Communication for Data Lead

Audience shift

• Engineer team — technical detail OK.
• BU stakeholder — business outcome focus.
• C-suite — strategic, 1-2 slide max.
• Board — bench-mark, risk, ROI.

Common scenarios

• Request budget — business case format.
• Defend decision — data + reasoning.
• Disagree with HiPPO — fact-based + diplomatic.
• Share bad news — honest + plan.

Frameworks

• BLUF — Bottom Line Up Front.
• Pyramid principle — McKinsey style.
• STAR — Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Written

• Executive summary 100 words.
• Detail in appendix.
• Chart not table.
• Annotate key number.

Verbal

• 30 sec elevator pitch ready.
• Practice for C-suite.
• Anticipate question — pre-prep answer.

Difficult conversation

• Lead with shared goal.
• Acknowledge concern.
• Present data + recommendation.
• Invite challenge.
• Agree on next step.

Building influence

• Deliver consistently — track record.
• Be invited to right meeting.
• Coalition build before formal pitch.
• Generosity — share credit, take blame.

VN cultural

• Hierarchical — respect order matter.
• Indirect feedback — read between lines.
• Build trust over time — relationship before transaction.
• Tea + dinner are decision-making venue.