5 techniques on how to use empathy when innovating

If you were to ask anyone in the innovative  startup community how they came up with their product they would probably say:

"Well I found myself facing problem x and I tried finding a solution but I couldn't find one so I took on that challenge and created a solution myself."

Which is great but let me tell you that is just the beginning, we all observe gaps in the market as we all face lack of solutions for our own indvidual problems. However, innovations require a deeper look into the gap.

Innovative products that suceed are the ones created out of carefully tunning into user's perspective

So, how do you tune into user's perspective? You already know, EMPATHY but how do you use that in a constructive way to get results is what I will hand over to you here.

1. USE THE PRODUCT LIKE A RAVING FAN

Get into that hardcore fan mindset about the product for 30 days witness what is getting on your nerves about it that makes you not so in awe about it. Track your emotions, tune in with your own self and discover why you feel deep down inside you that this is a great product or why you feel it isn't. Don't stop there, spend reflecting what deep questions you can answer so that you could learn more about willingness to buy

2. LIMIT YOURSELF

Create some sort of a limitation around the product and how it is being used. It can be a phisycal or digital limitation. I'm literally saying if this is a tangible product remove one arm while handling, what did this tell you? Or take a trip to a slower internet connection region, what findings on the product can you discover now?

3. INTERVIEW YOUR CUSTOMERS

Seems rather easy but it's not. First off nobody wants to hurt our feelings by trashing the product right to our face, second people have bias towards entrepreneurs that we are nothing but money milking machihnes. So, what you want to do is carefully curate the interview, build rapport right off the bat. Use plain clothes so you blend in (I'm not even kidding). Do not use Yes/No questions and lastly do not make it sound like an interwiev, have a coffee type convo, I promise you will learn a lot!

4. OBSERVE

You'll get to be the "mystery guest" as they call it in hospitality business and just plain witness how the product is used, which will actually give a great insight into customer journey and help you navigate through deficiencies.

5. DECONSTRUCT THE PRODUCT

Remember when we were kids, most of us would literally deconstruct those cars, radios, skateboards, you name it...we would put those back together to working mode with a few extra parts. What can that do for us in terms of empathizing with the user, well extra parts might just be a reason to remove them all together and reduce cost, right. Unless you try, you cannot know what awaits you, so if you can try it.

So, there it is,  5 ways on how to empathize with your customers, go ahead and try one!

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Much more to come so thanks for giving me a read! Sandra