“Data informed cultures get formed when leadership sets the vision, resources are being allocated to support it, and the employees feel empowered to act on data.”

In our recent ‘Data Leaders’ webinar, we had the great pleasure of welcoming the globally acclaimed thought leader on data disruption, big data, and innovation, George Firican.

When asked what it takes to build a culture of data-informed decision-making, George shared this checklist for success:

1. Leadership Sponsorship

Leadership must consistently champion data-driven decisions and demonstrate their commitment through actions. ‍

2. Create a Shared Data Language

Breaking down language silos in marketing is critical. Create a shared and defined data language, similar to how you align on an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) or calculate ROI.

3. Offer User Friendly Tools    

Equip teams with intuitive tools, like Accutics, to make it easier to access, interpret, and act on data. Providing such tools signals the importance of adopting data-driven practices.

4. Incentivize Adoption  

Reward teams and individuals who effectively use data to achieve their goals. This can be done through recognition programs, bonuses, or simple gestures like a note in the company newsletter, which can create valuable career growth opportunities.  ‍

5. Invest in Education and storytelling

Offer regular, hands-on training to connect data insights with business outcomes. Assign data champions to support the culture across departments, ensuring alignment with management's vision and day-to-day operations.

6. Celebrate your wins  

While it sounds simple, celebrating adoption milestones and data-related achievements is crucial for business performance. This can also serve as a great segue to inform the public about your data-driven impact. ‍

7. Show the World

Share the impact of data-informed decisions to promote a strong internal culture and inspire external stakeholders. This creates a narrative of, “This is what we value, and we encourage it.”.

You can find the ‘Data Leaders’ webinar with George Firican here, or learn more about managing a shared data language here.

Make sure to follow George and his very successful podcast LightsOnData on Linkedin or Youtube.  

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