That’s how daring ventures start.

“The more effectively dependent people are on one another the more independent and daring they become.” - Amir Levine

You might think of creativity as a risky act. And it certainly is. A fundamental part of creativity is making something while knowing ‘this may not work’.

You might think independence is risky. And it certainly is. Taking a step off by yourself to something new, different, or unknown is unsettling for the nervous system.

But the best parts of life exist in a beautiful tension.

—> You are most risky when you feel secure in your community, team, and partnership.

—> You are most independent when your attachment to your tribe is strong and unthreatened.

—> The safer you are in your relationships the riskier you can be.

—> The more secure you are in your community the more creative you can be.

What does this have to do with data?

Humans are best at work when they are secure, risky, and creative. The type of work you most desperately need your data team to do is risky and creative.

• Helping a teammate get unstuck.

• Following the data wherever it leads.

• Admitting they made a mistake on a project.

• Choosing organizational goals over their own.

• Pushing back on long-established assumptions.

• Stepping into a difficult conflict with peer leadership.

• Trying a new narrative to explain the complexity of the work.

• Being courageous to prioritize the work that matters most to the team.

These are the actions you want on your team.

The prerequisite you can’t skip? Strong, safe, and secure relationships.

That’s how daring ventures start.

I’m here,

Sawyer