How To Compare a Record-Keeper When They All Sound the Same
They all highlight the same messages about what they do. It’s hard to tell who is better, so the name with greatest familiarity is more likely to be selected for no other reason than that.
I hear versions of this conversation a lot, either directly as a question or indirectly in the form of venting. It comes up in shop-talk, in marketing speeches at conferences and in marketing collateral.
I’ll tell you a secret. They ARE all the same. That’s why they have to try so hard to tell you why they are different and you still can’t see it. But, Faith Teope, aren’t you are record-keeper who claims to be unique? Mmhmm, that I am.
I hate to turn a convo super gender specific, but…my hairstylist…I moved to a new city and was forced to do the kind of searching one does not want to do. Will they do it right? Will they understand my specific needs? Will they be easy to talk to? Will they explain things to me or do I just trust what they will do? Should I bring my formula or will that make me that client? Hairstylists are artists and they are not all the same even if they went to the same school and use the same technique. There is an art to it, an eye to it, and a resounding personality that listens to your hair, to your voice and then the rest is magic. Record-keeping, bear with me, is similar because there are rules that apply to everyone (if I cut this hair off I cannot reattach it), but there are also different methods of handling the data. That handling is the unseen magic. The kind that, to describe it, would put you to sleep. I don’t know what goes through my hairstylists mind when she works on my hair, but I feel like she understands my ethnic texture and personal flair, she makes herself accessible and above all she is fantastic to talk to. Now that I am tired of talking about my hair I’ll point out that record-keepers spend a great deal of energy determining and re-energizing methods, but by-golly you need to be able to reach them, they should have great communication skills and you deserve to enjoy the relationship no matter how little or how much you have to talk to them.
Innovation is not typically top of mind when digging into RK selection, but growth-mindset should be. When a person continues to take in the world around them they can see something they’ve looked at a hundred times with a new lens. This means they can solve inevitable problems differently or better, they can improve processes and better the lives of the people on their team. What this means for you, the seeking customer, is that your data integrity is more fortified, they can handle your business’ growth because, as a hybrid team of tech and people, they are more efficient and have the space to address your needs. It’s worth your time to ‘date’ them, so to speak, to get to know them.
In summary, all record-keepers are the same, but the people behind it are not. Next time you need to compare record-keepers, see how they talk with you. People give you a taste for the tone of the company, so connection with your provider is more than a vibe it’s an indicator.
