Navigating Tough Conversations in Statistical Collaboration
American Statistical Association (ASA) Traveling Course at the University Club of Saint Paul.
The Twin Cities Chapter of the American Statistical Association (ASA) will be hosting a traveling short course: Navigating Tough Conversations in Statistical Collaboration taught by Emily Griffith, Julia Sharp and Zach Weller. The course will be held at the University Club in Saint Paul on September 30, from 9am-1pm. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
Breakfast will be served at 9:00 and the course will begin at 9:30.
Instructors
Emily Griffith is an associate research professor of statistics at North Carolina State University. She is also a fellow in the Office of Research Innovation, working on development and strategy to further innovation in the university’s data sciences initiatives. In her free time, Griffith enjoys running (even in the North Carolina summer), cooking, and hanging out with her family.
Julia Sharp is an associate professor of statistics and the director of the Graybill Statistics and Data Science Laboratory at Colorado State University. She is a widely recognized expert in statistical collaboration and was recently awarded the Outstanding Mentor Award from the ASA’s Section on Statistical Consulting. When she is not working, Sharp enjoys baking, hiking, and enjoying the company of family and friends.
Zach Weller is an assistant professor of statistics at Colorado State University, where he works as a consultant in the Graybill Statistics and Data Science Laboratory. He also teaches statistics courses and advises undergraduate and graduate students on applied statistics projects. When he is not working, Weller enjoys hiking, camping, and fishing in the great outdoors of Colorado.
Course abstract
Statistical practitioners face difficult conversations in their interactions with their clients and collaborators. The topics of these conversations vary widely, from completion timelines to the use and interpretation of p-values. While there are no universal guidelines for navigating tough conversations, thoughtful discussion about common experiences and lessons learned; reflection on differences among individuals and situations; and exercises such as role playing can be helpful to prepare and build confidence for engaging in future tough conversations. In this course, we will build participants’ confidence to effectively communicate with clients and customers when challenging topics or situations arise. In this course, we will:
- Give and solicit examples of difficult conversations often encountered in statistical collaboration.
- Provide suggestions to approach and engage in these difficult conversations through multiple interactive activities, with a focus on leveraging participant strengths by using individual personality and skills to have these conversations in participants’ own style.
- Engage participants in the interactive session and learn from each other through discussion, role-playing, and conversations motivated by participants’ questions and recently produced videos portraying several difficult conversations between statisticians and their collaborators.
Course learning objectives
- Build confidence for engaging in difficult conversations by improving skills for navigating these conversations, while respecting individual differences in communication strategies and professional settings and relationships.
- Cultivate communication skills and strategies for having difficult conversations on both technical and professional topics with collaborators and clients.
- Reflect on participant strategies for communication in the context of their career and their job’s expectations
- Create a sense of community among participants and start to build a support network for continued discussion and reflection after the course.
Schedule
9:00am Breakfast
9:30am-9:50am Instructor and participant introductions
9:50am-10:45am Setting the stage conversation
10:45am-11:00am Break
11:00am-12:50pm Focused discussion on tough conversations
12:00pm Lunch served during breakout sessions
12:50pm-1:00pm Closing discussion
American Statistical Association (ASA) Traveling Course at the University Club of Saint Paul.
The Twin Cities Chapter of the American Statistical Association (ASA) will be hosting a traveling short course: Navigating Tough Conversations in Statistical Collaboration taught by Emily Griffith, Julia Sharp and Zach Weller. The course will be held at the University Club in Saint Paul on September 30, from 9am-1pm. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
Breakfast will be served at 9:00 and the course will begin at 9:30.
Instructors
Emily Griffith is an associate research professor of statistics at North Carolina State University. She is also a fellow in the Office of Research Innovation, working on development and strategy to further innovation in the university’s data sciences initiatives. In her free time, Griffith enjoys running (even in the North Carolina summer), cooking, and hanging out with her family.
Julia Sharp is an associate professor of statistics and the director of the Graybill Statistics and Data Science Laboratory at Colorado State University. She is a widely recognized expert in statistical collaboration and was recently awarded the Outstanding Mentor Award from the ASA’s Section on Statistical Consulting. When she is not working, Sharp enjoys baking, hiking, and enjoying the company of family and friends.
Zach Weller is an assistant professor of statistics at Colorado State University, where he works as a consultant in the Graybill Statistics and Data Science Laboratory. He also teaches statistics courses and advises undergraduate and graduate students on applied statistics projects. When he is not working, Weller enjoys hiking, camping, and fishing in the great outdoors of Colorado.
Course abstract
Statistical practitioners face difficult conversations in their interactions with their clients and collaborators. The topics of these conversations vary widely, from completion timelines to the use and interpretation of p-values. While there are no universal guidelines for navigating tough conversations, thoughtful discussion about common experiences and lessons learned; reflection on differences among individuals and situations; and exercises such as role playing can be helpful to prepare and build confidence for engaging in future tough conversations. In this course, we will build participants’ confidence to effectively communicate with clients and customers when challenging topics or situations arise. In this course, we will:
- Give and solicit examples of difficult conversations often encountered in statistical collaboration.
- Provide suggestions to approach and engage in these difficult conversations through multiple interactive activities, with a focus on leveraging participant strengths by using individual personality and skills to have these conversations in participants’ own style.
- Engage participants in the interactive session and learn from each other through discussion, role-playing, and conversations motivated by participants’ questions and recently produced videos portraying several difficult conversations between statisticians and their collaborators.
Course learning objectives
- Build confidence for engaging in difficult conversations by improving skills for navigating these conversations, while respecting individual differences in communication strategies and professional settings and relationships.
- Cultivate communication skills and strategies for having difficult conversations on both technical and professional topics with collaborators and clients.
- Reflect on participant strategies for communication in the context of their career and their job’s expectations
- Create a sense of community among participants and start to build a support network for continued discussion and reflection after the course.
Schedule
9:00am Breakfast
9:30am-9:50am Instructor and participant introductions
9:50am-10:45am Setting the stage conversation
10:45am-11:00am Break
11:00am-12:50pm Focused discussion on tough conversations
12:00pm Lunch served during breakout sessions
12:50pm-1:00pm Closing discussion