The Most Important Activity for Any Leader

<p>There is one activity every leader should do every day, and it may not be what you think.</p> <p>In my book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3ek6Hs0">The Customer Rules,</a> Rule #15 is Be Like a Bee.</p> <p>There is a story behind this rule or customer service. </p> <p>A girl asked Walt Disney if he was involved in making the movies. Walt explained he was like a bee. He buzzed around the company looking for and spreading new ideas.</p> <p>What Walt told the young girl is the most important activity for any leader. You need to get out among people and hear their ideas. And help spread those ideas. </p> <p>If you want to be like a bee, ask more questions. Talk to customers and employees. Departments in your organization may have no idea what other ideas are up to.</p> <p>Here are some ideas of what questions to ask;</p> <p>"Why do you do it like this?"</p> <p>"Do you think there is a better way to do this?"</p> <p>"Have you ever thought about doing it this way instead?"</p> <p>"What do you like most about the way we do things?"</p> <p>"What don't you like?"</p> <p>"What do you hate to have to say to our customers?"</p> <p>"If you could change 2 things about how we serve our customers what would they be?"</p> <p>"What items do you usually run out of?"</p> <p>"What percentage of our customers are repeat customers and what percentage are one-timers?"</p> <p>"What else can I do for you?"</p> <p>Buzz around every day until you find all the issues and uncover all the ideas. Then you can spread ideas, uncover new solutions and pollinate your organization. </p>