Learn what my new book "Data Work" is about

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I’m happy to share that my long time book project, Data Work: A Jargon-Free Guide to Managing Successful Data Teams, is now for sale.

Read more about the book below.

What's my book about?

Simple answer – it’s a guide that helps managers without data experience manage a data team. It assumes you're a complete "data novice" who was chosen for their leadership skills. It tells you what processes to put in place to ensure good, accurate, and consistent results with your team’s work.

Why should new data managers read this book?

It's not uncommon for companies to hire leaders or managers without data work experience to manage a data team. They were hired because they showed great interpersonal skills, which many data workers lack, or they had a demonstrated record for leading teams to project completion, which many data workers fail to do themselves.

The challenge for these managers is they never had to be an analyst. Many don't realize just how much effort it takes is to deliver meaningful work in data. Nor do they realize their role as a manager in that process. Everything in data – from data collection, data accuracy, analysis results, automation of reporting – is the result of good operations. It is seldom the result of individual performance alone.

As one of my interviewees said, “People have this vision that 80% of the [analyst’s] time is spent on analysis and 20% of the time is on prep. I’ve watched managers who haven’t come up through the analyst ranks be very befuddled when they learn how their team really needs to break up their time.”

My book lays out a roadmap for these experienced leaders who find themselves in a new profession. It gives a clue on how to bring stability to your team, deliver better work, and increase stakeholder satisfaction.

Can I buy this book even if I'm an experienced data worker?

Yes! Even more experienced professionals may find useful solutions to common problems in this book. Problems such as scope creep, data quality, and employee recruitment and retention.

What other topics does this book cover?

I'll be providing more articles about this question in the near future, but you can see a list of the chapters below as a preview:

1. What Is Success for a Data Team Manager?
2. Why Data Quality Issues Happen and What You Can Do About It
3. Habits (Processes) That Produce Success
4. How and Why to Gather Requirements
5. How to Work With (Almost) Any Stakeholder to Gather Requirements
6. How to Quality Check
7. What Tools Are Used in Data Work?
8. How to Hire and Onboard Data Workers
9. Managing, Motivating, and Retaining Data Workers
10. Why Salary Is More Important Than You Think (And Why It Indirectly Affects Quality)
11. Types of Job Roles in Data Work
12. Best Personality Types for Data Work

Where can I buy the book?

You can purchase a copy here. It will also be made available on Amazon in the coming weeks.