Here, at NLI, we talk a lot about defying conventional wisdom, and instead heeding what research tells us. Core to that choice is embracing the importance of challenging the norm.
To that end, here’s what might be a different, and hopefully useful, perspective on COVID-19 events.
During the workweek, I serve as Chief Operating Officer at NLI. But in my spare time I also teach business unit managers and entrepreneurs at New York University’s Principles of Business Operations. Something I share with my students is the concept “befriend the naysayer.”
I refer to this saying in the context of sales. The naysayer—the person who is against buying your product or services—is the person most likely to honestly tell you what’s wrong with your product. You should befriend the naysayer and immerse yourself in their counsel in order to learn as much as possible.
It’s typically not an enjoyable undertaking, but armed with the resulting knowledge, you can (maybe) win that deal and, more importantly, improve your chances of winning future deals with them and other organisations.
This phrase “befriend the naysayer” can also serve as a guide for how we navigate COVID-19 in our personal and professional lives. By “befriending” the pandemic—that is, looking for ways its impacts can enrich your life in ways your typical experiences often don’t—we stand the best chance possible of emerging through the crisis in good health and spirits.
So, while we hope and pray for a speedy resolution, let’s befriend the pandemic, as we should befriend the naysayer, and prevail.
By Mika Liss