Need to make a decision? Get the freshest possible data from the best possible sources and you'll be good to go! Not sure where to start or who to trust? We've got you covered! Whether you're returning to work or pivoting your business, get answers now!

1. Data-Day Operations:
Keep It Fresh

2. • How much data do you need to
make a decision?
• We’ve all asked this question — and
discussed it here, too — but it’s not
the only question we need to answer.
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3. • Stale data leads to bad decisions.
Fresh data enables you to take quick
action to resolve a pain point before
it turns into a trend.
• How fresh is your data?
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4. The Fresh Data Jungle

5. • Although surveys are an important
aspect of any data collection plan, we
get info from many sources – news,
external research studies, ad hoc
suggestions from consumers and
employees, and so on.
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6. • Not entirely hypothetical example:
You need to decide if, how, and when
your employees return to the office.
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7. • Depending on where you are in the
world, this could be a question you’ve
already answered or one that you’ve
pushed back for now.
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8. • Online search? Top results have the
benefit of recency (and SEO!), but
that’s not the only deciding factor in
thinking through whether to follow
or even read them.
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9. • Some articles may have the veneer of
science, but no credible citations or
references.... It's a jungle out there!
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10. Authority Matters

11. • Commercials often feature someone
in a white lab coat recommending a
particular drug or treatment.
• Fact: It takes more than a lab coat to
make someone a true authority.
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• Even if the person is truly a doctor,
their most valuable advice will be
given in their specialty area.
• Think about it: Would you ask a
dentist how to treat a heart
condition?

13. • Large organizations may serve as
authorities – often because they have
the resources, knowledge, and
capacity to turn large amounts of
data into digestible advice.
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• In this case, the World Health
Organization plays a major
international role in offering COVID-
19 guidance and research for public
consumption.

15. • In the US, the CDC (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention)
delivers high-authority guidelines,
including returning to work.
• Still, even the CDC publishes
references with "Interim Guidance"
titles – they know that suggestions
can and will change.
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16. Local Insights Matter

17. • With new updates coming in all the
time, the "big players" need to move
carefully as well as quickly.
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18. • At a local level, the "boots on the
ground" leaders need to make
decisions that prioritize health and
safety while respecting community
values and culture.
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19. • OSHA (the Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration) provides guidance on
protecting workers. But – it might be
outdated by the time you read this!
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20. • SHRM (the Society for Human Resource
Management) offers a steady stream of
references on topics like how and
when employers should consider
lifting mask mandates .
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21. • The big picture questions (HVAC,
which stairs go up and which go
down, and how many people can be
in an elevator at once) will be
answered for these common spaces,
but it's likely your responsibility to
sort out the details in your own
space.
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22. • Along with state and local guidelines,
it's important to review all the
guidance you can get your hands on
from every level.
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23. Community Matters

24. • Finally, the people in your
organization matter.
• Consider the logistics: Do people
need to be in the office in order to do
their jobs?
• Will you require everyone to be
vaccinated before returning to work?
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25. • Will you need to adjust seating
arrangements and post social
distancing reminders?
• How can you celebrate the return to
work together without making
anyone uncomfortable?
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26. • Even if you've been regularly
conducting employee pulse check
surveys for some time, it's important
to ask for fresh feedback as you get
closer to making decisions.
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27. • Along with state and local guidelines,
it's important to review all the
guidance you can get your hands on
from every level.
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28. • You may have asked for return to
work feedback at some previous
points — only to scrap those plans in
light of the evolving situation.
• Ask the right questions now, and
you'll get the answers you need now.
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29. Incoming:
A systematic approach to regular data collection

30. • Even beyond the specifics of the
current return to work scenario
outlined above, fresh data is always
one of your most valuable resources.
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31. • Especially in rapidly evolving
situations, it's important to keep an
open line of communication to
ensure that all the feedback you
receive gets the response it deserves.
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32. • Failing to close the loop when people
are especially stressed means failing
to support your community.
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33. • Stay connected, keep collecting
feedback from any and all points, and
process your decisions through
insights from both authorities and
your own community.
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34. Whether it’s employee experience
or customer experience, a steady
incoming feedback flow is critical.

35. Want more?
Binge watch… Read the full blog… Like some podcasts!

36. Have we met socially?

37. Thank you!