How to Get Out of the “So What?” Trap

Have you ever spent months developing a data product, only to hear customers respond with a shoulder shrug and a resounding “So what?” If your insights aren’t driving action, your team might be caught in the “So What?” trap—a cycle where reports are produced, but real business impact is missing.

In this animated “Analytics Advantage” newsletter I explore why this happens and how to fix it. The two biggest causes are a “Publish or Perish” culture, where data teams prioritize report volume over meaningful insights, and the tendency to become “Order Takers,” fulfilling requests without strategic input. Both stem from a leadership that values quantity over quality.

To escape this trap, data teams must shift from reaction mode to strategic partnership. This means focusing on purpose-built data, collaborating directly with stakeholders, and ensuring that insights drive decisions, not just reports. By making these changes, teams can go from being seen as simple report generators to trusted advisors who influence real business outcomes.

If you want to transform the way your data team operates, watch and learn how to turn “So what?” into “Wow, this changes everything!”

***Subscribe to Analytics Advantage***Shaun Davis, your personal data therapist, understands your unique challenges and helps you navigate through the data maze. With keen insight, he discerns the signal from the noise, tenaciously finding the right solutions to guide you through the ever-growing data landscape. Shaun has partnered for 10 years with top data teams to turn their data into profitable and efficiency hunting action. Learn more about Shaun.