Creating innovative solutions, instead of comfortable solutions, works best when you actually prioritize addressing unmet client needs. To tease out the story of what is truly behind each design specification. So you create robust – yet flexible and innovative – client-focused solutions.
Consider whether your project outcomes end up being comfortable solutions, rather than innovative ones. The solution you intend to deliver isn’t quite the solution which, ultimately, is delivered.
I work with clients on attaining professional innovation, workforce innovation and business growth. Often, clients voice they are ready to move to the next level. However, when it is time to make hard calls and changes, well, that is when leadership becomes skittish. Yes, they want to say they will innovate and change. But, well, maybe not that much beyond what is currently comfortable today.
As a result, instead of truly addressing unmet client needs, your outcomes really address creating a new version of what people are used to using. Or how clients are used to doing things. Subsequently, you and I can “settle” rather than innovate.
Have you experienced similar scenarios? If so, click here and let me know your thoughts.
Today’s pandemic scenario makes attaining unmet client needs more difficult. Because, each day, clients (and we) experience fluctuating levels of uncertainty and ambiguity.
What has not changed is that unmet client needs always involve being proactive and anticipatory. Not only of what is needed, tomorrow. But also of what is needed for at least three iterations beyond tomorrow. To capture and retain clients co-invested in the robust, yet flexible, value you and your teams bring to their table day after day.
Being proactive and anticipatory addresses meeting a continuum of client needs within continuously changing, interconnected business environments.
- For those of us comfortable with continuous change, you and I always aim at a constantly moving target.
- However, for those of us uncomfortable with continuous change (including our clients), we only want to address that moving target once. And that’s it. We are done. Hoping things calm down and stabilize in place until the next time we react to fluctuating business conditions. And once again take a look at client needs.
How comfortable are you with today’s continuously changing, interconnected business environments? Are you overwhelmed because you think about the entirety of the problem, instead of each one millimeter increment of your journey with clients?
Become more comfortable being uncomfortable, to better serve and lead your teams. As you better serve your clients’ unmet needs together. Click on this link and let’s get started, together!
Babette Ten Haken translates across unprofitable and unproductive communication and collaboration disconnects between the business-operations continuum. She is a card-carrying STEM professional and left-brain thinker specializing in cross-functional leadership, new product development and professional innovation. Contact Babette here. Her One Millimeter Mindset™ virtual and in-person speaking programs get everyone to where they need to go, together: one millimeter at a time. Optimize strategic business and human capital value in your organizations. Build trust to retain employees and clients co-invested in each other’s success. Her playbook of cross-functional tools, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com.
Image source: Adobe Stock
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