Measurement beginner, listen-up! One of the keys to effective communications measurement is home-baked cookies. No, really. Chocolate chip is a good place to start.
The thing is, for you to carry out any measurement program of any size you are going to have to play well with others. You are going to need the trust and cooperation of your boss and fellow employees. And once in a while you are going to need to ask for a few favors.
You might have to cooperate with the sales group to check on leads. Or ask the cranky development person to share membership data. Or just gently encourage all the right people to attend an objectives-setting meeting. Whatever the measurement-related office interaction, a batch of cookies will lubricate it. (Not as well, perhaps, as a glass of wine or maybe a pint of a bold IPA, but there’s a time and place for everything.)
You say you’re a bit challenged in the baking skills area? Well, even you can manage those refrigerated rolls of ready-made dough from the grocery store. When it’s time to try out your pot holders on something beyond the recipe on the package of chocolate chips, Betty Crocker will help you out. And for the advanced student, here’s your playground.
So, as you begin to plan your measurement program and put together your business objectives, prepare also to strategically deploy the baked goods. You play those cookies right and they’ll be glad to see you knocking on the door, asking for a favor. ∞
Note: This piece originally appeared as a free article in the October 2016 edition of The Measurement Advisor newsletter. For complete access to all articles, click here for a free 30-day trial.
