So What?

If you do a search on Google for So What? 94 million hits are available for you to peruse. (with this posting 94 million and 1)!

Why so many for So What? Because it is something that is very often used in current parlance, but rarely effectively utilized when considering your options on how to effectively market your offerings. Everyone wants to know what's in it for them.

We have achieved true cost savings of 25%! So What?
We have avoided costs totaling millions of dollars! So What?
We have upgraded the skill set of our personnel! So What?
And so on...

When deciding on how to organize your team, define your vision and mission, distribute organizational titles, determine your "pitch" you should always be asking yourself the question...So What?

Because that is exactly what your client target will be doing! Perhaps not consciously, but in many cases what procurement and supply chain reports on and in fact gets monitored on, engenders a So What? response from the stakeholders.

Why? Because you haven't made it real or tangible to them. Ok you have a contract database, what does that do for me? Great...e-procurement, that's good for you, but how does it change my reality? Yes I'm glad there are cost savings organizationally, but it isn't doing anything for my team...and so on....

When defining your direction, or anything you do, use So What as your guide...the So What should elicit a more comprehensive explanation than the motherhood fall back -- well because it is helps the bottom-line -- and yes, theoretically your client can appreciate this, but he or she is focussed on the here and now....not at some big black pot of theoretical cash, which won't change their reality. Be ready to explain what it means personally to their group. Make it real! Make it resonate! And if you can't, well you have an issue.

So What? is a good bell weather...you can even ask your stakeholders the question -- so when we do this, what does it mean for you....you might even be able to prioritize some of your organizational goals by asking.

It is often not just about the asking, but about asking the right question!

Better So What?, than hearing from a client Dr. Phil's famous line "What were you Thinking!