Key Difference Makers: Details + Follow Through
I think one of the major differentiators between companies that do good work and companies that do great work is the ability to identify the minor details that tie a project up into a really wonderful package and not to let those details go unnoticed before launch (this extends beyond projects, too. The minor details of proposals, email communication, etc., can be the difference between a client you have for 5 years and one you have for 5 months). Sure, in most cases those details may not be noticed by clients or users, but when you’ve got time and budget to do a little extra pixel-level editing on your nav buttons, craft better error messages, or implement a more intelligent search, it’s worth it. Users often won’t be aware of what could have been, but they’ll intuit, without even knowing, they’re using a great site or application and will find fewer faults with it.
I think that at a certain level of experience or talent, all web agencies can identify these details and improve them (the execution of the improvements will be different based on experience, style, talent, etc., of course, but seeing them can be pretty standard). That’s not the hard part.
The hard part, I think, is making sure that once all those details are identified, improving them - and thus the project - is followed through on. One could say that that’s a project manager’s responsibility, but projects will be better, ideas fresher, and staff happier if everyone working at a company takes it upon themselves to look out for small areas of improvement and makes change happen.
The question is: How do you create a culture of accountability for improving the little things? How do you drive everyone at your company to be regularly looking for things to improve and then have them feel free to take the initiative and make things better?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
