MASTER’S NOTEBOOK
Statisticians Can Be Leaders…with Training
Mani Lakshminarayanan,
Committee on Applied Statisticians Chair
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If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more,
and become more, you are a leader
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.
~ John Quincy Adams
A
s members of the American Statistical Association, we supervision initially, but, with experience, they can advance to
recently elected our 105th president. There are no training positions with more technical responsibility and, in some cases,
programs or courses offered for leadership roles in most take on a leadership role.
graduate programs in statistics. Interestingly, if we looked at the Though analytical skills are crucial for any leader, there are
credentials of our ASA presidents, we would find they all held
other habits and skills that must be acquired. For example, Stephen
some type of leadership role in their day-to-day jobs, as well as
Covey, in his highly acclaimed book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
assuming a leadership role in the ASA.
People, mentions the following important traits: personal vision,
A leadership role in our careers as statisticians is something to
leadership, management, interpersonal leadership, empathic com-
aspire to after graduate school. It is common for a master’s gradu-
munication, creative cooperation, and balanced self-renewal.
ate to experience anxiety and dilemma when planning his or her
Having a clear vision and influencing the team are two critical
career, but that tension can be eased by the U.S. Department
qualities for any leader, as quoted by Jack Welch, former chair
of Labor’s good news that employ-
and CEO of General Electric. “Good
ment of statisticians is projected to
business leaders create a vision, artic-
grow 9% from 2006 to 2016, about
ulate the vision, passionately own
as fast as the average for all occu-
the vision, and relentlessly drive it to
pations. According to the depart-
completion.” To be a successful leader,
ment, about 30% of statisticians
Welch says one must build relation-
work for government/teaching and
ships with customers; demonstrate
the rest are employed in finance/
character, managerial competence,
and influence; build commitment by
insurance industries and scientific
empowering team members; and pay
research and development services.
attention to the team’s overall perfor-
In most organizations that hire
mance. If a statistician is looking for a
statisticians, there are two career
leadership role, these traits will have to
tracks a statistician can typically
be acquired.
pursue: technical and management.
Communicating the vision and
The technical track requires a stat-
consequently influencing the team is
istician to have a strong knowl-
one of the key steps a leader must take
edge of methodology, act as the
when in pursuit of the overall objec-
“go-to” person for technical issues,
tives of an organization. Research
stay abreast of statistical topics,
shows that persuasive communica-
and be active in statistical circles.
tion depends heavily on the power of
Sometimes, it may even require
repetition. James O’Tool, author of
people management. The pharmaceutical industry, some high-
Leadership from A to Z, describes the art of communication in
tech firms, many R&D organizations, and government agencies
broad terms: “The task of leadership is to communicate clearly
provide long-term technical track options. Academia is another
and repeatedly the organization’s vision.” To do this effectively,
option, if you are able to get tenured.
one needs to develop skills for interpersonal communication and
On the other hand, the management track requires project use emotional intelligence, in addition to being an effective speak-
management and team leadership. It is worth noting that many er and listener. Statisticians will most likely have to learn these
studies have shown subtle differences between general manage- special skills on the job, as there are no special courses offered in
ment versus leadership. For example, Thomas Cronin, in his article graduate school.
“Thinking About Leadership” notes that “managers do things the In summary, statisticians (at all educational levels) have a real-
right way, while leaders are more concerned with doing the right istic chance of becoming leaders in their respective organizations.
thing.” Attaining a leadership role in any organization is a feasible
They just need to constantly work to acquire the traits needed to
goal for most of us. Entry-level statisticians are generally under
be successful leaders while leveraging their analytical skills. n
JULY 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 25
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