People Analytics and the Punk Rock Ethos

I picked up a conversation with a gentleman at a recent conference that has now spanned 18 months.

His story back in the spring of 2015 was familiar: a background in MI, an interest in People Analytics, a mandate to learn more and to launch and develop the proposition within his organisation.

A couple of months later; he’d attended more events, read a few books – still building a foundation of knowledge.

Eight months on, more conferences, more books – but still no launch of a People Analytics proposition back in his business. At our most recent meeting it was the same story.

By now, in equal measure, I was both bemused by his inertia and jealous of the learning and development budget at his disposal.

But he got me thinking – and I say this as provider of educational services and an occasional conference speaker – can too much theoretical knowledge lead to a paralysis that prevents a tangible people analytics deliverable?

Instead of (what I perceive to be) a desperate need to conform and a shuddering fear of making a mistake, could our gentlemen not take a deep breadth, put aside the manual, and just give it a go?

Could he not learn something from the do-it-yourself ethos of punk rock music?

To many, myself included, punk rock at its origin was a reaction against the tendencies that had overtaken popular music in the early 1970s, whether that be superficial disco or bombastic forms of progressive or arena rock. Music accessible only to the formally trained, with arguably (not my words, unfortunately) ‘an over-representation from the sons of the bourgeois elite’.

Punk rock, as the name suggests, was often the ‘way in’ for the novice or the beginner. Those that would learn a few chords, and belt out a three minute song highlighting local issues, describing their environment ‘in a spirit of non-conformity and free-thought’.

They booked the hall, hired the PA, sold the tickets and told the story. At the beginning the sound may have been rudimentary, but over time and through experience (some good, some bad) the delivery got tighter. The best of them attracted a following. The very best of them – The Clash for example – became influential way beyond the silo of punk music and popular music in general.

So to all those budding people analysts out there, in the spirit of punk rock:

Learn your three chords - sign up for a workshop to understand the theory and learn how to conduct an investigation

Write a meaningful lyric – conduct an investigation into an issue that is present in, and matters to, your business

Book the hall, sell the tickets and sing the song – set up a session with appropriate HR and Business stakeholders, tell your story, explain why it matters - and affect their thinking in a way that will influence a business decision

And yes, by all means, attend a conference or two and be inspired by great case studies – after all, Joe Strummer was said to be influenced by Woody Guthrie – but move yourself to action as soon as possible; you can always refine your craft over time.

And to the gentleman in question, rip the arms off your shirt, bin the flares, pull on the ‘ratty’ jumper, and just give it a go.

You never know, they may even book you again.

Sam Hill is Managing Consultant and Founder of Workforce Dimensions who partner with organisations seeking to understand and maximise the contribution their people make to business success.

Workforce Dimensions provide advisory and educational services exclusively in the field of Strategic Workforce Planning and People Analytics.

www.workforcedimensions.co.uk @WFDimensions

sam.hill@workforcedimensions.co.uk @sam_hill_wfd