Listen Before You Build
The smartest innovation teams talk to people early and often — not to pitch their idea, but to test their thinking. Whether it’s future users, internal stakeholders, or external partners, interviews help you surface real needs, spot risks, and find alignment. It’s not about volume. It’s about depth.
Talk Like a Curious Human
This isn’t a sales call. The goal is learning. Keep it open, grounded, and specific.
- Choose your voices: Interview users, decision-makers, blockers, supporters — anyone who touches the space.
- Go open-ended: Ask about their goals, frustrations, and workarounds. Let them lead.
- Dig with “why?”: When they say something matters, ask why. Keep going.
- Document themes: After each session, note surprises, contradictions, or patterns.
On the Ground
While researching a smart home energy tool, a team assumed cost savings would drive interest. But user interviews revealed that people mostly wanted peace of mind — knowing they weren’t wasting power when away. That insight shifted both the messaging and feature set to focus on control and reassurance, not price.
Make It Yours
- 🎧 Try This: Schedule 3 short interviews this week — one user, one stakeholder, one skeptic.
- 📄 Tool: Stakeholder Interview Planner (Coming Soon)
- 📍 Next: Facilitated Brainstorming →