Daniel Smith is a process manager at Cox Communications, where he has worked since 2005. He completed his undergraduate studies at Emory University and earned an MBA with a concentration in statistics at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he also received his Six Sigma training. Smith currently holds a master black belt certification in Six Sigma management.
On this website in March 2014, I wrote an article (“Finding Careers in Quality Management”) designed to assist professionals seeking employment in the quality management field. The article essentially recommended taking steps to increase your personal certifications, study advanced analytics software, and learn to speak intelligently about statistics. Each section offered advice about how to achieve those goals and was intended to reach those who were entering the workforce or interested in changing career paths. This article will seek to take the next step by offering career advice to mathematics professionals seeking to advance in this career path at their company.
I have noticed that this task can be slightly more daunting for those working in analytics positions within quality management. For some reason, they often are labeled as number crunchers, not leaders. There seems to be the assumption that if people are good with advanced analytics, then they likely are not good at managing people, which most leadership positions will require. I believe this perception exists because the skills you need to advance into a leadership position often have little to do with being an analytical expert. However, combining the analytical skills you already possess with the following advice should make achieving that goal a little more attainable.
Be Able to Speak Publicly About Statistics
“According to most studies, people’s number-one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” – Jerry Seinfeld
When I started my career in quality management more than 10 years ago, I had absolutely no interest in speaking publicly. I didn’t think I was particularly good at it, nor did I have any interest in becoming good at it. I wanted to focus on my job, deal directly with my boss, and—if my work was good—advance up the corporate ladder. Being a good public speaker is not mandatory for advancement, but it can be an enormous help. It shows initiative, courage, and leadership.
There are formal courses that can assist with becoming proficient at public speaking, but for many people it becomes a natural transformation. For me, it began with meetings. I began speaking more in both informal and formal project meetings. At first, the meetings were small, and then they began to grow. Soon, I was speaking in larger meetings with more managers and directors present. Eventually, I was invited to speak at corporate summit meetings in front of 100 people. Keep in mind that while I was having the opportunity to speak publicly, I still didn’t think I was great at it. However, like most things in life, the more experience you get, the better you become.
Mentor/Teach Others
Any leadership position you interview for is going to ask you about your experience managing people. For people who do not have this experience, it can be a frustrating wall to break through. It seems like a catch-22. You typically hear things like, “I can’t get promoted to a management role because I don’t have experience managing people, and I can’t get experience managing people because I’m not in a management role.”
While frustrating to hear, it does not mean you’re powerless. Many companies have formal internship programs and are seeking mentors to aid in their development. Ask your boss if they would be willing to allow you to manage an intern.
This also does not necessarily have to take place within your company. Many schools and universities in your region will be looking for seasoned professionals to assist with the development of their students. Developing talent is a key trait of many leadership roles, and any experience you can point to in this regard will greatly aid your attempt to find a role like this for yourself.
Teaching opportunities are also more abundant at most companies than you may realize. This could be one on one or in larger groups. My company has monthly meetings during which the topics rotate. Anyone who feels up to it can apply to teach a session. And it’s a great way to get public speaking experience.
Join a Professional Organization
If you are a member of the ASA, you already have this covered. Hopefully you already realize the value that comes with joining a professional organization outside your company, but this value increases enormously when you want to move into a leadership position. In addition to having access to information others may not or the abundant network of professionals you can now connect with, it also demonstrates that you are interested in continual learning and keeping up with industry trends. Directors who place people in leadership roles will take notice.
Many of the tips in this article are not obvious. I think most people have the mindset that if they do good work, they will likely get promoted into a leadership role. But without experience managing people, that can be harder to achieve than most people realize, especially in today’s ultra-competitive job market. Becoming comfortable with public speaking, mentoring others, and joining a professional organization may not be what you were taught in school, but they will go a long way in aiding your climb to a leadership position within your analytical field.
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