We are living in an age of information overflow. In less than 3 years, the amount of available information doubles. Even if you try, you just cannot stay up-to-date. There’s too much going on.

You can try to work harder, not smarter. But there is a limit to how much you can capture alone. Instead, try it the smart way: engage your co-workers. Together, you just know more.

The first step is to get as much input as you possibly can. Keep your organisation open. Attend events and trade shows. Follow the industry news. Talk to press, customers and competitors. All this is well-known. But is it part of your company’s culture? Or are you just going through the moves?

Don’t just say you want input. Build a system to get input. Create an internal community to discuss new trends. And create an external one, too! Worst case, you know what customers complain about and you can improve on that. You can only win.

At the same time, build a vision. Where do you want to be in 10 years? What does your company stand for? What makes you better?

When you’re up to date, you need to make decisions. Involve as many stakeholders as possible:

• Sales and business development know the competition. They know what customers expect and where your offering is lacking. This improves your market positioning.
• R&D knows the technical areas of improvement. A better product stands out.
• Technical support knows the common problems. Solve these and your customers are happier.
• At any stage, check with your vision. Your customers may want buggy whips, but you may want to build cars.

Finally, a roadmap is a living project. Don’t update it every year. Gather ideas continuously and keep the discussion going.

This post is part of the 8 Tips To Get Your Co-Workers Engaged. Click the link to see the other tips.