Tracking YOUR Data

As museum professionals, we all know that regularly evaluating and knowing thy data are critical to a museum’s survival. Without this information, we are basing our work on hunches and personal bias. No good ever comes of that. While knowing your own stats, data, and other information is important, not knowing these numbers will not necessarily kill your career. However, knowing them can boost your confidence and give you an edge while job searching.

Sometimes tracking data will be done for your job and sometimes it will be done for you. Either way, I think it is important to track your data so that you have a measure of your own impact. For one thing, you can use it with your current employer because you have evidence of our important you are to your museum. You can also use it to add some impressive pizazz to your resume if you are job searching.

Knowing your numbers can also give you a measure of your own work progress. You can see trends in your own work or simply confirm what you already know about your own work cycle. For example, you know that May feels busier than August, but if you have these numbers you will know why.

So how does one track their own data? I don’t have all the answers here and am challenging myself to be better at measuring own data more. While most of my data is used for my job, I also use it to make myself a little more confident… like, wow, I did all that stuff. Because we should be proud of the work we do. So even if you are tracking your own data for yourself, it’s worth it.

Tricks for tracking your data:

1. Use the data that already exists. Chances are your organization does some form of data tracking. If you had a heavy hand in something, then those data points are yours too. Without your help, those numbers might not be as high as they are. For example, if you were involved with creating an exhibit in any way, then you should add the visitation numbers (especially if the exhibit caused a spike in overall visitation) to your resume or keep them in a profile of your work.
2. Use the data that exists, but pull out what is relevant to you. If you planned two massive public programs, then you should know the numbers of attendance and revenue, if possible. Numbers add sparkle to a resume.
3. Don’t dismiss financial data. Folks in some areas of the museum field already know this, but this isn’t a conversation we have enough in the content and education realm. Money is food for the institution and therefore your job. Of course, financial data will not always be readily available depending on one’s position. If it’s not available to you, make a good guess. Multiply the price of admission by the number of people who attended the program you planned or visited a new exhibit that you worked on. It’s even better when you can show an increase over time. Revenue is SO important.
4. Start collecting your own data. If you give tours, track the number of people who take your tour. If you facilitate specific programs, track those numbers too! It’s manual and takes some time, but it will show you the level of impact that you have on visitors. It will boost your confidence.
5. Know when and how to use it. A biggie here is to be smart about tracking your data. While some of this is work related, some of it is not totally, so tread with caution on the amount of work time you put into this. And don’t just throw your numbers around. Save them for appropriate times, such as reporting, raise negotiations or job interviews.

Does anyone already do any personal data tracking? Share any tips or tricks that you have below!