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Everyday companies are hit with new regulations, increased operating costs, employee issues and more. It can really be distracting. Sometimes these issues consume our time and we get wrapped up in more meetings, discussions and projects which may take us down a wrong path.
Yesterday, I met with my team and we looked at our list of projects. It was a refreshing discussion because a majority of our projects were focused on adding more value to our clients. These type of projects lead to better discussions and more ideas because all of us are forced to think like our clients and we see the company in a whole new perspective. I always hear comments like:
“that was a great meeting”
“I really need to make more time for these type of projects in addition to my day-to-day activities”
“we need to work on getting this work done for our clients”
“these projects will ultimately save us more time servicing clients”
My takeaway from this meeting is we need to meet more and generate more ideas and more options. Sometimes, we meet on a particular topic and we try to resolve the topic during that meeting. Maybe, we should spend the time to really generate more ideas on the topic and not necessarily look to resolve an issue as quick as we can.
In addition, we need to solicit more ideas from our clients. People always want to feel a part of something special and by listening and seeking the input of clients, we are building a bigger team of thinkers and we are ultimately getting better ideas because more people are a part of the process.
- Happy customers come back.
- Happy customers whose ideas are listened to will stay longer with you.
- Happy customers who share your ideas with others create strong advocates for your company.
Generating ideas from a customer point of view can not only lift your bottom-line. You may also see a new climate of happiness and better work culture. A better work culture translates into a more successful company.
Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
