One Size Never Fits All
We all know that the “one-size-fits-all” tag on a t-shirt isn’t true, and it isn’t true in the workplace either. Whether you provide a product or service, lead a team or organization, or simply show up at work each and every day – personalization and customization are critical to success. Recycling is important when it comes to paper and plastic, but not when it comes to people. People want to feel seen, heard, validated, valued, special, and unique – not a nameless, faceless, and meaningless number or entity. This is true for everyone…clients, customers, colleagues, employees, managers, friends, and family alike. This is why we respond more positively when our name appears on top of our favorite birthday cake rather than when we receive mail addressed to “Resident.”
The most successful and effective leaders know that each person on the team needs something different. They know how to customize their style and approach to match each individual…how to best communicate, motivate, inspire, have hard conversations, deliver feedback, push, and to connect. Top leaders know it is never a “one-size-fits-all” situation. Some leaders know how to do this naturally and intuitively and already have high Emotional Intelligence (EQ) that enables them to “read the room” very well. However, if this is not a natural strength of yours, don’t worry. EQ is a skill that can be learned, developed and strengthened, and ON Point has administered the Assessment and coached many leaders on how to increase their proficiency in this area. Another incredibly helpful tool when it comes to customization is the DiSC Assessment. Understanding your unique style and approach allows you to then better understand and relate to others using very specific strategies, tips, and techniques.
When it comes to running a business that provides a service, like executive coaching or consulting, customization is the top priority. From a 1:1 coaching engagement and 9-Month Leadership Academies to team coaching, organizational development and keynote presentations, everything is customized – because one size never fits all! Our clients expect us to understand their needs, their goals, and their challenges. They don’t want a recycled or repurposed program…they want something specifically tailored for them. They want customized content, curriculum, success metrics, and deliverables designed just for them. For example, we are coaching sales teams at two different companies. On the surface it may seem like an “apples-to-apples” situation…two sales teams responsible for driving revenue for their respective companies. However, nothing could be further from the truth. These two sales teams could not be more different and, therefore, they require a very different approach, a different focus, and a different program entirely. It’s all about knowing your “audience” and/or client and designing a customized program, presentation, product or service that meets them where they are at and gets them to where they want to go.
7 Benefits of Customization
- Strengthens connections and relationships
- Increases loyalty and retention
- Drives revenue and referrals
- Separates you from the competition
- Builds trust
- Improves performance and results
- Enhances marketability
