Dr. Markus Schmidberger’s Post

Until it doesn’t!!! The ‘system’ is generally governed by those at the top of organisations; be those Governemenal, corporate or mixed. Yes, there are a lot of so called ‘leaders’ with highly dubious integrity, ethics, morally and general character! Without going into specifics, I have had my fair share, in my crazy unconventional career, of terrible loser leaders, who naiively believe theirs is a tenet of tyrannical control, fear and ruthlessness! Like poorly educated narcissistic psychopaths and sociopaths that believe in zero-sum games, economics and outcomes! I simply refuse to accept that philosophy or narative! I think there is infinite capacity to do good and create positivity! Even one person can change a situation, a company, a country, a system! So let’s embrace positivity and let’s embrace inclusivity to leverage - let’s change the systems! Thanks to you Ingi Finnsson 💹 for raising this ultra-critical aspect for discussion! 🙌 In an era of epidemic levels of mental health and wellbeing turmoil, it is essential we find ways to identify, encourage and promote positivity. #EQ_trumps_IQ #Humanity_Is_Awesome #Change_for_Good #Do_No_Harm

In data and analytics leadership, I have constantly found that nobody gives you the answer and often the question. Just a problem to solve.  To get to the heart of the issue and come up with a solution, I use the 1-3-1 method. As Steve Jobs said, “it is easy to hire other people and tell them what to do, it is harder to hire people and have them tell you what to do.” That’s because most people are not focused on problem solving but rather task management. They don’t solve problems, they manage tasks. So, they can’t tell you what to do! But if you are running your team like I do, which is the solution center and problem-solving center for the company, you need to be able to know and understand the problem, find and understand the solution and then have a plan to get it done. That’s where the 1-3-1 method comes in. Here it is: Define 1 specific challenge or issue you need a solution to. Develop 3 viable options to solving the issue. How did you consider them, how did you research them and how did they stack up against each other as a solution to the challenge? Have 1 specific recommendation as the go forward plan and why. It’s simple, easy and quick to put in place. The good thing is, you don’t need to drown people in data, just get them the solution and process in hand. #data #business #leadership

It's About People, Not Dashboards..... In today's data-driven world, dashboards are everywhere. They flash metrics, KPIs, and charts, promising a clear view of success. But are we getting lost in the information? Don't get me wrong, data is crucial. But it's the people behind the numbers that truly drive results. Here's why focusing on people is key: 1) Innovation comes from human creativity. Dashboards can't predict the next big thing. It takes passionate people with diverse backgrounds to spark innovation. 2) Motivation fuels performance. Numbers can't inspire or motivate. We need strong leadership, clear communication, and a culture of recognition to keep teams engaged. 3) Building relationships fosters collaboration. Dashboards can't build trust or understanding. It takes open communication, empathy, and a focus on shared goals to create a truly collaborative environment. So, how do we shift the focus? 1️⃣ Use data to empower, not control. Let data guide decisions, not dictate them. Trust your team's expertise and judgment. 2️⃣ Invest in your people. Provide opportunities for growth, development, and feedback. 3️⃣ Celebrate wins (big and small). Recognition goes a long way in boosting morale and driving continued success. Let's not forget the human element in our pursuit of data-driven success. After all, it's the people who make the numbers sing. #PeopleFirst #Leadership #Culture #Data #Innovation #Teamwork #EmployeeEngagement #HumanResources #BusinessSuccess #WorkplaceCulture #Collaboration #GrowthMindset #Inspiration #Success #Motivation #Trust #Communication #EmployeeRecognition #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessStrategy What are your thoughts? Share your experiences in the comments!

In many companies, the data team often finds itself bombarded with data requests, all marked as “urgent.” But here’s the reality: if everything is urgent, nothing is urgent. 🚨 We need to prioritize and streamline requests to ensure we’re focusing on what truly drives impact. Overloading the team leads to burnout, rushed insights, and ultimately, poor decision-making. Let’s remember that a sustainable approach to data is key to long-term success. Protecting our team’s bandwidth means better insights, stronger outcomes, and happier employees. 🌟 #DataDriven #PrioritizationMatters #DataTeam #BurnoutPrevention #SustainableWork #EffectiveDecisionMaking #DataStrategy #Leadership #DataAnalytics

As I wrap up the current series of insights from CEOs about their data challenges, a recurring pain point has come into clear focus: The struggle to get the right answers, fast enough, for teams to do their jobs effectively. For example: ⚠️ A CEO of a wholesale company manufacturing glass bottles for cosmetics shared that his account sales team struggles to field basic customer questions like “When will my order ship?” – and it all ends up on his desk. ⚠️ Another CEO, running a direct-to-consumer and B2B beverage company, expressed frustration that his team lacks a simple ‘deserted island’ report – something that, in 5 minutes, would give them the signals on who they need to call to solve an issue. 🎯 What both these leaders are asking for is clarity and direction from their data. What if your team had access to reports that not only answered key questions but also guided them on the next best action to take? 📋 A smart checklist at the start of their day that would help them prioritize high-impact tasks—maximizing value, reducing friction, or heading off disasters before they hit? This is what I will explore next: Next Best Action reporting tools – a powerful way to help your team take the actions with highest bang for buck. Stay tuned as I dive into how you can empower your workforce with data that tells them exactly what to do next! #DataStrategy #NextBestAction #DataDrivenDecisions #Leadership #DataConsulting

Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion. And you need to run your business with data, not opinions. This brings me to the “A” in my MOTIVATE framework, which stands for analytics and data. If you don’t have two-click access to the data you need, you and your team will be operating at a disadvantage. Be transparent—share your dashboard with your team, and refer to it during group meetings and one-on-ones so they can follow your lead. Most importantly, don’t get stuck in paralysis by analysis. Once you’ve drawn conclusions from the data, take action. Share the data to identify what’s working, what isn’t, and where there are opportunities for improvement. Your team will be more motivated by data-driven insights than by opinions. Trust me. In today’s video, I discuss what you, as a leader, should be doing to optimize your team’s productivity through data. Watch it now 👇 #leadership #salesleadership #analytics #datadrivendecisionmaking

🚀 Reflections on 5 Months of Leadership: Leveraging Data to Drive Impact 📊 Five months ago, I stepped into a leadership role within a new team, in a relatively new department. A new role, a new mission, and countless opportunities. Where do you even begin? Step 1: Understand the Mission. The first challenge is to truly grasp the mission, objectives, and—most importantly—the impact of your work on the clients you serve. Simple in theory, complex in execution. Step 2: Dive into the Data. Every department has metrics, but are they being analyzed effectively? I focused on understanding where the data originates, assessing its validity, and piecing together the bigger picture. Step 3: Balance Observation with Action. "Don’t rush to make changes," someone wisely advised. Instead, understand the dynamics first. But let’s be honest—there are times when action is necessary. The key is deciding what will have the most meaningful and immediate impact. Step 4: Build Systems for the Future. Once I understood the data we had, I identified gaps and created systems to collect the data we needed. This laid the foundation for informed decision-making. Step 5: Let the Data Tell the Story. Data isn’t just numbers—it’s a narrative. I’ve used it to: -Highlight the team’s vital role in the organization. -Illustrate the tangible impact of their efforts. -Guide process improvements, priorities, and strategic decisions. By showing the team how their work connects to measurable outcomes, I’ve empowered them to see the value of what they do. Numbers aren’t just metrics—they’re motivators. What I’ve Learned: Data, when used intentionally, can guide not only decisions but also people. It’s not an easy process, but it works. 👉 Your Turn: How do you leverage data to lead and inspire your team? Let’s share insights! 💡 #Leadership #DataDrivenDecisions #TeamImpact #ProfessionalGrowth #localgovernment

One of the questions posed in our Building Effective Data Teams workshop last week was about balance ⚖️ 👇 How do you strike a balance between being a data leader that isn’t too far into the weeds, but also isn’t too far removed from the day-to-day technical work itself? This is a question I get quite a bit informally. The reality is autonomy is necessary for your team in order to do their best work. However, the directives, pacing of that work, and accountability benchmark rests with you. It’s a difficult transition, especially when leaving behind the hands on keyboard realm. But it’s your job to flex your experience, while it’s your team’s job to deliver technically. And big shoutout to one of the best data leaders in the game, Joshua Johnston, for all his helpful insight in our conversation last week. If you didn’t get a chance to join us, I strongly encourage you to take a listen to the recording (link in comments). #dataanalytics #datateams #headofdata #leadership

As a data professional, I often find myself torn between diving deep into technical details vs. focusing on long-term business strategy. On one hand, I love getting hands-on with what our frontline teams are doing. It helps me understand their daily challenges, allows me to occasionally self-serve without redirecting my team from high-priority initiatives, and provides the intellectual thrill of creating something new through code, spreadsheets, or data visualization. On the other hand, my role requires me to look ahead—analyzing this quarter's performance and strategizing for the next. Developing a robust data strategy demands just as much deep work as building a new model. To my fellow executives and team leads: How do you balance these demands? Do you focus solely on management and strategy? If so, how do you maintain your technical expertise to have productive conversations with your team and effectively translate complex work to leadership? #DataProfessionals #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #Management #DataStrategy #DeepWork #ExecutiveInsights #TeamLeadership #TechManagement #DataScience #ProfessionalDevelopment #StrategicPlanning #TechLeadership

Data-driven decision making is important because it helps you make decisions based on facts instead of biases. If you’re in a leadership position, making objective decisions is the best way to remain fair and balanced. The most informed decisions stem from data that measure your business goals and populates in real time. You can aggregate the data you need to see patterns and make predictions with reporting software. Some decisions you can make with support from data include: How to drive profits and sales How to establish good management behavior How to optimize operations How to improve team performance While not every decision will have data to back it up, many of the most important decisions will.