Positive change is harder to see
Humans are wired to see negative change because we need to protect ourselves; a negative change is seen as a risk and a danger. Positive change is much more difficult to see; there's no risk involved.
Think about it this way: When there's a negative change with your data (e.g., a board member's email address is incorrect), it is a problem, everyone knows about it, and often we rush to fix it. When there's a positive change (e.g., all the board members' email addresses have been updated and are now 100% accurate), we rarely notice, and it's even more rare that we say anything about it.
This is why I recommend that data managers practice database public relations. Because positive change is much more difficult to see than negative change, we have to make a proactive effort to highlight all the positive change going on around us.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Back to basics
Back to basics Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed that some AMS vendors […]
Your people matter
Your people matter I’ve written many times about how people, process, and technology have to […]
We remember moments…
We remember moments… “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese Another […]
Acknowledging problems is part of managing expectations
Acknowledging problems is part of managing expectations Research was done some time ago that suggested […]
Need data? Consider third-party sources
Need data? Consider third-party sources I always tell my clients, only collect data that you’re […]
Action must follow the decision
Action must follow the decision When I work with my clients on their projects (whether […]
Everything should be focused on improving user adoption
Everything should be focused on improving user adoption Your AMS is a tool, and a […]
Needs change over time, and that’s OK
Needs change over time, and that’s OK I was speaking with a couple of association […]
The vaguer the question, the vaguer the answer
The vaguer the question, the vaguer the answer As the old saying goes, the devil […]
The best choice given the information you have
The best choice given the information you have “Hindsight is 20/20” is a cliché because, […]