Customer Development as a Life Philosophy.

This Friday article is about the application of modern business methods in everyday life. Please take it with a sense of humor.

Customer Development came to us as a methodology for identifying the needs of potential clients while creating new products. However, its principles can be applied to solving many personal tasks. Moreover, CustDev can be part of the life philosophy of a modern person.

Applying the philosophy of Cust Dev helps improve relationships between people. As a life principle, it may look like this:

If you want to achieve a good result and receive gratitude, first find out what people want and deliver that, rather than what seems right to you personally.

The algorithm for applying this principle is simple.

1. Try to prepare and conduct research in advance.
2. Recall the statements and actions of the people for whom you are going to do something on the given topic.
3. Think through clarifying questions.
4. Ask clarifying questions in advance and gradually, without attracting attention.
5. If you want to conduct research discreetly and without raising suspicion, naturally weave your questions into other conversations and discussions.
6. Avoid public surveys, as people often express not their own opinions in public but lean towards authoritative views.

How it can be applied. Examples.

Example #1: Buying a gift for a loved one or a colleague.

We all face the problem from time to time – what to gift our loved ones amidst a vast array of options. We want the gift to be personal, memorable, and heartfelt. In other words, just as the recipient desires.

Prepare in advance – pay attention to what the recipient looks at in stores, what they often talk about, and which items spark their interest.

The Customer Development methodology is effective when applied to exploring past experiences. If the topic of gifts ever comes up in your conversations, it's worth asking – what gift did you like or remember the most in your life? And why?

Ask mutual acquaintances about the interests of the person for whom you need to buy a surprise gift.
If you dare to ask directly what you should gift them, you risk hearing accusations of insensitivity or even greed. Therefore, it's better to explore the topic discreetly.

Example #2: Office Improvement.

Frequently, the topic of office improvement arises in HR circles—what else can be done to make it more comfortable for our beloved employees to work? This task is fairly straightforward when approached with a Customer Development philosophy.

Listen to what relaxation formats employees discuss over a cup of tea or coffee.
What inspires your employees? Do they talk about the interiors of well-known companies? Share photos of famous company offices in the chat and see what they have to say about it.

You can directly ask the question—'What would you personally improve in our office and how?' This should be asked in a one-on-one conversation. A survey can be organized using Google Forms, but it must be anonymous, and the request to complete it should be made personally to each employee. This is important because suspicious employees may immediately suspect something is wrong, thinking they are being assessed, fearing layoffs or that someone might lose their bonus.

Source: habr.com