Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend of mine who is a consultant for a local technology firm. We’ve known each other for years and I always appreciate his insights and ideas. While he knows a lot about publishing and the marketplace, he’s not in the industry so he doesn’t have the normal biases or institutional memory. I came away from our time together inspired and much more informed than I was when we began an hour earlier.
I don’t know about you, but I have a small network of close friends who give me tremendous input. If you don’t have such a group, I’d highly recommend that you seek out people who are willing to just hang with you and talk about their market or ministry, what they are seeing as trends, how their organization is responding and what they think about your industry. It’s an invaluable way to get advice and input as often the best input comes from someone who brings to the table a totally different point of view or comes from a totally different place than you do.
The most successful leaders I’ve known feel comfortable asking for the input of others whenever they need it. They make no attempt to project an image of the all-knowing executive.
Why would you want to seek input from people outside your market or business?
I learned a long time ago that there are many people much brighter than me who can give me input and advice that cuts to the chase.
Do you regularly hang out with people who can help stretch your thinking to new ideas and perspectives?
©2014 Wayne Hastings. All Rights Reserved. Site by Birdsong Creative.
3 Responses to “The Power of Gathering Input”
It’s so important for each of us to do this, Wayne, yet so few of us do it. Probably because it takes us out of our comfort zone. I am so fulfilled by people with whom I can have in-depth conversations; people who don’t necessarily agree with my point of view but who bring intelligent, thoughtful input to the discussion. When I can talk with someone who doesn’t necessarily agree with me but is respectful enough to listen and share his or her point of view without rancor, it makes my day.
Michele, thanks for the comment and I totally agree. Once trust is developed it’s very helpful to get other opinions and points of view. Too often we’re stuck in the rut of our own thinking.
On 9/25/09 2:33 PM, “typepad@sixapart.com” wrote:
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Thanks, Michele and I totally agree. Once trust between friends is developed the back and forth conversation is a tremendous help.
On 9/25/09 2:33 PM, “typepad@sixapart.com” wrote:
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