Do you open the microwave when there's one second left, or are you a monster?
Just because you relate to an experience does not make that experience universal
Some people open the microwave after the beep.
Some people open the microwave when there’s one second left, interrupting the process.
You can judge people (as impatient, rule breakers, submissive etc) based on that behaviour.
Or you can dive into the wondrous world of
How humans rationalise their own actions and how your observation is not even half the story.
So what does the behaviour tell you?
People who open the microwave ahead of time are stressed? Impatient? Always know better? Interrupting conversations? Optimizing their time? Attentive?
Or maybe they simply hate the tone of their microwave.
Or it's a habit built when their kids still did their midday nap when a microwave beep could have been disruptive.
On the flipside,
People who wait for the microwave to finish are submissive? Rule followers? Better at multitasking? Patient? Have nothing better to do?
Or maybe they learned as children that interrupting the microwave releases radiation.
Or they simply don’t want to expend the energy to keep track of the timer.
Ask you friends with microwaves, and you’ll learn even more reasons as to how and why they interact with their microwave timer.
You need the awareness of different world views to make better decisions
You need the awareness that you experience and your reasons are not universal.
Understanding that the same behaviour can be driven by very different underlying (usually internal) ideas is the key to really listening to those around you. If you wanted to improve the microwave countdown experience, those details are crucial. Otherwise you end up improving only for your needs.
Hence the need for diversity in your team, and for asking the right questions.
Hence the need to talk your customers and prospects to understand their perspective.
So, the first step it so figure out how you (unconsciously) rationalise your actions.
Then you can go and investigate the reality of other people.
Go, practice. You don’t need a mandate for that ;)