It’s time to close the gap between collecting data and creating results.
Feeling like you’re missing the mark when it comes to finding value in your data? More than ever, leaders today need to take advantage of every resource at their disposal, but many don’t realize that their data is likely their biggest untapped asset. Hidden in those numbers are insights about your teams, your customers, and your communities waiting to be discovered.
This isn’t really news though, right? We’ve been hearing about the power and potential of data for years, but most organizations find themselves struggling at some point. Some seem to get stuck even before they get started. It can be other overwhelming to add a new initiative when your team’s plate is already full and you don’t have a clear path forward, causing resistance from staff. Some dive in head first, collecting more data and building dashboards, expecting it to transform their teams only to realize that there’s a lot more to it than just the technology side. And others may initially have some success putting processes in place and engaging their teams, but aren’t sure how to take their data efforts to the next level. Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Ready for some good news?
Just because you don’t have a data expert on your staff,
doesn’t mean you can’t have one on your team.
As someone who has built performance measurement programs, dashboards, and other data-driven efforts from the ground up both from within local government and also with countless teams across the country, I help teams “see around corners” and avoid many of the common mistakes organizations face when beginning their data-driven efforts. With a background in parks & recreation, my work with data has been described as approachable, motivating, and even fun. I’ve managed to convert some of the most die-hard “people persons” out there to organizational data champions. Most importantly though, my emphasis is not on numbers, but instead on your goals and how data can be used as a tool to help you achieve them faster.
Know that you want to get better, but not sure what you need?
Because all of our data work is centered around helping teams achieve their goals, each project is unique. I love when I get a call that starts with “I have an idea…” But if you’re interested in improving your data efforts, and aren’t quite sure where to start, check out the descriptions below to see which ones resonate most with you and we can build from there.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“I’m curious what insights our current data holds and what it looks like to be more data-driven than the reports our software gives us.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
DATA DIVE
Perfect as a first step in helping your team understand the power of data by experiencing a taste of it yourself, Data Dives are a great option for exploring all of the insights currently hiding in your software programs. They’re also really helpful when we pair them up with other services, such as adding them to a workshop so that we can move away from talking theoretically about your customers or operations to discussing the actual facts. Organizations who are undergoing a master planning or strategic planning process also regularly request our Data Dives to supplement their underlying research and provide the data for trends reports.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“We know that we should be using our data to guide us in solving problems and taking our team to the next level, but we're not sure where to start.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
ROADMAPPING SESSION
Taking the first step to decide that you want to make better use of your data is an important one. But figuring out what exactly that next step should be can be really overwhelming. Should you invest in new technology, identify what to measure, or just try to get your staff on board first?
After taking our Data Readiness Assessment, gain a clearer picture of where your organization currently lies and receive a custom roadmap to show you exactly what steps to take to move your organization forward. Learn how to work on your data, your processes, and your culture in tandem in a way that sets you up for sustainable, long-term success at a pace that makes sense for your team and your budget.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“The reporting we do each year seems like a waste. We spend too much energy measuring things that don’t matter which means we aren't getting much insight on the things that do.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
PERFORMANCE MEASURES & KPI DEVELOPMENT
There are a million things that you could measure in a million different ways. But despite everything you’ve ever heard, the key to success isn’t being data-driven - it’s being strategy-driven and using data as a tool to inform and guide your efforts.
Cut through the noise and hone in on those metrics that align with your goals and give you insight on the impact of your work in moving the needle on the things that matter most. Learn how to implement an on-going Performance Measurement Program to track, monitor, and evaluate your custom data points that integrates into your current processes and won’t just add another initiative to your growing workload. Coach your leaders on how to engage staff and use data to move beyond accountability to empowerment.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“I know we have quality data. I don’t understand why it’s such a struggle to get access to it in a quick, consistent, and easy-to-digest way.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
LIVE REPORTS & CUSTOM DASHBOARDS
Imagine if you actually had the data that you needed when you needed. When you’re ready to move beyond the basic reports your software provides and the hours of manual work spent crunching numbers in Excel to get the data you need, we’ll help you pull your data into live reports and dashboards that give you a quick glimpse at your current performance whenever you need it so that you stop wasting your time with data collection and reporting and start focusing on insights to drive your organization forward.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“I feel like we have some of the pieces in place and now that I’ve seen the potential data brings, I need some help to keep the momentum going and get us to the next level.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
DATA COACHING & SUPPORT
I know, I know….hiring a data coach? But this is actually one of my favorite ways to work and most popular options.
Instead of taking a project-based approach where we do a lot of work in a short amount of time and you are left to handle implementation on your own, monthly coaching encourages you to take small, but meaningful steps on a consistent basis so that you are supported through the entire process. It’s like having an data advisor/geek/cheerleader (I’ve also been called a data therapist several times!) in your corner to help keep you on track, troubleshoot issues (with technology and people), give you feedback on best practices as it relates to your data strategy, and stay motivated. And this option allows us to be flexible to your needs, whether it’s building out a dashboard, strategizing how to engage your staff, or reviewing a report to ensure you’re telling the most effective story of your services.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
“Our staff don’t see the value in using data to help them make smarter decisions about their programs, facilities, and operations.”
YOUR SOLUTION:
TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
While terms like “performance measurement” and “data analysis” may typically be associated with numbers, they make the biggest impact when they motivate staff to continually improve, not just hold them accountable to reacting to a set of targets. Schedule a workshop for your team that makes the connection between their work and their data and helps them view data as an asset rather than a burden. Full of examples and activities that make data approachable, understandable, and fun, your team will learn how to use data to challenge assumptions and think critically about your processes and services. Get your team on board with your upcoming data efforts, teach your leaders how to create the best environment for your data efforts to succeed, or dig into a more specific topic - such as how to improve your organization’s equity efforts through data or how to better tell your story.
"This sounds great, but our team is already so busy."
Yes, 100%! I know that it seems like starting something new right now on top of everything else can seem overwhelming (or even impossible). But let's think about this for a minute. If your team is so busy working that you never stop to evaluate what you’re doing, how can you be sure that all of that work that’s occupying your time is getting you anywhere?
It's time to jump off the hamster wheel.
Think of it as taking a productive pause. Using my unique approach to building data-driven efforts, I zero in on the key steps that your organization can take to increase your ability to use your data. I dive in, ask the right questions, open eyes, create a strategy to keep it going, and let you get back to work more informed and engaged. Because I’ve lived it myself, I have experience not only building data-driven efforts, but implementing and maintaining their momentum, and emphasize a practical approach that’s more likely to succeed in the long-term.
Prepare to be surprised how quickly we can make an impact.
You can use data to answer some of your biggest questions in less time than you think.
IN A FEW DAYS
Complete our Data Readiness Assessment and create a road map to set a path towards becoming more data-driven. Or teach your staff how present data so that people actually listen.
IN 1-2 WEEKS
Complete a Data Dive into one of your core services. Or identify a set of metrics that help you measure what matters to your organization and keeps everyone’s eyes on your team’s priorities.
IN A FEW MONTHS
Gain insights into your customers’ behaviors, preferences, and needs so that you can better serve them and increase participation and revenue.
IN LESS THAN A YEAR
Implement dashboards that give you clear insight into what’s going on at your organization today so that you can informed decisions about what to do tomorrow.