WAIT! A meeting thought

How many times have you seen meetings move from the agenda to mindless topics not relevant to anyone present? I’m sure everyone is nodding their heads. Now, how many times have you lead such meetings and helped things go hay-wire and then come out of the meeting thinking WTF just happened? I know your answers will be ‘Me never.’ ‘Thats not me.’

We all have done this, I have done this.

It’s difficult to stop your mind process when you are in a meeting and in the wind of things you sail with the boat everyone is in.

WAIT! – Why Am I Talking? What Am I Telling?

I have been writing without coming to my point concisely and I have asked myself this question or is it a statement.

So, addressing my point do we really need to talk senseless crap during meeting just to impress a few people. Tell yourself to WAIT and ask the question.

It’s a practice and you may not realize the effectiveness it causes in shortening the meeting and making it way more productive.

You must be thinking what about if this is not me and it’s some other guy in the meeting. Then, you are in the meeting for a reason or are you just a jazzy eye candy?

Better presentations = Good story telling

The entertainment is in the presentation.

– John McTiernan

I don’t quite agree to the statement. There are many ppts & keynotes depicting how you make a sleek presentation, Steve Job’s kinda slides and other stuff. We tend to forget one thing the slides are a part of the presentation and not the complete presentation. Have you heard of beauty & the beast?

Story-telling in presentations doesn’t just refer to keeping the audience hooked to the presentation with a story but also how you represent the facts mentioned in the presentation. The beauty of the presentation is spoilt if there is a shabby, illiterate presenter who cannot dramatize the points mentioned. Make the audience feel the way he is feeling about the bulleted points.

Presentations and story-telling are the visual and audio treat for the audience. They have to go hand-in-hand or else it would be like Batman & Ace Ventura teaming up. Just imagine what a chaos that would be.

Few points to remember while making a presentation as an effective story teller -

• Communicate the message – Many presentations are lost midway drifting from the main message.
• Remove your stress – Relax your mind and concentrate on the goal that you want to achieve by giving this presentation.
• Prepare & practice – This is a confident builder. Your content gets concise upon practice and the effectiveness starts oozing out.
• Engage your audience – The most challenging to get done while delivering the presentation. Pose a close-ended question or a tingling fact which will revive the audience.

I know there are more points that has to be taken care of by the presenter. How about you tell me which you feel is important and not included in my list.

Your comments are welcome.

Good Customer Experience: Is it too much to ask?

All a rhetorical way of pointing out that businesses (and people) do two things. Most of focus on just one (at least when we’re doing the task at hand) which is the task at hand. But, there’s something else that’s far more important, something disconnected from what’s produced but certainly related: how you made the customer feel. – Seth Godin

This the fact being faced by all companies. During a startup, the customer experience and feedback are considered everything. But, few years into the startup when the business grows then the same feedbacks get a new term as tasks.

Company employs more, business increases then why does the customer experience not get catered to? Everyone starts having to-do lists & prioritizations occurs. Do customers demand a lot in the name of the experience?

Some companies do it well irrespective of their size, some companies do it exceptionally well while they are start-ups & keep the pace. I’m sure some names just pop in your mind. Why can’t all companies have one goal? Why don’t they strive to be that name?

Good customer experience isn’t just providing a good navigational web interface, its about the missing human touch they want to contact and get their concerns addressed to. It isn’t about giving apps with features, its about listening to the comments written & replying with a personal element without promises that cannot be met.

Companies can diversify their direction towards the customers just a step at a time and see the world of difference in the customers reactions towards them.

New customers are build by stories told effectively by your loyal customers and they never join by the exaggerated stories told by your ignored customers. Your choice!

Needs analysis – differentiate between need and greed

“There is enough in this world for every-person’s need but not enough for one man’s greed.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Needs analysis focuses on the requirements related to your business goals, aspirations & needs of the user. The main purpose of needs analysis is customer satisfaction.

The business goals have to be defined from the perspective of the needs of your customer base and not by the greed of the employees. There are instances of features introduced in your service because of egos being at stake and to satisfy the greed the project is forwarded and completed.

Customer needs are to be considered at every level and every department to ensure they receive the desired product / service to satisfy their requirements of a near perfect business.

Needs analysis is also driven to the aspect of human needs and not just focused on building unlimited features in the product.

Few ways that the areas of needs for your customers can be understood -

• Customer surveys – Our business does have a 80-20 ratio so collect feedback from the top 20% who are doing 80% of your business to start with.
• Regular feedback calls – Be in regular touch of your customers to understand the market pulse.
• Being transparent – Clarity is your biggest asset to your customers

Analysis of customer behavior is one of the hidden keys to your business success. So jump into it & come with creative ways to understand & develop them.

Business Capability! Is it important?

Ask yourself one question “What is my role in the company/business?”. It doesn’t matter your level in the company. You could be a CEO or an entry level associate. This question will make you understand the your value & your expertise can get to your company.

Businesses are run from 2 perspectives – a) Business process and b) Business capability.

Business Process is working IN your business. This is the mode of your survival instincts. This is where you look at your current status, your role in ensuring the business is working smoothly. Your answer to the question “Is our product/service achieving the standards set by our customers?”.

Capability – This is the essence of your business. Your future, your dreams, your strategies & your business plans. Business Capability is working ON your business. The future is NOW! Don’t confuse this with “My wish-list” which may never take flight. These involve practical solutions or features or technological enhancements that will you jump a leap over your competitors.

Business Capability lists to some points that can be done to achieve your business goals -

• Stress-test your growth assumption
• Focus on project execution
• Hunt for new pockets of growth
• Keep your eyes fixed on the long-term
• Re-look at the current business model

Be at the forefront of the new drive to emerge as a faster, stronger & bigger company/business.

So, returning to my question “Business Capability! Is it important?” is for you to answer by looking at your role in your company/business at a microscopic level.