People either love you or hate shopping in your store. For me, I give the retail giant high marks.
Why the high marks? Unlike a children’s toy that takes hours to construct because the written instructions are dense and confusing – when you buy furniture or lamps from IKEA, you can expect “some assembly required.” But they have perfected the user experience with clear illustrations in their instruction manuals.
Sure, there’s that one peg you find after you’ve put your new credenza together. Or you’ve seen that cartoon depicting a couple having their first big fight in an IKEA store because it’s so relatable.
Still, IKEA works for me because I’m a visual learner, and their in-store signage is well-conceived and helpful. (BTW, I know the shortcut if you want to skip the kitchen area.)
Back when I worked in advertising, I often struggled with the woman from Finance who would stop me in the hall to ask questions for which I did not have an immediate answer. Whatever she needed at the time, I couldn’t answer unless I was in my office. My desk was super organized, and between my file folders, my papers with binder clips, and my computer screen, I could quickly answer her questions.
In more recent years, working with lawyers, I know that many will not return a phone call unless they have the necessary documents in hand. I totally get it. Lawyers want to prepare by listening and providing the client with options and/or advice.
This is why I prefer to send a list of questions a few days before interviewing lawyers for their bios or practice section pages for their firm’s website. It helps when there’s structure to the interview, even if the conversation feels informal. Plus, they’re already primed to discuss instead of fumfering around.
Evidently, there are several types of learners: auditory, kinesthetic, and visual, depending on whose information you follow. It’s an intriguing way to understand how you receive communications.
What’s your preference?
