Idiot! You can't disconnect your Value Proposition, Corporate Vision and Personal Freedom!

There is a powerful talk by Simon Sinek on TED that outlines his reasoning why there is a case for communicating your value proposition from the inside out:  talk about what your company vision is, before you discuss the specifics of the product value proposition, and what you do.

As I have outlined before, the reason for bringing a specific product to market and understanding exactly what the problem is that you are trying to solve is fundamental.  If you cannot answer the simple question of what the problem is that you are solving, then "Houston, we have a problem".



There is another basic fundamental to add into the mix.  Unless you understand that from today onwards, the job of product management, the team that shape the company strategy, and the exec hierarchy in the company have to deliver in one specific area in order to be successful:  focus on empowering your customer and giving them control back.  If you do not think that this is a credible train of thought, then you should go and read this piece by David Johnson from Forrester on User Freedom.

To get back to the foundation of success and innovation:  in a great interview about the DNA of the worlds most innovative companies, INSEAD Professor Hal Gregersen outlines the findings of his research.  One of his key observations is pretty fundamental - many companies are now rethinking their understanding of what the purpose is for their existence.  The process of rethinking is an ongoing process and CEO led, (not delegated), what is fundamentally different is that it is future looking and has a direct potential impact on stock price.  Well worth a watch.

And finally, there is a fundamental truth that has to be recognised by corporate strategists, product managers and innovators .. you have to talk to other people about your hunch, ideas, concepts in order to validate them.  More often than not, this is where you could gain that valuable insight that allows you to really polish your value proposition, but it also more importantly allows you to build a relationship of trust with your (potential) customers and gain valuable insight into what the actual problems are that keep them awake at night - and these are the key elements that your value proposition has to address.  This short from Steven Johnson illustrates just why talking to others is critical to your success:

What do you think?