Be Original

Definition: I have a unique combination of skills, character, and history that no one else does.

Behaviors:

1. I act with integrity in all things
2. I encourage others to express their gifts and talents
3. I am authentic
4. I am present, engaged, and intentional

Once one understands that creating customer value is the thing we do, we do it with respect for the individual. Being original represents our desire to integrate the organization and the individual. As Douglas McGregor famously said, we respect both the individual’s goals and the organization’s objectives. And so I want to highlight a commitment of Decisive Data culture: Each person can count on DD leadership and their colleagues calling out their originality.

There is, of course, no guarantee that clients will show the behaviors of this principle, not to mention people writ large having the same mindset. However, I believe when people experience someone truly living into this principle, it is one of the most distinctive differentiators Decisive Data can offer the marketplace.

Everybody inherently knows when they feel like being around an authentic, present, and engaged person. In the midst of our technical-distraction-oriented, constantly shifting environment, living into the behaviors of this principle can have some profound impacts. Think of it even in terms of a sense of etiquette: How often do you encounter person who is incapable of giving someone their full, undivided attention? It is distressingly common. The ability to truly show somebody that we are with them in the moment – turning off or ignoring all our devices, digital alerts, etc. –  can speak volumes.

Now think of this in the context of serving our customers: Are we truly with them, present and engaged? When we are, we are able to focus exactly on what they are saying, what they need and want, the projects will be faster, service more proficient, and so on. Customers will be more likely to want to refer us to other parts of their org, and they will know in their core that the Decisive Data consulting method is equally as important as our personal touch.

In a sense, the “Be original” principle declares that creativity is a virtue. All of the behaviors are acts of creativity! Indeed, one of the best parts of our Art + Data book is that integrity is the number one starting point for that curriculum. You can’t trust that the data can be creatively leveraged unless it has integrity and soundness going into the dashboard.

As a consulting firm, one way to stand out is the originality, creativity, and the respect for the individual that we have. It is our competitive advantage, our strategic differentiator!