In boardrooms across the globe, executives are gleefully signing off on multi-million-dollar investments in data infrastructure. Big Data! AI! Machine Learning! But here’s the inconvenient truth they’re overlooking. Without a data-literate workforce, these shiny new toys are as useful as a Ferrari in a traffic jam.
Read More3 elements of effective sponsorship
A popular misconception of senior leadership is that effective executive sponsorship is a clearly understood skill. Many assume executives receive developmental feedback about becoming effective sponsors. Sadly, there is little training on sponsorship from middle management on up.
Leaders often accept sponsorship of an activity, not knowing what it entails. Some think it means sending a few enthusiastic emails about an initiative, propping up delegates in meetings, and moving on to the next thing. Some organizational cultures tolerate those actions as enough.