Data engineering is a complex and creative field that involves designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines and systems. But sometimes, your team may have different opinions on how to present the data to stakeholders, clients, or users. How can you resolve these conflicts and find a common ground? Here are some tips to help you.
Before you start arguing over the best way to present data, you need to understand what the goals of the data presentation are. Who is the audience? What are they looking for? What are the key messages or insights you want to convey? How will the data presentation be used or evaluated? By clarifying these questions, you can align your team on the purpose and scope of the data presentation, and avoid unnecessary disputes over irrelevant details.
Understand and affect the objective you want to achieve above all else: it is to present the data so that it is useful to the user; This is the summary of all the work. It may be that some ideas of yours are taken or no ideas are taken; but this is because data team seek to better maximize the result for client. In the end don't get discouraged; because you always win in these types of experiences that can be conflictive: > You gain more experience in the proposals you give and how a case is resolved based in it > Improve your self-control in a situation. > Improve your ability to negotiate and understand others.
To bring everyone together in a conflict over presenting data, start by understanding the goals. This involves discussing and clarifying what each team member hopes to achieve with the data presentation, such as informing decision-making, persuading stakeholders, or highlighting key trends. Understanding these objectives can help align everyone towards a common purpose and facilitate compromise in the presentation approach.
Once you have a clear goal, you can explore the different options for presenting the data. There are many tools and techniques available for data engineering, such as dashboards, reports, charts, graphs, tables, maps, and more. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type, size, and complexity of the data, as well as the intended audience and use case. You can brainstorm with your team and list the pros and cons of each option, and compare them based on criteria such as accuracy, clarity, simplicity, relevance, and impact.
*Explore the Options* Encourage team members to brainstorm and present different ways to present the data, such as charts, graphs, tables, or visualizations. Allow for open discussion and exploration of the pros and cons of each approach to find a solution that satisfies everyone's needs.
Another way to resolve conflicts over data presentation is to seek feedback from external sources, such as stakeholders, clients, users, or experts. You can ask them to review your data presentation options and provide their opinions, preferences, or suggestions. This can help you validate your assumptions, identify gaps or errors, and improve your data presentation quality. You can also use feedback to support your arguments or compromise with your team members, as feedback can provide objective and constructive evidence for your decisions.
Seeking feedback involves actively listening to each team member's perspective on how data should be presented. This approach fosters open communication and allows everyone to contribute their ideas, leading to a collaborative solution that incorporates diverse viewpoints.
Communication is key to any successful team project, especially in data engineering. You need to communicate effectively with your team members throughout the data presentation process, from planning to execution to evaluation. You need to listen to their perspectives, respect their opinions, and acknowledge their contributions. You also need to express your ideas, concerns, and expectations clearly, concisely, and politely. You need to avoid personal attacks, emotional reactions, or defensive responses, and focus on the facts, logic, and goals of the data presentation.
To communicate effectively, you need to avoid distractions and stay focused. Inconsistent body language. Nonverbal communication should reinforce what is being said, not contradict it. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will likely feel that you're being dishonest
Effective communication is key to resolving conflicts within a team over the best way to present data. This involves actively listening to all viewpoints, expressing ideas clearly, and fostering an open environment where everyone feels heard and valued. By encouraging constructive dialogue and seeking common ground, the team can work together to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Finally, you need to learn from the experience of resolving conflicts over data presentation. You need to reflect on what worked well and what did not, and how you can improve your data presentation skills and teamwork in the future. You need to appreciate the diversity and creativity of your team, and recognize the value of different perspectives and approaches. You also need to celebrate your achievements and successes, and thank your team members for their efforts and cooperation.
Learn from the experience: Take the opportunity to gather feedback from each team member about their preferred data presentation styles and reasons behind their choices. Use this information to find common ground and develop a presentation approach that incorporates everyone's input.