simplifing business decisions

HandsOnWP.com @nick_batik@sandi_batik

Simplifying Business

Decisions February 13, 2017

Presented by Sandi & Nick Batik

http://handsonwp.com/


Simplifying Business Decisions This WPATX Deep Dive Discussion looks

at how simplifying our business decision processes can save us both time and money, and with some clients, our sanity. The goal of this discussion is to help our community master better decision processes and understand that while folks with paychecks, get paid to sit in meetings to mull possibilities. Freelancers are paid for work delivered.



Simplifying Business DecisionsSuccessful Freelancers simplify business decisionsReach consensuses quicklyMove from endless discussion to actual implementation.



Time Wasted Is Opportunity Lost



Simplifying Business Decisions …and like Winston the Impwesonating Turtle —

I too have ‘Made Some Bad Choices’



Simplifying Business DecisionsTo simply business decisions we need two things: Humility and DisciplineHumility to set aside the temptation to use logic to justify our gut reaction — beware the instinctive answerDiscipline to employ objective, neutral thinking in terms of facts, numbers and information. We have to focus on the data we have available at the time the decision needs to be made



Simplifying Business DecisionsAs we have previously discussed the Discovery Process and Building Detailed Proposals based on Discovery, we will be addressing client-requested meetings during project implementation…but after a thorough Discovery process and a clearly written proposal has been received and accepted and approved…



Simplifying Business DecisionsYou know…those client meetings

that can Delay Stop Or completely redirect work on the project Internal project management team decision processes will also be addressed



Simplifying Business DecisionsWhen you chose the life of a freelancer, you have chosen a life of self-management You are in charge of how you invest your time As freelancers, we become acutely aware that, “Time is indeed, Money” — even with ‘Value-Pricing’ we are exchanging hours for dollars



Simplifying Business DecisionsAs independent business owners, we have to market and manage our own businesses, as well perform to our client’s expectations In order to do that, a WordPress freelancer faces dozens of decisions during the average week



Simplifying Business Decisions

When we think about the business decision process logically – calling a

meeting to discuss the risks, rewards, and challenges of one path versus another, is really is about optimal

resource allocation



Simplifying Business DecisionsBefore we agree to a meeting, we have to ask Is this meeting, with these team members — Worth My time, My focus, and the expense to My company?



Simplifying Business DecisionsAs WordPress Consultants we can’t assume each client-requested meeting is necessaryWe need to stop before our auto-yes engages… And ask a few questions…



Simplifying Business DecisionsDo the project stakeholders or owners just need assurances that can be answered in a phone call? Can their questions or issues be addressed by referencing the project Discovery or Proposal documents?



Simplifying Business DecisionsIf the team lead insists on a meeting

Request a meeting agenda to review before the meeting Be prepared to answer questions accurately based on existing project documents, stats and benchmarks Set a defined time limit for ‘Your’ participation in the meeting



Helping Your Client Simplify Business

DecisionsSome clients are simply frozen with uncertaintySometimes your role as Project Lead is to help the client get their heads in the right place to make the decisions they need to make.Project owners struggle with two challenges when trying to make good decisions:

being afraid to make a bad decision and taking far too long to make them




DecisionsGetting Your client focused on the right decisions to move the project forward might mean a short review of the Project Discovery…Yup…Discovery could have taken days, weeks, even months..and yes is all that detail is listed in the Proposal’s project milestones and benchmarks…But, with some clients you have to revisit how we got here




DecisionsGood decision making requires clarity and confidenceListen carefully to the client’s concerns, address them honestly Don’t get emotional or defensive, right now you are the only one in the room who has done this beforeThe client needs assurance that you are confident in meeting the benchmarks set forth in the proposal



Obstacles That Can Sink The Decision

ProcessWhen a project team gets mired down you have probably fallen into some of these project management sinkholes of despair…Decision By Consensus — It doesn’t work, periodLack of Decision, or Procrastination is one of the major causes of project failureDealing with Hypotheticals instead of actual Data



Obstacles That Can Sink The Decision

ProcessNot keeping the focus on the project outcome and leaving your egos, titles, emotions, and past beliefs at the doorTrying to Resolve All the issue at once — Prioritize the decisions and make them one at a timeAs freelancer sometimes it is better to suffer short term pain then long-term and expensive suffering — It is OK to Fire a Client



How To Help a Client Resolve Issues That Threaten a Project

Make an Issues List and suss-out all unspoken concernsMake long-term and short-term Issues ListsBe open, honest, and healthy



How To Help a Client Resolve Issues That Threaten a Project

Then address client concerns with the IDS Issues Solving Track

IdentifyDiscussSolve



Position the Client to make good decisions and move

the project forwardWhen dealing with your client, it helps to

remember the Six Key Components to all projectsThe Issues ComponentThe Vision ComponentThe People ComponentThe Data ComponentThe Process ComponentThe Traction Component



Position the Client to make good decisions

and move the project forward

Addressing these components in the Discovery, The Proposal and at Project Benchmark Meetings will help clients

stay focused on the benefit of the project and not get swamped in the

everyday details of the project management



Pro Process #1: Restrict the Number

of ChoicesDispel the Chaos of Choice that leads to Analysis Paralysis Pull your project team’s attention from the World of Possibilities to the three goals the current project must address




of Choices Structure your discussion along the Lean Startup approach Only consider what is needed to produce the Minimal Viable Project — that can still show proof of concept and satisfy the beta users Your team’s decisions should be centered around these three considerations.




of ChoicesWill this MVP deliver enough value for the intended users?Does the MVP demonstrate enough future benefit that beta users will be converted into project champions? Does the MVP engage the early adopters enough to see the vision or promise the completed project and provide the valuable feedback needed to guide developers forward?




of ChoicesNext Step: Review user feedbackDecide on the final feature set based on user feedback —not project planners opinion. This methodology is called the build-measure-learn feedback loop



Accurate Business Decisions Depend on

Good Data“Fear invites wrong figures. Bearers of bad news fare badly. To keep his job, anyone may present to his boss only good news.” – W. Edwards Deming



Pro Process#2: Restrict Your Time

InvestmentEvery WordPress freelancer needs to respect the inevitability of Parkinson’s Law“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”




Investment No matter how carefully a WordPress consultant allocates the project resources — the time devoted to decision processes can grow to the point of depleting the client’s budget and your profit



Parkinson’s Law has Implications for ALL Areas

of our Business DiscoveryRequirements AnalysisProposal Preparation Contract Negotiation Resource Allocation

Client On-BoardingProject TimelinesProject ManagementProject Close OutClient Touch Back




Investment Be as Ruthless as an Invading Cossack about restricting the time allocated to the discussion

Make a decision and move on

Pivot as you proceed with each phase of the project




InvestmentA Point to keep in mind…We are building websites, not negotiating the release of a hostageActually you are negotiating a hostage release — your own, and the other members of your design/build team



Restrict Your Time Investment —

Parkinson’s 3rd LawUnderstanding The Law of TrivialityPeople tend to devote a large amount of time to unimportant details while essential tasks are not getting the time they require



Pro Process#3: Restrict Decision Vetting to a

Maximum of Three PeopleHow Do You Vet your decisions?

Do You consult professional peers?Talk it over with a family member or a significant other?‘Ben Franklin’ it all by your lonesome



Consulting with more than three people about a pending decision and you have a Monday

morning quarterback party- chuck full of could’a, should’a, would’a —

but no actionable advice.




Maximum of Three PeopleThree relevant

people is a good number to hear both sides of your decision

..and more than enough to help you filter available opinions for your path forward




Maximum of Three People Parkinson had a few pithy observations that

apply when working with clients who insist on convening decision councils — “Most of the time when we want an opinion we are looking for confirmation of what we will do regardless. Constantly seeking opinions can be a clear indicator we may not really want something.”That may be a “Client Tell” every WordPress freelancer needs to be watching for — and be willing to back away from engagement



PresenterSandi Batik

WordPress evangelist, consultant, trainer, curricula developer, author, unapologetic geek, unrepentant capitalist, lucky enough to do what I love everyday. I’ve served as Austin WordPress Meetup co-organizer since 2010. With my husband Nick Batik, co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992 and Hands-On WordPress Training in 2010.

Follow me @sandi_batik / @WPATX

Contact me at: handsonwp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsandrachevalierbatik





PresenterNick Batik

Started in web development in 1994 and have been a WordPress consultant, and web developer since 2007. A WordPress evangelist, I’ve served as Austin WordPress Meetup co-organizer since 2010. With my partner, co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992 and Hands-On WordPress Training in 2010.

Follow me @nick_batik / @WPATX

Contact me at: handsonwp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasbatik


