Avoiding the big sucking sound of a time waster

We've all been there. Whether it is said explicitly or not, the clear message of the project is "I'll know it when I see it." When you hear or sense this you hear the big sucking sound of a time waster coming on. Invariable it creates an endless cycle of, "hmmmm not quite right." If the architectural drawings, high-heeled shoes or ad campaign doesn't meet their unstated standards, you're back to doing it again.

Sometimes you can make a handsome profit on all the fees you charge to redo things that indulge the ego of the customer, but more likely than not, your time is wasted until they're happy. If you have a client who feels the same way, you can work together to save time and money by being clear with each other about what's wanted. I think helping a client say what they want before they see it is a worthy endeavor.

Here are some good ideas from Seth Godin on how to avoid all this.

1. Do it on purpose. When engaging with a new client, intentionally create an environment where personal taste is described in advance, and as much boundary-building as possible is done when it's cheap to iterate, not at the end when it's expensive.


2. Demand benchmarks. The world is filled with things that are a lot like what you've been asked to create. So mutually identify them. Show me three other websites that feel like what you're hoping to feel like. Hand me a hardcover book that has type that reads the way you want yours to read. Walk me through a building that has the vibe you're looking for...


3. Describe the assignment before you start. Using your words and the words of the client, precisely state what problem you're trying to solve. "We're trying to build something that does a, b and c, and not d..."


4. Then, before you show off your proposal, before you hand in your work, restate the problem again. "You asked us to do a, b and c at a cost of under X. What I'm about to show you does a, it does b and it does c... and it costs half of X." This sort of intentional restatement of the scope of work respects your client by honoring their stated intent, at the same time it focuses your work on the stated goals.


5. Make a decision about whether you want a reputation for doing this sort of focused work. If you do, don't work for clients who don't buy into the process. Over time, you'll earn the kind of clients you want.

via Seth's Blog: Avoiding "I'll know it when I see it".

Related articles

• How to Give Your Clients Exactly What They Want (bizsugar.com)

Is hope a good strategy?

Is hope a good strategy? For many of us in business, it seems to be on some days. We can break out of that vicious cycle though. With business technology, we can bring clarity to the business goal and help with a workforce computing strategy that enables the business goal.When thinking of the workforce computing strategy, some questions to answer are:

• What is the measurable business goal?


• What capabilities are needed to reach the goal?


• What strategies is the business focused on?


• What culture is our business creating?


• What people, processes and information is needed?


• What are the current gaps that exist with our employee computing environment?

David Johnson at Forrester Research has just published Forrester's Workforce Computing Strategic Plan research. He  has some great insights.

How strange it seems then, that thousands of IT projects begin every day, but more than one third of them crash enroute. Why? I would argue that it's because there is seldom a clear destination in mind, a rational plan to get there, nor a viable system approach in place to execute the plan. Most of the time, the destination and the means to get there are only vague estimates, and the elements of the strategy are rooted in hope.

via What Is A Workforce Computing Strategic Plan...And Why Do You Need One? | Forrester Blogs.

Related articles

• What Is A Workforce Computing Strategic Plan...And Why Do You Need One? (zdnet.com)


• 3 Reasons Good Strategies Fail (inc.com)


• How comfortable are you at participating in business strategy conversations? (businesstechnologypartner.wordpress.com)


• A Simple Idea that Every Good Strategist Knows (leadingstrategicinitiatives.wordpress.com)