How is it going?
Written by on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 – 4:49 am -I do not know about everyone else, but I get asked this question several times a day (or something very similar like how are you, etc.). It is usually occurs in the hallway as I am passing that person. I often wonder, do they really want to know how I am doing or is it just something that we say because we do not know what else to say?
I am going to guess that it is something we say because we do not know what else to say, so I want to encourage those that do this to just say “hello” or “hi” instead. I know that you do not really want to know how I am doing, and if I stop and try to explain how I am doing, you look flustered and cannot understand what I am doing. You just asked me how I was doing, was I supposed to know that you really did not care, you were just saying it to say it? This is a frustrating experience that happens on a daily basis.
This same sort of experience happens in th business world all the time, but instead of two people passing each other and exchanging “how are you doings”, it is a company interacting with their user base in a unilateral conversation. Typically, companies submit press releases or send newsletters or any other sort of communication and it is a one way street. They may ask for feedback, but what do they do with it, do they really digest it and make changes based on what you are saying? Most likely not, it is just their way of making sure that they include you, but not really. Instead, companies that do create a two way conversation with their users, engage them in what is really going on, being transparent, those companies are the ones that really care. They have figured it out that by actually caring about their consumers and treating them like humans can actually be beneficial to both the company and the consumers.
Why can’t we all just take a little more time and be a little more sincere. If not, stop asking “how’s it going” and just say “hi”.
Posted in Business, Opinions, Web Community |
Will Kern's take on business, startups, life and everything in between. This blog is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
i just went to a webinar that touched on how important it is to answer your clients, now that they have the ability to talk back to us. duh.
i’m a huge believer in making my business a
’see-through’ company. the number one reason is that i am human and will make mistakes and when i do, i want my clients to trust me enough to hang around and look past them. if they know me, they’ll trust me and they will stay. otherwise you get…well, look at our current administration. perfect example of how not to run a business, whether you are a rep or a dem. how do you make people dislike you and not trust you? be extremely secretive.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:11 pm
@Erin,
I agree, we are all human and we should run our businesses as such. If you are upfront with your consumers, they will respect you tenfold and be a little more forgiving when you make a mistake.
Will
July 31st, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Hi, Will. I got up this morning at 5:30 am to give my niece breakfast. Went to the gym at 8am and then was at work by 9. I spent much of my day in meetings and have a backlog of email to sort through. I took the kids for a walk when I got home before putting them to bed. Now I’m tired. How you doin’?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:10 pm
@Tom,
Thanks so much for asking. I am hanging on by a thread. Work is getting to me, the kids are all over the place, and my wife is ready to give birth at any moment. At any given time I feel like I am being pulled in 5 different directions, but other than that, I am doing just fine
Thanks again for asking!
Will
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:52 am
I’m mostly fine, but a little shocked by the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. How are you man?
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:05 am
@Rocky,
Not bad today, but it is still early. A lot could still go wrong ;-).
Thanks for asking, it nice to see that people actually care!
Will
October 30th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Online pharmacy codeine 222….
Buy 222 codeine. Codeine extraction. Codeine. Apap codeine pill….