As a data scientist, communication skills are essential. You need to be able to clearly explain complex data analysis results to non-technical stakeholders, which includes your employer. Employers need to know how the data you have analyzed will benefit their business and contribute to the overall growth of the company. Stakeholder engagement is also key, as you may have to collaborate with various teams, including cross-functional ones. Effective communication can make the difference between getting buy-in for your ideas or simply being ignored. Here are some key tips for communicating effectively with your employer:

Know your audience

One of the most important aspects of effective communication is understanding who you are communicating with. A data scientist may need to explain their findings to different audiences such as executives, other data experts, or general stakeholders. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your message according to their level of experience and expertise. This will help to ensure that what you are saying is clear and will increase the chances of keeping your audience engaged. Tailor your communication style to the person you are talking to, whether they are a fellow data scientist or a CEO. 

Use visual aids

Data can often seem overwhelming and difficult to comprehend if you are not working with it regularly. To help portray the importance of your data findings use graphs or charts and show trends over time so that your audience, who may not be data savvy, can relate to your findings easier. In addition to using visual aids telling the story of how the data relates to your company's results can help others disciplines problem solve solutions to improve the data trends. 

Get feedback

Finally, it is crucial to listen and respond to feedback. Communication is a two-way process, and it’s important to listen to questions and objections. Addressing concerns and answering questions will help your audience understand your findings better. Additionally, accepting feedback will allow you to improve your communication skills for future presentations. 

Communication skills are essential to be a successful data scientist. By following these tips, data scientists can communicate challenging data issues effectively to their audience, leading to better decision-making with confidence. Building a story around the data and understanding the audience's expertise levels, simplifying the message, and being confident in the findings can help data scientists overcome communication struggles and deliver compelling presentations. Effective communication not only ensures that your message is heard but also has a long-term impact on the organization that can change your data into insights and insights into actions.