When I have the opportunity to talk to new customers or talk to high-level executives or marketing managers I like to ask them the hard questions to get to know them better.

I would ask them things such as:
“What’s your elevator pitch?
“What makes you different?
“How are you going to make money?
“Where do you find your customers?
“How do you validate “that customers like what you’re offering?” And so on.

With these questions, and many mow like it you can clearly identify what areas they need to improve or even better how can you help them improve.

At the time you don’t need to look for a solution for your problem to be solved outside but from within.
Problems you might have within organizations can lead to big growth or same organization.
To learn what you are good at and what are you not so good is of big importance.

In order to grow you need to be ready to answer hard questions. You need to be open and that your opinions and ideas get tested. It will be easier to defined you idea if you took it for a hell ride and still end up victorious.

The more brutal you are to asking in asking your customers the questions it would be easier to find a way to defend their product or service.

If a cutomer decide he/she will not be your customer no more you can always reward them with someting if they decide to be honest with you and tell you why they are no longer your customer.
Some important peace of information might be hiding there.

Darko Bilandžić
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