Conversations Lead to Good Things


The number one piece of advice I give to data professionals is to have more conversations.

Conversations lead to good things.

Things like job offers and stronger relationships. But more importantly, the opportunity to deepen your knowledge through learning from the wisdom of others.

I owe many of the best opportunities I’ve encountered in my career to proactively seeking them out wherever I can. My podcast is a weekly example of the power of conversation.

But if there’s one thing all these conversations have taught me, it’s that good conversation is a skill. And conversations go a lot smoother if you go in with a plan.

Without a plan, you can end up walking away with nothing more than a vague promise to keep in touch.

Something else I’ve learned along the way is that, for data professionals, getting a project approved is a sale. It might not feel like one, and money might not change hands, but the dynamics are exactly the same. And like any sale, that also goes a lot better if you go in with a plan.

Blair Enns’ Four Conversations framework outlines exactly such a plan.

In the latest Value Boost episode of Value Driven Data Science, Blair joins me to explore how data professionals can use the Four Conversations framework to sell their expertise more effectively, whether as independent consultants or as employees within organisations.

In just 14 minutes, you’ll discover:

  1. Why reputation is the most powerful sales tool a data professional has [04:33]
  2. How to stop behaving like a vendor when you’re trying to sell expertise [05:09]
  3. Why the value of your work resides in your stakeholder, not in you [09:53]
  4. The single question that unlocks what your stakeholder truly values [12:13]

Every conversation is an opportunity. This episode will help you make the most of them.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or click the link below:

Episode 114: The Four Conversations Every Data Scientist Needs to Master

Talk again soon,

Dr Genevieve Hayes

Data Science Impact Algorithm

Twice weekly, I share proven strategies to help data scientists get noticed, promoted, and valued. No theory — just practical steps to transform your technical expertise into business impact and the freedom to call your own shots.

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