Are you building a “Stereotype” or a Prototype?

I smiled when I read the story of an Essex Girl who so surprised herself she now wanted to seek a place at University.

Apparently her confidence had risen when she managed to complete a 500 piece puzzle in just 18 months.

Asked why this seemed outstanding she said “It said on the box 3 to 6 years!”

It reminded me that the humour was written around a “stereotype” in order for it to work.

A stereotype is something that has been standardised and not really how we want ourselves or our business to be viewed.

Image is Important to us all so how others view us will have a positive or negative influence on outcomes.

I got off lightly at school getting the nickname DC which is still used to this day.

Think of some of the poorer nicknames you can remember being given to some from your schooldays and you will see my point.

Image sticks so we ignore it at our peril.

What about our business then?

What early Image does it present to people because you can be sure you will be “boxed” under a heading to be remembered?

In truth you may have brilliant product or services but imagine this:

First I Google the product I need to source in good volumes.

There you are on page one of choices – so that’s a good start.

I click to your Web and “oh dear – this does not look promising”

The Web introduction is outdated, uninspiring and fits the “stereotype” of a Company with no interest in grabbing your attention.

Maybe that’s just a lapse, so a phone call might be better.

Its only 9.30 a.m. but the phones ringing a long time.

Five tries later I get reception.

“sorry there’s no-one available in that department so can you call back later?”

“Well actually I am pretty busy myself trying to give a big order to someone – so can someone call me back?”

“I will pass it on”.

Two days later I am still waiting but I don’t want to decide on the proposals I now have without completing the circle – so I ring them again.

“All I can say is we passed the message on so you can be sure they will ring you when they can” is all the progress I get.

It’s too late – the stereotype is fixed in my mind and all I could envisage with this Company is problems.

You might be investing millions in your business in other areas but getting a return might be problematic when you have also worked so hard to reveal a lack of care.

The small details of a relationship have to be important to a business.

Producing an obstacle course leads to your competitor.

None of us can avoid creating an Image – but having the sense to Influence it to be positive reaps the best rewards for the long term.

I often wonder what happened to “stinky” from school.

It’s so easy to lose touch!