Experiential communities can make a difference.

Listen to the people, particularly young people in the community. What are they saying, “This place is boring?” What do they want to do, and how can the community accommodate their aspirations? It might mean revitalising the available education and recognising and rewarding the importance of their contribution. Improve the experiences of people and visitors in the community.

The customer experience is critical in everything you do, from the meet and greet to the website and social media. Think about the kind of person you go to when working through a challenge. They help you think things through, ask the right questions, and come up with your answers. They’re supportive but give you room to experiment, learn and grow.

Look at ways and means of creating an “experiential environment” within the community. Places to go, things to do, allowing people to experience things in new, exciting ways that please them and that they will appreciate and remember. The world-famous Sydney Opera House is especially relevant to an experiential community.

Everyone in the community can contribute; they must be creative and innovative. Remember the things you enjoyed in the past. It may generate some ideas. Encourage local people when they travel to look for new ideas and opportunities for the local population, as well as what the tourists like to experience.

Unfortunately, in many communities, too much training ends with knowledge, not behaviour change. But real skill development happens when people take action, receive feedback, and reflect on what they’d do differently; that’s how they move from knowing to doing and making a difference.

Like many people, I used to believe that if success wasn’t coming my way, it was because my thoughts were sabotaging my outcomes. This led me to study how to improve my planning and management practices. Most advances in science, business, technology, and other fields of endeavour have been made by people who would not accept that something could not be done.

Quotable quotes

“Take time to think and reflect on your experiences and relationships. Look for the lessons you have learned so you can apply your findings to similar situations in your future”. Peter Sergeant

“Look for ways you can improve the customer’s experience and help them to take the next step of their journey”. Peter Sergeant