"Different" isn't necessarily better or worse.
One of the biggest challenges I face when working with my clients is getting them to think differently about things. Whether it's a wholesale change of systems (e.g., a new AMS) or a change in how data is processed within an existing system, thinking about things differently is difficult.
Part of the challenge is that "different" is a neutral term; different is neither better nor worse. It's just not doing what you normally would do. Change for change's sake has no value.
So if we want people to think or do differently, we have to communicate the value in making that change. How will doing things differently make their lives better? What value does the change bring to them and their organization?
Everyone says "change is hard" and "no one likes to change." But the reality is things change every day and we quickly adapt because we implicitly or explicitly see the value in adapting.
And that's how we get people to think do differently. Help them see the value.
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Cheaper now; costlier later.
Cheaper now; costlier later. Most of my clients are very cost-conscious, understandably. After all, who […]
The unified shopping cart: Dreams vs. reality
The unified shopping cart: Dreams vs. reality One of the more common requests I hear […]
Don’t forget to celebrate!
Don’t forget to celebrate! Truth be told, I’m not a big celebrator. (Maybe it’s because […]
Three thoughts on duplicate records
Three thoughts on duplicate records Duplicate records are a reality in any database of any size, […]
Please don’t do this…
Please don’t do this… I’ve noticed a trend among online retailers that I want to […]
AI is perpetually patient
AI is perpetually patient My friend and colleague Noel Shatananda of fusionSpan was providing me some […]
User adoption is (almost) all that matters…
User adoption is (almost) all that matters… I was speaking with an association recently about their […]
When “overcommunicating” becomes overwhelming
When “overcommunicating” becomes overwhelming There is a common belief in project management and general business management that overcommunicating […]
Communicating when there is a major technology change
Communicating when there is a major technology change For those of you who are ASAE […]
Everything works, until it doesn’t.
Everything works, until it doesn’t. “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.” – […]
