Statisticians are excellent planners. It is a necessity for a successful career! Teams want to move fast and meet deadlines, but we know firsthand that every decision, even seemingly innocuous ones, can have major implications and consequences for all downstream activities. Especially the analysis. So we think. And we simulate. We read. We weigh the evidence. We consider other alternatives. We reduce ambiguity. And we develop contingencies for when things will go wrong (because something always will). However, there are times and situations where we do not have the luxury to develop robust plans. Sometimes an answer is needed now!
Ever been asked a question in a meeting with other departments present or in front of a large conference audience? All eyes are on you, and you need to respond quickly and meaningfully. This can cause a lot of anxiety in the moment! You want to incorporate your experience, be technically correct, all while communicating in a manner that is accessible (and interesting) to others. Projecting confidence is important, too. That is an awful lot to consider in the moment!
That is why it is important to DEVELOP and PRACTICE these skills!
Ever hear the term "muscle memory"? It is the ability to reproduce an outcome without conscious thought. Athletes rely on muscle memory to excel in sports. Musicians rely on muscle memory when performing. Any practiced behavior develops muscle memory, and this memory allows us to more easily adapt when situations fall outside the typical parameters. The same is true for communication. To be a good communicator, you have to PRACTICE! Applied Improvisation can help.
The good news is that you can start your journey at JSM! I hope you will join me for an introduction to Applied Improvisation with course CE21: Quick-Thinking, Confident, Communicative, and Collaborative: Fundamentals of Applied Improvisation for (Bio)statisticians and Data Scientists (Tues, Aug 5: 08:30-12:30). This course is not about performance or being funny (though that happens). It's about developing skills that are useful in any workplace. We will examine the parallels to every exercise we do.
This class may put you outside of your comfort zone. Taking risks to try something new will do that. But you will learn some new interpersonal skills, and you will absolutely have a good time. By the end of it, you may even find that you're disappointed it was not a full day class! Space is limited to 20 individuals. And while I'd recommend this course to anyone attending JSM, students, young professionals, and those seeking to develop their confidence can especially benefit for participating.
Check out some thoughts on how applied improv can help with Imposter Syndrome.
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Richard C. Zink, Ph.D.
Principal Research Fellow
JMP Statistical Discovery LLC
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