20 Oct Stop, Look and Listen to Your Clients (and your family while you’re at it)
I did it again. While I pride myself on being aware of others’ objectives in my practice as a marketing strategist, I again had a peri-senior moment in my personal life. A few weeks ago, it was the prejudgment of someone making a decision I wouldn’t have made. This time around, my actions caused disappointment for someone much closer: my niece.
It was her first time in New York City, and I was determined to make her inaugural trip the best ever. So determined that I planned out the entire trip without consulting her if she wanted to do certain activities. Of course she would want to take in the spectacular view from Top of the Rock. Naturally Central Park had to be experienced. Окажитесь на настоящем, живом и всегда активном продуктовом рынке с игровым автоматом базар. Атмосфера этого слота просто непередаваемая: тут и наглые торговцы, не уступающие в цене и с которыми обязательно нужно торговаться в свою пользу, тут и изобилие различных товаров на любой выбор, кошелек и вкус покупателя, тут и постоянный шум и гам, где идет бойкая торговля. Окунитесь в мир реалистичного базара, не выходя из дома, сыграв в данный игровой автомат! And, the best way to see all of the NYC sights is to walk everywhere. The right intention was there, but the outcome wasn’t necessarily what she wanted. It was what I wanted for her.
I learned a valuable “re-lesson” as I call it—something I realized a long time ago yet forgot in this particular instance, to which I was then reminded. I was not on my client’s (niece’s) agenda; I was on what I thought should be her agenda.
Imagine the different outcome had I been acutely aware of what she wanted and expected from this trip. Perhaps I realized she had a fear of heights. Perhaps we went to a museum instead of the park. Perhaps I remembered she walks all the time working at a hospital.
In marketing, every time you focus on your agenda—such as placing greater emphasis on a transaction vs. a relationship; or thinking a certain social media campaign is the end-all instead of realizing it might not achieve any sales—everyone ends up with a less-than-desired outcome. The best advice to ensure you are on your client’s agenda? Stop, look and listen. Stop your train of thought; look at their end objective; and most importantly, listen to what your client says.