subject: Internet Marketing Strategy: Contrasting The Majority [print this page] Internet Marketing Strategy: Contrasting The Majority
Hi guys! How's it going? I sure hope you're having a great time watching your bottomline grow as I am.
Here's one helluva thought: Encourage opposition. If you want your Internet marketing venture to work, you've got to create a climate that fosters an honest exchange of opinions. Only by ensuring that your environment is conducive to all forms of thoughts, feelings and impressions can you be assured that you are seeing the whole picture.
Problem is, people are afraid of going against the flow. When the majority agrees on a position to take, those who are in the minority are often hesitant to take a stand. It's easier to simply stay quiet than get the ire of everyone else on the same boat. What adds to this difficulty, too, is that the majority opinion is easily confused with the correct opinion. When most members of a group are in agreement, they almost always believe that they are right. And this is the single biggest piece of bull I've ever heard.
The reality is, when people dissent, it's because they've seen something that others haven't. It's not the same as having people play "devil's advocate" when you're trying to see the other side of the equation. True dissenters stand on principle. They oppose not for the mere act of opposing, but because what they see runs counter to what they perceive as right, or in business, what they see as being more profitable or a more apt solution.
As a leader, you've got to be sensitive to the subtle means by which members of your team express their views. You just can't afford to lose out on valuable input just because everyone else thinks of it in an entirely different way. Majority opinion is not always the correct opinion. And even if it is, hearing out what those who dissent have to say might pave the way for a more ingenious alternative.
It's in your hands to create that kind of atmosphere among the members of your team. Give them the chance to openly disagree. You wouldn't want to put your business in jeopardy because your group is polarized into thinking that only one method or one strategy should be followed.
One last thing: As a business owner and leader, the final call should always remain with you. One thing that prevents others from speaking their mind is when decisions are based on raising of the hands, and they don't want to be left out. Any decision regarding your company is your responsibility. But arriving at that sound decision entails you to understand the issue in its entirety.
To do that, you've got to encourage your team to oppose the majority when the occasion calls for it.
