Choose: (1) Build It and They Will Come, or (2) People Adapt to What They Helped Build?

For today’s #wisdomwednesdays, you gotta choose which statement makes more sense to you:

1. “Build it and they will come” or
2. “People adapt to what they helped build”

Think of a scenario in your your past when you tried to deploy initiatives that you think would benefit a lot of people.

Which strategy worked best?

The one where you built it, and then tried to push it to market? How did that go? Did they love it immediately soon as they saw it? Did they thank you for creating such a wonderful product or service?

Or did the strategy where you involved your audience in creating it work better for you?

If you’d want to find out what worked in my experience, then read on.

In my personal experience, #2 works best. And I had to learn the hard way.

When I tried method #1: Build it and they will come

In the past, I always came up with ideas for improving the process, and I went on to put together the business case, why I think it makes sense, what the benefits will be, and all the nitty gritty stuff.

Then when I present it to the stakeholders, I get a lot of push back, with reasons that looked like excuses to me.

I mean, why would they push back if they will be benefiting from this anyway right?

When I tried method #2: People adapt to what they helped build

But when I started involving them from the start, as early as developing and making sense out of the idea, that’s where the magic started to happen.

All of a sudden they started to become involved.

They wanted to voice out what they liked about it, what they didn’t, and they started to share suggestions.

The approval process was as frictionless as can be, and they were very open to clearing roadblocks to make sure it happens.

Not only that, come time to implement improvements, they helped mandate frontliners to ensure participation and implementation.

The change was like night and day.

I hope you found this to be of value. And feel free to try it out yourself!

Reply with a comment to let me know how it goes. I would love to hear from you!