Still paying lip service to “being more data-driven”? Stop.
Dear renegades, mavericks, and deviants,
“We need to be more data-driven.”
You probably say it too (it’s ok, this is a safe space, I’m happy to admit I’ve done it).
Yes, it’s one of those phrases that sounds impressive in meetings and strategy decks.
And no one argues with it (arguably a plus in board meetings).
But what does it actually mean?
And more importantly, what does it feel like to run a truly data-driven human risk program?
I’m going to weigh in here…
✨ It feels like clarity. ✨
Like finally seeing what’s really going on beneath the surface. Like less guessing. Like decisions that don’t haunt you later. Like confidence that you’re making things better, not just checking boxes.
That’s what I’ve been working toward.
And why I’m sharing here what I’ve seen in teams that are genuinely becoming more data-driven: not just in name, but in how they think, act, and lead.
🔍 You start seeing things you didn’t know you were missing (alarming but necessary).
Most programs still rely on surface-level stats – phishing reporting, training completions, maybe a risk score here or there. But that’s not a full picture. That’s a shadow.
A data-driven approach brings more human context into view:
- Who’s using shadow tools without telling you?
- Who’s ignoring advice (not because they’re careless or lazy, but because they’re overwhelmed)?
- Who’s actually starting to form safer habits?
You’re not just watching outcomes – you’re observing patterns. Behaviors. Real risk.
❓ You ask different questions.
Being “data-driven” doesn’t mean gathering more data. It means asking sharper questions.
Not: “What’s our click rate this quarter?”
But:
“Which teams feel disengaged – and why?”
“Where are we seeing friction between advice and action?”
“What’s actually changing in behavior?”
Curiosity becomes your best tool.
And discomfort becomes your compass.
🧠 You stop counting and start understanding.
It’s so easy to confuse motion with progress. It’s an easy trap to fall into.
Dashboards fill up. Scores move. Charts change color.
But until you know why something’s happening, the risk remains.
Being data-driven means stepping back far enough to see what matters:
Which signals point to root causes – and which ones are just noise?
This part is hard. But it’s where the real insight lives.
🚀 You act – because otherwise, what’s the point?
Insight means nothing if it doesn’t lead to action.
That might be a gentle nudge. Or an automated response. Or bringing hard truths to leadership with evidence behind them.
(Uncomfortable? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.)
Whatever the outcome, this is the moment where data earns its place:
It shapes what you do next.
📊 You measure what changed …not just what happened.
Sending 12 nudges isn’t the same as changing one behavior.
It’s easy to stop at “activity.” But that’s not what success looks like. Not in this job.
Being data-driven means sticking around long enough to ask:
- Did that risky habit fade?
- Did the safer one stick?
- If nothing moved, why not?
The answers aren’t always easy. But they matter.
🔁 You build feedback into the rhythm.
This isn’t a one-time project. It’s a way of working.
Test something. See what happens. Learn. Adjust. Try again.
Over time, your program starts to learn from itself. That’s when it gets really interesting – and surprisingly human.
Yes, it’s a little like therapy. For your data. (And maybe for you.)
🏛️ You bring data into the rooms that matter.
The smartest teams I know don’t treat data like a sidekick. They bring it into strategy, policy, and even budgeting.
Not just to “prove value,” but to prioritize.
To plan. To protect. To lead.
When data becomes a trusted voice in the room, everything sharpens.
⚙️ You stop trying to keep up, because your system’s already doing it.
The endgame is scale. Not in size, but in sustainability.
When data is wired into how things run – nudges, escalations, decisions – you stop chasing fires.
Your systems do what they’re meant to: support real people, in real time, in the moments that matter.
Being data-driven isn’t about dashboards and reports.
It’s about clarity, courage, and follow-through.
And you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
I’m always happy to help. Just grab some time [here].
