Whose Opinions Matter?
- VOYO
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 19
"Everybody has an opinion of how I should run my business!" As a business leader, how often do you hear unsolicited advice?
In today’s digital age, opinions come at us from every direction — colleagues, consultants, advisors, mentors, industry insiders, social media commentators, even strangers. The sheer volume of input can feel overwhelming.
So, whose opinions should we listen to? Where should we focus our attention?
In a recent episode of Roots & Wings — a podcast dedicated to helping business leaders achieve strategic growth—we tackled this exact question. Here's what we uncovered:
The Five Voices That Matter
1. Target Customers
Why their opinions matter: Your customers are the end-users of your product or service. Their needs, preferences, and pain points should shape your decisions.
Practical Tip:
Gather direct feedback through surveys, interviews, and analytics. And don’t forget the customer empathy shortcuts we discussed in another episode:
Immersive experience: Step into your customer’s shoes.
Engage: Have structured conversations to uncover their needs.
Observe: Pay attention to their behaviors and actions.
Takeaway: Your customers’ voices should always take precedence. Listen to them first!
2. Follow the Trail of Success
Why they matter: Success leaves clues. People who’ve already achieved the results you aspire to can offer invaluable insights and lessons learned.
Practical Tip:
Analyze patterns in their decision-making and outcomes. Ask yourself:
What did they prioritize?
How did they overcome challenges?
What habits or strategies contributed to their success?
Takeaway: Seek mentors or case studies from those whose achievements you admire.
3. Industry Experts
Why they matter: Industry experts bring critical domain knowledge and a broader perspective on trends, best practices, and potential pitfalls.
Practical Tip:
Engage experts when:
Entering a new market.
Tackling unfamiliar challenges.
Evaluating emerging opportunities or threats.
Takeaway: Tap into expertise to navigate complexity with confidence.
4. Specialized Professionals
Why they matter: Skilled professionals provide actionable, task-specific advice and execution strategies that can drive measurable results.
Practical Tip:
Focus on professionals who’ve mastered their craft in areas where you need support. Such as:
Set-up sales process
Conduct strategic planning, roadmap
Craft value propositions
Build CRM (Client Relationship Management) systems
And many more...
Takeaway: Delegate tasks to those who can deliver exceptional results, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture.
5. Employees
(A quick note: when we recorded the episode, we forgot to include one of the most important voices in your business — your employees. So here’s our correction — and we believe it deserves a permanent seat at the table.)
Why they matter: Your frontline employees are the closest touchpoint to your customers. They hear the complaints, notice the patterns, and often sense shifts in customer sentiment before your dashboards do. Their daily interactions give them a lived understanding of how your brand is experienced — and that kind of insight is gold.
More than that, employees are stewards of your brand in motion. If they don’t believe in what you do or feel unsupported, it shows — in customer service, in retention rates, and in the overall energy your business projects.
Practical Tip:
Make it safe and easy for employees to share what they see and feel on the ground. Try:
Monthly team reflections
Anonymous suggestion boxes
Brief daily huddles or digital feedback loops
And when they offer input? Acknowledge it. Even if you don’t act on every idea, show you’re listening.
Takeaway: The voice of your employees is the internal mirror of your brand. Listen to it, honor it, and you’ll often catch what others miss.
Final Words of Wisdom
Not all opinions are created equal. To make better decisions:
1. Discern wisely—prioritize opinions that align with your goals.
2. Use external insights to inform, not dictate, your actions.
3. Ultimately, trust your intuition and judgment.
Remember, while valuable input helps you make informed choices, the final say is yours.
Navigating a sea of opinions can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Feel free to book a 15-min free consultation with Jennifer now!