Statistics - telling us the whole story? (From Swindon Advertiser)

Statistics - telling us the whole story?

12:31pm Friday 27th November 2009 in

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Written by Adrian Embling

Reading through the latest report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) made fairly sober reading. Lots of big numbers and high percentages (in the negative columns) and lots of small numbers (in the positive columns). For example,”41% think poor mental health interferes with their ability to make decisions, and 36% believe they are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues”. Here’s another “Nearly four out of five (78%) with poor mental health find it difficult to concentrate at work as a result of their illness, and 57% say they take longer to do work.”

As I was mulling over these figures it struck me just how easy it is to be sucked into the numbers game and lose sight of the reality behind these statistics. Of course these findings give cause for concern, and they give important signals and messages to government, employers and local authorities, so that policies can change, resources can be allocated and support programmes developed. I think of that as ‘big picture’ stuff and, frankly, a little outside my sphere of influence.

I’m happier working with real people not figures. We must never forget that behind each big number is a real person, with unique problems and concerns and, probably, in need of some help. The important figures are all the individuals who make up these percentages.

I’m lucky, because my job gives me the opportunity to meet and (hopefully) help real people, not just big numbers in a report. That’s where the real impact lies – with individuals, with line managers, with supervisors, with work colleagues, with us – real people. When you next read these alarming statistics, don’t ask “What’s being done about that?”, ask instead “What am I going to do about that?”