The product isn't going to improve itself. It requires you to get feedback that you're not going to like. Learn the 5 steps of a powerful feedback loop.
You're not going to like me, but: “Some people say, "Give the customers what they want." But that's not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they're going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, 'A faster horse!'" People don't know what they want until you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.” - Steve Jobs. And yes, we all can't be Steve Jobs (nor sure I'd want to be, he's dead) The only other alternative is to have ultimate faith in what is being created, having the faith to realize that it will make sense to everyone at some point. For me, I invoke the "Stockdale Paradox," knowing it will turn out the way it was meant to, but deal with the reality that comes while waiting along the way. And one must not forget timing, damned timing!
I agree with you, and Henry Ford, in that the question for customers is not “what do you want”.
However I don’t think that means no feedback loop. I’m fact the feedback loop becomes even more important because of the IKEA Effect - it gets people to realize the problem they are really having.
The companies that don’t innovate are the ones who either don’t have a feedback loop or ask the basic question of “what’s your problem and how do you want to solve it?”
I always feel like the question is “what do you think would make your company better?”, “why do you think that?” “Why for that?” “Why?”
Around the third “why” you con figure out the true problem and be creative in addressing that.
The feedback loop, however, is different than market research. It’s about keeping customers engaged and making them feel like they have a sense of ownership. I sometimes ask questions I know the answer to - just to make them feel like they have a voice.
You're not going to like me, but: “Some people say, "Give the customers what they want." But that's not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they're going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, 'A faster horse!'" People don't know what they want until you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.” - Steve Jobs. And yes, we all can't be Steve Jobs (nor sure I'd want to be, he's dead) The only other alternative is to have ultimate faith in what is being created, having the faith to realize that it will make sense to everyone at some point. For me, I invoke the "Stockdale Paradox," knowing it will turn out the way it was meant to, but deal with the reality that comes while waiting along the way. And one must not forget timing, damned timing!
I agree with you, and Henry Ford, in that the question for customers is not “what do you want”.
However I don’t think that means no feedback loop. I’m fact the feedback loop becomes even more important because of the IKEA Effect - it gets people to realize the problem they are really having.
The companies that don’t innovate are the ones who either don’t have a feedback loop or ask the basic question of “what’s your problem and how do you want to solve it?”
I always feel like the question is “what do you think would make your company better?”, “why do you think that?” “Why for that?” “Why?”
Around the third “why” you con figure out the true problem and be creative in addressing that.
The feedback loop, however, is different than market research. It’s about keeping customers engaged and making them feel like they have a sense of ownership. I sometimes ask questions I know the answer to - just to make them feel like they have a voice.
That's a good answer