Early in my career, I remember a manager tell her team of HRIS data analysts to stop sending out the weekly and month reports they created.

The analysts were worried that their internal customers would be upset because the reports were needed. The manager reassured them that the reports that were critical to decision making would be requested. Someone would say, "Hey, I didn't receive ABC report. What's up?" Then the analyst could send the report.

Less than 10% of the reports the analysts created regularly were missed and requested. This freed up the team to refocus their energy and time on making those essential reports better.

They took time to analyze the data and tell the story about what had changed and why. The manager worked with her analysts to help them uplevel their skills, so their reporting became more than data.

We live in a data rich world. We have reports, articles, posts, and interactions with others that can provide insight if we take the time to think about the implications.

If you're super busy, think about how you can stop doing something and see if your customer notices. My guess is that a good portion of the work you do is "nice to have" and not a "need to have."

When you stop doing the "nice to have" stuff, you can focus your attention and time on the necessary work that really makes a difference. That's when you become a consultant who adds value instead of a labor expense.

#data #storytelling #hr #consulting #rewards #compensation