Give good output
Monday, March 25, 2013 at 12:31PM "We've got to get input from people on how this service will be designed, structured and delivered", said Jason, a client I met up with this morning.
But how is that 'input' experience going to go for the business and the project team... and the users?
For Jason and the team, they are keen to get control over the engagement, the collaboration and the 'working with others' that is to come over the next few months.
"It can go sooooo off track," he said. "On the one hand, we absolutely need their input... but it can be such a pain to open up that huge world of possibiliy - they want everything, they want it now."
We both chuckled at the 'Daddy I want an oompa loompa and I want it now' quote from the spoilt child character Veruca Salt in the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film.
To get input into design and delivery, you do want to get it right and be conscious of how it can get out of hand, drag on or never seem to be finished.
So with Jason, I'll be designing the input, engagement and consultation process in a way that generates great input and is an enjoyable and successful process.
When you're going for input from people, it needs to save time, not steal time.
It needs to engage with 'yowza' not yawn, and it needs to deliver great positioning and awareness of what the project or team is about to embark on.
How you handle this phase of engagement, consultation and development will say so much about how you intend to work with the business over the coming months.
Plan for good input and you'll give good output.