Don't forget about what got better
Negativity bias is the tendency to focus on only those things that aren't working, rather than focusing on what has improved. I've observed that during a switch from one AMS to another, frequently staff will fall into this trap. The result can be as simple as spending too much time on trying to fix something that isn't that important, to the extreme of staff believing the entire implementation has failed.
True story: I once had an executive director tell me an AMS implementation I was assisting with was a "complete failure" (her words) because we had gone live with one piece of functionality still not working. In her mind, this proved the project had failed, even though everything else had launched properly and they had seen many significant improvements over the old system. (The punchline is that not only was the functionality fixed within weeks, but that "failed" system has been used by the association for over 12 years now!)
So our job is to make sure we communicate the successes that any given project has achieved, as frequently as possible. Humans have a tendency to focus on the negative and flat out forget the positives. So we have to help them re-focus by reminding them of everything that has improved.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
The challenge the AMS providers see
The challenge the AMS providers see Over the years I’ve asked AMS providers what they …
Be careful about “solutioning” too quickly
Be careful about “solutioning” too quickly One of the great things about software developers is …
What’s our next action?
What’s our next action? As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time in …
Don’t automate for the sake of automation
Don’t automate for the sake of automation I’m the laziest person in the world. I …
Give a little at a time rather than taking away
Give a little at a time rather than taking away I’m sure there’s research somewhere …
First, you gotta have the data
First, you gotta have the data When I work with clients on a new AMS …
Work on your relationship with your AMS vendor
Work on your relationship with your AMS vendor It is no coincidence that my most …
Dashboards for Data Integrity
Dashboards for Data Integrity I’ve written a bunch on data integrity reports. (Click here for …
Next-to-Nothing Goals
Next-to-Nothing Goals I saw a Ted Talk by Christine Carter recently discussing the concept of …
Just because you can…
Just because you can… In response to a recent Wednesday Wisdom on averages hiding the …