The vaguer the question, the vaguer the answer

The vaguer the question, the vaguer the answer

As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. Which is why I encourage my clients to be as specific as possible when asking questions. This is especially useful during the AMS sales process.

For example, if you ask an AMS salesperson, "Can your product handle student membership?" you're more than likely going to get the answer "yes." That's because the question is actually quite vague.

A better way to ask the question might be: "Can your product manage a student membership process where the student has to apply online, provide an upload of their transcript, wait for approval from staff, and when they renew, they can only renew into a NEW membership type?"

This is a much more specific question. (Notice that a more specific question is actually multiple questions!) This question will get you a much more specific answer than just "yes."

Of course, this rule applies to just about any conversation, not just sales. "Do you want to eat?" is a vague question. (My answer will always be YES!) But "Do you want to walk ten minutes right now to get sushi?" is far more specific (and will also change my answer!).

Vague questions elicit vague answers. Be specific!

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

Once you know, what will you do?

November 13, 2024

Once you know, what will you do? I’ve yet to meet a client who didn’t […]

If it’s not in your AMS, why not?

November 6, 2024

If it’s not in your AMS, why not? I like to tell my clients they’ll […]

Why checkboxes and tags are awesome and dangerous

October 30, 2024

Why checkboxes and tags are awesome and dangerous One of the most common functions in […]

Don’t miss obvious engagement data

October 23, 2024

Don’t miss obvious engagement data What I’ve experienced with my clients over the years is […]

All data requires active management

October 16, 2024

All data requires active management It’s a simple fact of data management that is often […]

Documentation is critical for consistency

October 9, 2024

Documentation is critical for consistency There are so many reasons why documenting your data management […]

Consumer demands change and technology changes

October 2, 2024

Consumer demands change and technology changes When I work with clients on the selection of […]

Why I write

September 25, 2024

Why I write Thirty years ago, I started a new job as director of membership […]

DAN – The Data Analytics Network

September 18, 2024

DAN – The Data Analytics Network I’m a huge fan of users groups (both internal […]

Process before technology

September 11, 2024

Process before technology In a conversation with a client recently, I was reminded (yet again) […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top