Great Communication Skills will Amplify Your Success with Brent Dykes
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Brent Dykes
Brent Dykes is the author of Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative and Visuals. He is also the founder of Analytics Hero, a data storytelling consultancy. And the Senior Director of Data Strategy at Domo as well as a regular Forbes contributor. As you’ll hear, we talk about the importance of Data Analytics to companies. But also the opportunity to build a career in Data Analytics.
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Resources
Effective Data Storytelling – Check Brent’s book!
AnalyticsHero.com – Check out Brent’s website!
2 Top Career Tips
1) Consulting is a great opportunity to work for more than one company at the same time. Different industries and cultures as well as maturity levels. Interacting within multiple companies provides a richer, fuller perspective on the use of technology.
2) Remember that communication is critical. Soft skills are just as important as technical skills. It will help you stand out if you can communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. Working on improving your communication skills early in your career will amplify your success later. People will better understand the value of your contribution.
Show Notes
Worst Career Moment
Brent recalls how he struggled in a role that he wasn’t ready for. He found that he was out of his depth at times and didn’t know how to handle the internal politics. You can learn from a textbook but experience is how you understand how to perform a role well. The company brought in a manager who Brent was able to observe and learn from.
It’s not just about how smart you are, you also need street-smarts and experience to be able to successfully interact with other people. Brent believes that he was a much better manager later in his career.
Career Highlight
Brent talks about working in consulting and how he led a team to win business from a client in direct competition with another consultancy. He feels that he made a big contribution to impressing the client and winning the business.
The Future
A lot of people might be nervous about AI but Brent is excited about how it will augment what we do. Brent is excited to see how we use this technology to amplify what we deliver. However, we’re still figuring it out.
The Reveal
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?
Brent always had an interest in data and facts. Being able to work with data and using that to discover things attracted him to analytics and data.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never surprise your leaders.
What is the worst career advice you’ve ever received?
Brent couldn’t recall an example of bad career advice.
If you had to begin your career again in today’s world, what would you do?
There are so many options. Analytics with AI would be very interesting.
What career objectives are you currently focusing on?
To grow his business about data storytelling.
What’s the number one non-technical skill that has helped you in your career so far?
Communication skills – what you’re doing, what you’ve found and so forth.
What do you do to keep your own career energized?
Bringing new content, new ideas and new thoughts to people in blog posts, on LinkedIn and on Forbes.
What do you do in your spare time away from technology?
Brent tries to stay fit. He enjoys hikes, travelling and comic books.
Contact The Guest
Contact Brent Dykes through the following social media platforms:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentdykes/
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