggling with the current workload, how can we also expect them to adapt to a changing work environment?
The short answer: find a way to make running the business easier and more efficient. This can be done by simplifying work processes or automating them. Imagine if a task that usually takes a week to complete, now only takes an hour.
There is a better way.
We live in a world of infinite possibilities with infinite outcomes. Our imagination sets the limits. If you find yourself struggling, or stuck, just think: there must be a better way! Someone somewhere may have already solved it!
I have worked on a number of projects that tackle each of these components and even a combination of them. Check out some of my solutions or book a consultation today!