I’m a fixer.
I think many
new product development folks
are the same way.
We like to fix problems.
But to do that properly,
we have to first listen
WELL.
We have to
thoroughly understand
the problem
often better than the person
experiencing the problem.
That means
setting aside
our quick fix offers,
our judgment,
our excuses,
our dismissals
and simply hear
what the other person
is saying,
listening with our ears,
our eyes,
our hearts.
THAT detailed understanding
is where the best solutions
are hidden.
These solutions
could lead to new products,
new services,
new businesses,
a new world.
“Sometimes,
we get the chance
to hear about
someone else’s experience.
In those moments,
it’s tempting to use
the opportunity
to explain a situation,
to excuse
or even to persuade.
Perhaps it pays
to simply take good notes.
Acknowledge
what you’re hearing.
Encourage
and amplify
and find empathy.”
The key to finding
great solutions
is to first
listen WELL
to the entity
with the problem.