Return on Intention

Whether you are a marketer, business owner or cubicle warrior it pays to understand people. Most of the really critical decisions made in organizations are related to the touch points, or the areas and means that an organization comes into contact with is stakeholders ( customers, employees, partners, etc.). Whether its a new market campaign or a revised company policy there is a high likelihood that the effort will effect people, so getting to know people is crucial for any professional.

This advice seems to be pretty self evident, but you might be surprised how many professionals forget this. It’s so easy to throw yourself into your work and spend all your time trying to get more done, all the while believing that it’s the most effective way to increase your value and your professional growth. Believe me and my 80 hour work weeks.

Its good to keep up with your industry, and just as Thomas Edison used to say “Genius was 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration”, so working hard is good too, but to really understand people you need to spend time with them. Get out of your safety circle of colleges and friends and meet some new people. It will give you a different perspective, and often, insight. Especially if your job is to communicate a message to a market (people) its good to remember that not everyone thinks the same way you do. Go find those people who think differently and have a conversation.