A mentor once told me: “If it requires explanation, it’s not ready yet.”

My experience working with data and quality management processes has led me to learn that a there is an ability crucial to develop as an analytics/strategy manager: to synthesize complex data into clean, executive-ready presentations. Time invested into a presentation for so vain as it may sound can mark a difference on how you introduce an idea or defend a process.

Here are some key insights:

Your real job isn’t reporting numbers — it’s shaping decisions.

It is easy to lost focus over gigantic spreadsheets and database… but you need to keep the end goal on top of your mind. Data that is captured, processed, and eventually analyze if the end result of this process is to not take any decision, then your efforts are not much of worth. Take into account that even the decision to cease analyze a specific process is a valuable decision as you won’t be investing more time and money in non value added activities.

The value of analytics is not in the model — it’s in the message.

I have got to known people who are very skilled at building complex model, introduce all the Statistics textbooks from college and eventually not providing a message that is useful, and on the other hand I’ve seen analyst only plotting descriptive statistical variables and highlighting an average and are able to move all the process to take action and create value. Remember: the end goal on top of mind, if you are not going to provide a key message

The ability to simplify complexity is what separates analysts from leaders.

Simplifying is a key ability in a corporate world where you are to find several chunks of data, information and noise, overseeing multiple processes. Having the ability to identify key topics, the thread that joints all together and the outcome expected. This ability requires to deep dive in the process, learn the stakeholders vision and alignment with the strategic objectives.

Avoid creating more questions than answers

Lastly, one thing I used to do over and over was to provide more info than the one requested… basically is like if someone asked me the hour, I would have told the weather, date and moon phase… providing more info than the requested will create unnecessary noise and eventually questioning your data and insights.

Keep it simply, keep it short and keep learning.

Efraín Peraza