Keeping it Simple
Have you ever spent a great deal of time coming up with options and solutions for a client, only to frustrate and overwhelm them in the process? Let’s discussing the importance of keeping it simple. Essentially, always remember that sometimes less is in fact more.
Key Takeaways
- Most people desire a short list of recommendations
- Clients are looking to you to help make a decision
- Too many options can overwhelm and frustrate a client
- Be careful in your exuberance to show depth of knowledge, you unwittingly confuse and frustrate
The Full Scoop
I was recently contemplating the relationship between the Capability Maturity Model and eagerly agreeing to implement new systems for clients. CMM is a maturity model that is often applied to software. Generally, maturity models help indicate the ability of a group to reliably achieve desired outcomes based upon overall level of organizational maturity.
Some organizations, whether large or small, are not well enough developed to reliably achieve success. Does the success of an organization or department regularly fall on the shoulders of a limited group of top talent? Regrettably, the success will then always be limited to the capacity they can individually devote to an assignment.
Bottlenecks
When top talent is engaged in a task, there will be favorable outcomes. When they are not engaged, the outcome will be a gamble. Organizations that are very sensitive to change, have brash or volatile managers, or employees operating through constant chaos; will indeed struggle through changes to their normal daily workflow.
An account manager who works with our dedicated Managed IT clients recently commented, that we should not move forward with a proposed project for an existing client. The comment took me by surprise, as the client has been with our firm for some time, pays regularly, and seems satisfied with the work we are performing. Our account manager commented, that we “do not want to ruin a good thing.” This particular client has employees who are very sensitive to change and the costs of our services. After further discussion, it became apparent that it would be best to keep our existing services in place with this client but encourage them to look outside our firm for the project they are interested in executing. Failures on our part to meet their expectations, specifically on timeline and cost, were not worth the risk to our existing relationship.
Fizen™
Before moving on an opportunity with a stable client relationship, consider the risks. Do the relationship risks (inherent in any IT Project) outweigh the benefits? It may be best for you to continue doing what you do well, for that particular client, rather than extending the relationship beyond their organizational maturity level to support. Have questions? Reach out to us to understand how we can assist with your next project.