Think Like a Data Analyst

As humans we are processing millions of information per second. Science shows that the body sends 11 million bits per second to the brain for processing and the brain can execute about 100 billion operations per second. That’s massive and truly impressive. However, there’s a limit to what the conscious mind can process (about 50 bits per second). This necessitates deliberate use of our conscious mind. Being able to select your thoughts might sound somewhat improbable, maybe for the first streams of ideas that barrages your ego, but the second thought is completely our prerogative.

When focused on a task, analytical skills are important because they allow you to find solutions to common problems and make informed decisions about the next course of action.

Photo by Timur Saglambilek on Pexels

To be a successful data analyst requires good analytical skill sets. These skills are qualities associated with solving problems using facts or data. They are available at everyone’s disposal provided you take the right steps to master them, and like everything in life, with time it becomes second nature.

Analytical thinking means examining the information, collecting the facts, and checking whether the statement follows logically in identifying causes and effects.

Want to think like a data analyst?

There are 5 essential skills for analytical thinking:

1. Curiosity: Have a curious mind. Ask and ask and ask lots of questions.
2. Understand the context: Understand the context of every situation and have the full picture. Setting context removes ambiguity, puts meaning to the message, and deepens the understanding.
3. Have a technical mindset: Have a technical mindset and learn to break complex ideas down into smaller pieces to be able to view them logically.
4. Ability to organize information: Know how to prioritize key information.
5. Have a strategy: Having a good strategy to manage people, processes, and tools is important. Always have a plan and be ready to adapt it along the way.

Some people think creatively, some think critically, while others think in abstract ways. Analytical thinking involves identifying and defining the problem and then solving it by using data in an organized, step by step manner.

Strategies! Strategies!! Strategies!!!

Learn and adopt these strategies to improve your analytical skills:

1. Visualization: Use visuals to explain complex concepts. Symbols, graphs, photos, illustrations, and diagrams can help you explain information much more easily.
2. Strategy: Having a strategy helps you to know what you want to achieve and how to get there. Early on in a project, you should have your plan mapped out.
3. Problem-orientation: Data analysts use this approach to identify, describe, and solve problems. Again, you employ your curious mind and ask a lot of questions. This helps you understand the problem much more and identify workable solutions. Every problem has a solution.
4. Correlation: Try to see if 2 pieces of information are related to each other. Try to link items together. Although, always remember that correlation doesn’t mean causation. Be sure of your facts.
5. Big picture thinking: Sometimes it is important to have an overview or broader vision of a problem you’re working on without getting lost in the details. It’s like looking at a complete puzzle without focusing on the whole pieces that went into making it.

Thinking is good, but

“Think before you speak. Read before you think”.

Fran Lebowitz would say if you were to run into her. Reading gives you a great edge and definitely does help improve your specific knowledge which can prove invaluable when needed. Reading and research provide a database or a pool of information for you to pick and choose from when solving a problem. Analytical thinking reduces your chances of mistakes because you can sort from a pool of data, consider different angles to a given situation, and help you make data-driven decisions.

Remember, anyone can think like a data analyst!