The Problem:
Our company conference or any offsite get together follows a predictable pattern and often yields predictable outcomes and provides little value other than having (perhaps) ‘a good time’.
Is there a way to ensure we introduce valuable input as to how we are doing (as a company or team) and receive a performance assessment that could make a significant difference going forward?
The Solution:
Indeed there is and it involves hearing from a valued customer.
Introducing an external but connected ‘voice’ into your conference that offers an ‘outside-in’ perspective as to your performance, is the way to do it. Of course it needs to be a customer (and this could even be someone from elsewhere within your organisation if you happen to be an internal-facing service department) who is carefully chosen and who can deliver honest and authentic feedback.
I was recently at a conference for a company (let’s call them ‘Company A’) where such a customer was given the stage and what he shared and how he did it were masterful. It was a template that if followed, could make a tangible difference to your own conference proceedings and outcomes.
Here is what he did – it is a template worth emulating:
He was carefully selected as someone who had a good perspective on
His feedback was structured into two parts. The first part was to list Company A’s key deliverables (from his perspective as a client) and then he rated their performance against the market competitors. The ‘rating’ used
So he compared Company A to their competitors on things such as pricing,
The second part of his assessment was to reveal a survey that he had done amongst his own staff who dealt with Company A, asking
As I listened I immediately thought of how many conferences (and I get to see a lot of them!) would be greatly enhanced by this type of meaningful external feedback. Clear, uncluttered, honest feedback on how Company A was doing…fantastic!
I think the trick is getting the ‘right’ customer / client and ensuring that they have a mandate and template to make their input impactful and meaningful. It might be good to schedule it in such a way that they get to stay for a meal and interact further with your people outside of their formal role in the conference. After all, this can’t hurt in developing an even better relationship with that key client!
The world needs a new leadership response to a global context of change, complexity and uncertainty. Leadership expert (and author of today’s Tuesday Tip), Keith Coats is passionate about helping audiences around the world to understand what this response looks like and to equip leaders with the tools needed to respond to this changing context.
Keith’s research and global experience of over 20 years has helped him identify the key-defining factors of a successful leader in the 21st century as the ability to learn, grow and be adaptable. It is his great privilege to help leaders access new frameworks and thinking in order to successfully lead into the future. Chat with us if you’d like to explore how he could help your team prepare for the future.