In this week's newsletter, I want to talk about an anti-pattern I call solution mode.
So far, I've seen it in every company I've worked with.
Most data engineers, data analysts, BI engineers, and developers get stuck in this mindset for many reasons:
- They may naturally be more introverted.
- They're often expected to come up with solutions as quickly as possible.
- It's usually easier to talk to data than it is to talk to people.
- Finding an answer quickly can be satisfying and rewarding for the ego.
- Many have been hired and rewarded for delivering solutions, not for questioning the problem.
- Teams are measured by delivery speed, not by the quality of the problem they solved.
- And there are probably many other reasons.
Individually, these reasons may seem harmless.
Together, they create one of the most damaging patterns I see in analytics teams.
Without a clear definition of the problem and a solid understanding of the users, the context and their environment, the solution we build will never be the right one, or even the most appropriate one.
Even worse, it can lead people to make the wrong decisions.
The good news is that you can break out of solution mode quickly and effectively by asking 6 questions:
Don't forget: data analysts are hired to solve problems.
But it's impossible to solve a problem if you are not aware of it.
Birthday coupon!
Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm turning 38. (Yes I know, I'm so young!)
Instead of running a random promotion or a Black Friday-style sale for no reason, I'd rather use this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiasm and continued support.
The newsletter consistently reaches a 46–50% open rate, which tells me that many of you genuinely find it valuable.
Thank you for reading it every week.
To celebrate both this milestone and my birthday, I'm offering you 38% off my Design Principles course.
Over six hours of video lessons, practical exercises, and real-world examples will help you better understand how to design reliable data products.
Simply use the coupon 1988 below to claim your 38% discount.
Get yours, because I rarely run promotions, only once a year and this coupon will be available for 24h.
Have a great week everyone!
Aurélien
Looking for more analytics insights?
- Analytics Diagnostic: Identify your biggest analytics challenges and priorities (for teams)
- Learn Design Driven Dataviz: While tools evolve faster than ever, learn the design and human skills that make Analytics impactful (for everyone)
- Youtube channel: Short videos about analytics, dashboards, and data teams.
- The Analytics Operating Review: Weekly insights for data and analytics professionals.
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