Chapters 7-10: Energizing, Helping and Embracing the groundswell and How connecting with groundswell transforms company. (Reading reflection #2)

Chapters #7-9

  When I finished reading strategy section I understood some important ideas in this book. It helps   us to consider the importance of using the next strategic tools of groundswell - energizing, helping and embracing the groundswell. To wit, how our companies can move more quickly.

  According to the authors, "An energized community expects a response, and energized customers wield power within the community of customers. The message, for any company, is to listen and, whenever possible, to give customers what they desire most." (page #150)
  Written examples show that our customer community can innovate design of new products and make customer suggestions a part of how it does business and how some stores use ratings and reviews to improve products. Companies can implement many of these suggestions.

In each case companies are moving faster than they ever did before.

   When it comes to embracing customers, there are two things to remember:

"(1) It doesn't matter what kind of business you're in - if we have customers, they can help us. Our customers may have suggestions on how to improuve our business, our pricing, our billing, or our services. We will innovate faster and look responsive, and in the long term, that's going to bring more business our way.

(2)  Embracing customers takes balance between skill and humility. That's what accelerates innovation." (pages #193-194)

Chapter #10

 I just finished "How connection with Groundswell transforms your company." It is really a minefield! It requires a professional approach for transformation.
According to the authors "There are three essential elements for this transformation:
1) It's important to take this step by step. A mental shift takes time and practice and requires building a repertoire of shared successes.
2) Steping-stones lead in a natural progression to the next step.
3) We have to have executive support." (page #199)
This is a big risk for a person who offers this transformation.
But nothing ventured, nothing gained!