Chief data officers need to be able to effectively demonstrate the real value of their organization before the skepticism starts. After all, it’s not enough to be able to deliver consistent returns, you must be able to market them to key stakeholders and senior leaders to ensure their trust and support.
Successful storytelling is the result the CDO is striving for. It leaves a lasting impression of your team’s value proposition in the minds of key stakeholders and senior leaders, which in turn makes it harder to challenge it rationally. To get there, there are seven important elements that have to be included in any successful story. Four of these elements are the vision, strategy, roadmap and functions which come from the responsibilities of a chief data officer.
The background for the story will be provided by the corporate strategic plan which will form the basis for the data organization’s value proposition. This will state the purpose of the organization and outline its objectives. The data org operating plan details the implementation of the data organizations’ goals, while the roadmap maps out the timeline of these goals. The most important part of any story is the business value and performance outcome generated by data and analytics.
Additionally, conflict, characters and points of view have to be considered when crafting a story. CDOs should be sure to engage with key stakeholders and executives to share their story. It is also important not to neglect middle and line management, as their feedback can create a stronger impact. Furthermore, it is important tobe able to provide quantitative evidence for what the business outcomes there are. Lastly, ensure enthusiasm and passion when telling tales as this will make it more persuasive.
For a CDO, storytelling is an important means to show the value of the data organization and is an essential skill for success. It is an opportunity for the individuals to shine brighter in the field of data and determine their unique potential.
To assist with this, attendees are invited to join top executives in San Francisco on 11-12 July to hear how leaders manage integrating and optimizing AI investments for success. The knowledge gained from this event will be invaluable to anyone looking to explain the advantages of their data organization.
