The Liminality of Data: A Glimpse Between the Thresholds

Years ago I had the pleasure of participating in a ‘Deep Democracy’ training organized by corporate anthropologist Jitske Kramer . Today she writes and speaks about leadership in times of liminality, which basically means ‘in between two periods’. I’ve been pondering about this term ‘liminality’ and what it means for my profession in data and AI, especially with all the change happening now in this field. ??

In the small towns of eastern Europe, there exists an old custom. When a child comes of age, they embark on a rite of passage — standing on the doorstep of their home, neither inside nor outside. It is a state of in-between, where the child is neither a child nor an adult, existing in a realm known as 'liminality.'

Similarly, in the world of data and analytics, we find ourselves in an era that reflects this very concept of liminality. It's a state where the lines between raw data and actionable insights blur, where we're neither in the old era of gut instincts nor fully in the promised land of data-driven decision-making.

The Old and the New

To truly appreciate this liminal space, we must first look back. There was a time when decisions were made on intuition, the 'gut feeling' of seasoned executives. These decisions were based on experience, stories, and sometimes, sheer luck. Enter the age of Big Data and AI. Suddenly, we were inundated with information. We were promised a world where data would drive every decision, where analytics would ensure every choice was the right one.

But here's the catch: Data doesn't always give clear answers. It offers possibilities, probabilities, and predictions. The line between the past and the future of decision-making isn't stark. It's a gradient, and we're in its liminal space.

Navigating the Threshold

So, what does this mean for businesses and decision-makers? It means that while data can provide invaluable insights, it shouldn't be the sole driver of decisions. It should be a tool, not a dictator. Consider it akin to the adolescent standing on the doorstep, poised between two worlds. They carry the wisdom and lessons from their childhood into the uncertainties and possibilities of adulthood.

In the same vein, seasoned executives must wield the power of their experience in tandem with the insights from data analytics. Ignoring either would be a folly. The liminality of data means recognizing the transition we're in and embracing the best of both worlds.

The Power of Storytelling

Even in this era of analytics, there's something to be said about the power of a good story. Numbers can tell you what is happening, but stories can often tell you why. They tap into the human psyche, giving context and meaning to the raw data. This is where the brilliance of the liminal space shines. By using data to inform our narratives and using narratives to make sense of our data, we can reach a more profound understanding and make better decisions.

The world of data and analytics is exciting, filled with potential and promise. But as we stand on this threshold, we must remember the lessons of the past, the potential of the future, and the power of the present liminal moment. To be effective in this age, one must be comfortable with ambiguity, be open to possibilities, and, most importantly, recognize that while we might be in-between, this liminal space holds the key to the next era of decision-making.