Tackling Roadblocks and Kicking Goals with Data

Tackling Roadblocks and Kicking Goals with Data

Data often gets a bad rap.

For some, it’s overwhelming and intimidating—like staring at an endless spreadsheet that seems to make no sense.

And they’re not alone! Lurking not so far below the surface of my husband’s fun-loving exterior lies a massive fear of data.

In fact, when I supported him to put together the data systems for our healthcare business, he told me he feels physically sick looking at an excel spreadsheet!!!

Feel the same?

Let’s re-think it.

Reframing the Fear of Data

For many, data feels impersonal, cold, or overly technical—something that belongs in the hands of analysts, not those working on the ground in health and social care.

But this perception misses the incredible potential of data to be a powerful ally in achieving your mission.

If the thought of diving into spreadsheets makes you feel queasy, consider this: data is simply a way of telling a story.

It’s the story of your clients, your services, and the impact you’re striving to make. When you approach it with curiosity and a clear purpose, it stops being about numbers and starts being about people.

Here’s how you can reframe your mindset about data:

1. Make Data Relatable

Instead of thinking of data as abstract or overwhelming, tie it to your organisation’s purpose. For example:

• Are you passionate about improving access to care? Data can reveal which clients face the most barriers and why.
• Do you want to retain skilled staff? Data can show where turnover is highest and what factors might be contributing to it.

When you see data as a tool to amplify your mission, it becomes less intimidating and more meaningful.

2. Start with the Basics

You don’t need to be a data expert to start using it effectively. Begin by focusing on a few key questions:

• What do we want to know about our clients, staff, or services?
• What simple metrics can help us answer those questions?
• How can we track those metrics over time?

Sometimes, even basic data—like client satisfaction surveys or service utilisation rates—can provide valuable insights.

3. Focus on Patterns, Not Perfection

Data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful. Look for trends and patterns rather than getting bogged down by every small detail. Over time, you’ll start to see where your organisation is thriving and where it needs attention.

4. Connect Data to Action

The real power of data lies in what you do with it. Use it to identify barriers, implement changes, and measure progress. For example:

• If data shows clients are waiting too long for services, you can explore solutions like hiring additional staff or streamlining intake processes.
• If data highlights staff burnout, you can develop initiatives to improve workplace culture or reduce workloads.

By linking data to action, it becomes a tool for empowerment rather than a source of fear.

5. Build a Culture of Curiosity

Encourage your team to view data as a way to ask better questions and explore new possibilities. When everyone is involved in interpreting and using data, it fosters collaboration and innovation.

By doing this, data becomes less about numbers and more about solutions.

It enables you to see patterns, identify bottlenecks, and, most importantly, track whether your efforts to remove those barriers are actually working.

This shift—from fearing data to using it as a compass—can transform how your organization operates.

Building Data-Driven Solutions

One of the most rewarding ways to approach data is to view it as an opportunity to open the bonnet of your organisation and take a closer look at its inner workings.