How do you solicit and incorporate feedback from cross-functional peers on your data analysis and reports?

2 Define your purpose

The second step to soliciting and incorporating feedback from your cross-functional peers is to define your purpose. What are you trying to achieve with your data analysis and reports, and how do they relate to the overall project or business objectives? What are the key messages, insights, or recommendations that you want to convey, and how do they support your audience's goals? By clarifying your purpose, you can focus your data analysis and reports on the most relevant and impactful information, and avoid unnecessary or confusing details.

3 Use clear and consistent language

The third step to soliciting and incorporating feedback from your cross-functional peers is to use clear and consistent language. Data analysis and reporting can involve a lot of jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that may not be familiar or meaningful to everyone. To avoid confusion and misunderstanding, use plain and simple language whenever possible, and explain any terms or concepts that may be ambiguous or unfamiliar. Use consistent terminology and definitions throughout your data analysis and reports, and avoid switching between different units, scales, or formats.

4 Visualize and narrate your data

The fourth step to soliciting and incorporating feedback from your cross-functional peers is to visualize and narrate your data. Data visualization can help you present your data in a more engaging, accessible, and intuitive way, and highlight the key patterns, trends, or outliers. However, data visualization alone is not enough. You also need to narrate your data, which means telling a story that connects your data to your purpose and your audience. Narrating your data can help you explain the meaning, significance, and implications of your data, and guide your audience through your logic and reasoning.

5 Ask for feedback early and often

The fifth step to soliciting and incorporating feedback from your cross-functional peers is to ask for feedback early and often. Feedback is a valuable source of input, validation, and improvement for your data analysis and reports, but it can also be challenging to receive and act on. To make the most of feedback, you need to ask for it at different stages of your data analysis and reporting process, and from different sources and perspectives. For example, you can ask for feedback on your data sources, methods, assumptions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations, and from your peers, stakeholders, experts, or users. Asking for feedback early and often can help you identify and address any gaps, errors, or biases in your data analysis and reports, and ensure that they meet the expectations and needs of your audience.

6 Incorporate feedback with gratitude and transparency

The sixth and final step to soliciting and incorporating feedback from your cross-functional peers is to incorporate feedback with gratitude and transparency. Feedback is a gift, not a criticism, so you should always thank your peers for their time, effort, and insights. However, thanking them is not enough. You also need to show them how you have incorporated their feedback into your data analysis and reports, or explain why you have not. Incorporating feedback with gratitude and transparency can help you build trust, rapport, and credibility with your peers, and demonstrate your commitment to quality and collaboration.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?