Would I Enjoy My Buying Experience? Remembering the Customer

“When did it happen?” you wonder.

Your status as an expert is long-established.

You know what questions people will ask before they know what to ask,
Let alone the answers they’re looking for.

But, despite all this, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to venture into the unknown.

Worse yet, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a customer.

Many experts and business owners rely on their experience, and with great reason.

That expertise established your dominance, in a positive way, in the workplace and in the marketplace.

You’ve gained credibility amongst your coworkers and are the resident expert for all things.

You’ve dominated the marketplace and hold a reputation of being the top dog.

But this creates an interesting equation:

              E + E = E

And no, for engineers and math majors, I didn’t mistype; it’s not 2E.

Your Experience and your Enthusiasm become your Enemy.

You see, because you know the answers, you begin to adopt, even with the best of intentions, a posture that shuts down input.

              See: Save Your Company by Listening for additional reading!

You feel valuable by having the answers.

Your time can’t be wasted by listening to the rest of the question.

As an expert, you need to move onto the next thing.

But remember what it’s like to not have the answers.

If you go to someone who just gives you the answer but belittles your intelligence by having to ask, are you going to ask this expert again in the future?

Maybe, but not if you have other options.

Contrast that experience with asking the person who helps you feel heard, understands where you’re coming from, and helps you arrive at the answer you’re looking for?

What kind of experience is that?

How do you feel about asking them something in the future?

This is the approach you must keep in mind as you develop your expertise and solidify your stature.

Remember the customer, even when the customer is someone trying to learn.

When it comes to implementing this from a business standpoint, you must take the time to understand your external customer: the buyer.

Remember, customers write your paycheck.

When you go to purchase a product, do you enjoy having to become an expert of a company’s ins and outs before you can make a purchase?

Why should you learn the inner workings of their goods or services?

And woe to you if you miss something!

You may be left with buyer’s remorse.

As your business changes—whether proactively into new markets or reflexively for other business needs—keep in mind what it would be like to purchase from you.

May companies are working to change their business model to fit the demands of the current economic conditions.

New products might have different models than before.

And, when making decisions as an expert at your company, knowing all the ins and outs of your business, make a sound decision.

But you aren’t the one who will be buying your goods and services—your customers will.

So before you respond—whether to individual requests from coworkers or an ever-evolving marketplace of buyers—ask yourself:

Would I enjoy my buying experience?

Remember the customer.

Remember what it’s like to venture into the unknown.

These insights are part of what makes Company Connections different. Our approach offers more than simple solutions. They equip you with the ability to implement the kind of change that separates you from the competition.

Remember what it's like to learn, and remember what it's like to be a first-time buyer.