In an ideal world, every data leader would have had great mentors to learn from throughout their career. However, not every brilliant data analyst, data engineer, or data scientist who steps into data leadership will have strong role models to emulate. Natural leadership skills can take you far, but everyone benefits from a bit of guidance.
These tips from data professionals offer practical advice to help you grow into a data leader who truly supports your team's success.
- Develop and Communicate a Clear Vision
An effective data leader sets a data strategy roadmap for their team, including:
- Understanding business objectives and aligning data strategy accordingly.
- Communicating long-term goals to ensure everyone understands their role in the bigger picture.
- Advocating for resources, such as training and data tools, to help the team stay ahead. (which leads us on to point 2)
- Advocate for Learning and Growth
Encourage team members to develop their data skills by:
- Setting personal learning and growth goals each quarter.
- Providing dedicated time for research, experimentation, and professional development.
- Offering guidance based on both individual aspirations and company needs.
- Encourage Business and Domain Knowledge
Many junior data professionals struggle because they focus heavily on technical skills without fully understanding the impact on the business. A good data leader should:
- Encourage proactive engagement with business stakeholders.
- Train team members to ask questions and translate business data into actionable insights.
- Reinforce that data analytics is not just about numbers but people and decisions.
- Create Space for Experimentation
A culture of learning and growth requires breathing room. High-pressure environments with constant deadlines make it difficult for teams to improve. Support your team by:
- Ensuring they have built-in time to explore new data tools and methodologies.
- Encouraging innovation through hackathons, side projects, or team learning sessions.
- Being patient with mistakes, as they often lead to valuable insights.
- Protect Your Team's Time and Focus
Frequent context switching can be a major productivity killer. As a leader, help your team stay focused by:
- Clearly defining priorities and minimising unnecessary meetings.
- Shielding them from organisational politics when possible.
- Providing a stable data roadmap that allows for deep work and growth.
- Recognise and Support Career Growth
Not everyone on your team will have or want the same career path. A data leader who values this:
- Identifies ambitious team members and provides opportunities for advancement.
- Helps team members explore different career tracks (data engineering, managerial, or hybrid roles).
- Advocates for promotions and fair compensation based on contributions.
- Nurture an Environment of Collaboration and Cross-Functional Relationships
Strong collaboration extends beyond your immediate team. As part of your data leadership role, you must build relationships across departments to ensure data insights are effectively integrated into business decisions. Encourage collaboration by:
- Implementing structured code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions.
- Encouraging pair programming or mentoring relationships.
- Providing honest, constructive feedback to help team members recognise their strengths and areas for improvement.
- Strengthening cross-functional communication with engineering, product, and marketing teams to ensure data-driven decision-making aligns with business goals.
- Empower Team Members with Responsibility
Remember, however, that a resolute data team doesn't rely solely on you alone. The responsibility is a two-way street. You will also need to delegate responsibilities and trust your team to:
- Own specific aspects of projects, such as data testing, stakeholder management, or data ingestion.
- Lead initiatives and propose improvements across the company.
- Take ownership of challenges rather than always waiting for direction.
Final Thoughts
Stepping into a new data leadership role or developing within a current job can be challenging, especially if you haven’t had strong role models to learn from. Every company is different and may use its data teams in diverse ways. Being in a data leadership role means understanding what the company expects from you just as much as what your team needs and what you expect from yourself. But by setting a clear vision, encouraging growth, protecting focus, and empowering your workforce, you can create an environment where individuals and the organisation succeed.
At Consortia, we understand the challenges of stepping into and excelling in a data leadership job. Whether you're an experienced Head of Data, Chief Data Scientist or Data Ops Director or in the process of growing into a leadership position, we can help you on your career path. With deep industry knowledge of our four core areas (data, engineering, UX and product) and our expansive network, we connect data professionals with opportunities that align with their expertise, ambitions, and leadership goals. If you're looking for your next challenge or want insights into the evolving data landscape, contact us to support your journey.