How good leaders use data to get ahead in business

Core Insights - Data fluency is increasingly recognized as an essential leadership skill that enables individuals to translate data into actionable business strategies [3][4] - There is a growing demand for employees with data skills, with 57% of managers planning to hire more data-skilled personnel in the next five years [5] - Despite the increasing reliance on data, many employees feel anxious about working with it, leading to errors and decreased productivity [6] Group 1: Importance of Data Fluency - Data fluency allows individuals to frame the right questions, pull pertinent data, and implement changes that lead to positive business outcomes [2] - The ability to connect quantitative evidence with strategic leadership is crucial for effective management [3] - Translating evidence into action differentiates those who merely manage information from those who drive meaningful outcomes [4] Group 2: Current State of Data in the Workplace - A Gallup study indicates that 57% of managers expect to increase hiring of data-skilled employees due to rising data dependence [5] - The Canva survey reveals that while 90% of employees work with data weekly, 75% notice an increase in data reliance [5] - Two-thirds of employees express anxiety about data work, with 30% actively avoiding it, resulting in more errors and lower productivity [6] Group 3: Industry Applications of Data Fluency - Businesses across various industries are leveraging data to enhance operations and drive success [7] - In the insurance sector, data fluency is about connecting insights to protect livelihoods rather than complex analytics [7]