Elzet Blaauw elaborates on how to to combine expertise with curiosity and conversation to stay ahead of the competition.
Pairing Expertise with Curiosity & Conversation
Experience and expertise can be strategic advantages in entrepreneurship, but only if you pair it with curiosity and conversation. To get an advantage over your competitors, look less at yourself and your competitors and focus more on your customers and their needs. Elzet Blaauw helps you unlock your strategic advantage – your expertise with curiosity and conversation.
Favorite Takeaways
Here are a few of our favorite takeaways from the talk:
- Pairing expertise with curiosity and conversation – expertise is just the beginning—curiosity and conversation are the real game-changers for staying ahead of the competition.
- Curiosity opens doors to deeper understanding. Balance expertise with an open mind and a desire to understand your customers’ evolving needs.
- A great conversation is a two-way exchange where both people gain insight and clarity. It includes listening carefully, asking questions, having a clear purpose, and being genuinely curious about the other person’s perspective.
- Stay curious by asking questions, listening, making detailed observations, writing down ideas, and letting go of being right.
- Great conversations are built on thoughtful questions—digging deeper and exploring together leads to growth.
- Think of conversations as a swap; start what the client thinks is valuable and verify that. Use the scientific to engage in conversations to clarify their actual problems and understand what they consider valuable. We have our hypothesis, but we’re not attached to it. We are testing it, we are discussing it, whether it’s something we go build. Once you understand this, you can tailor your offer to meet their specific needs without trying to provide everything, focusing instead on what you can deliver effectively.
- Great conversations strive for clarity. Focus on asking clarifying questions rather than giving advice.
- It’s more about having conversations and exploring ideas than just broadcasting all the time.
About Elzet Blaauw
Elzet Blaauw is a thought partner to authentic experts. She helps them clarify their purpose, positioning, and messaging to connect with their audience and share their ideas effectively.
Additional Resources about Expertise with Curiosity & Conversation
- A Conversation with Elzet Blaauw on Thought Leadership
- A Conversation with Elzet Blaauw on Thought Leadership Part 2
- A Briefing on Thought Leadership
- Thought Leadership: Rotary Club Four Way Test
- Entrepreneurs Need a Community of Practice Not a Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN5MC89RPGQ
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