Statistical Consulting: A Guide to Effective Communication

1
Statistical ConsultingA Guide to Effective
Communication

• By David Borgerding

2
Topics in Statistical Consulting

• Introduction to Statistical Consulting.
• The Ideal Statistical Consultant and the
  Satisfied Client.
• Non-Verbal Communication.
• Meeting.
• Asking Good Questions??
• Negotiating a Satisfactory Exchange.
• Communication about Statistics.
• Dealing with Difficult Situations.

3
Introduction to Statistical Consulting

• Three Themes.
• Why does a statistical consultant need to have
  good communication skills?
• What is the main difference between a
  statistician and a consultant?
• Core of statistical consulting.
• How you can become an effective statistical
  consultant?

4
The Ideal Statistical Consultant and the
Satisfied Client

• The statisticians perspective.
• The clients perspective.
• Five Dimensions of Quality.
• Aligning expectations.
• Ten issues that represent vulnerabilities in the
  client-consultant relationship.

5
Non-Verbal Communication

• First impressions are influenced by
  non-verbal communication.
• Meetings are influenced by non-verbal
  communication.
• Interpreting non-verbal communication in a group.

6
Meeting

• Establishing Rapport.
• Setting an Agenda.
• Coming to a Closure.
• Summarizing Your Discussion.

7
Asking Good Questions??

• Avoid errors of the third kind.
• Identify what you need to find out.
• Develop an effective strategy for gathering
  information.

8
Negotiating a Satisfactory Exchange

• Put negotiations on the agenda.
• Understand your clients preferred style of
  negotiation.
• Identify the issues.
• Characterize the positions held by you and your
  client.
• Achieve a Win-Win outcome.
• Identify fair exchanges.
• Conduct the negotiations.

9
Communication about Statistics

• Identify your audience and your purpose.
• Learn from statistics teachers.
• Talk about statistics.
• Present statistics to an audience.
• Write about statistics.

10
Dealing with Difficult Situations

• Breakdown!
• Conflict Resolution.
• Consulting with a team.
• A project-based problem.
• A non-negotiable position.
• Unprofessional behavior.

11
Keys to Statistical Consulting

• Assess your strengths and weaknesses.
• Find someone to help you.
• Start Small.
• Reflect on the experience.
• Seek feedback from your client.
• Dont demand perfection.

12
The End

• Thank you everyone for coming. ?