Last weekend, I spoke with a brilliant lady who works as a cashier in a supermarket. She made me realize the importance of her work for the experience of every customer. The cashier is the last human connection we experience in a supermarket, so it's the one we will remember more vividly going home. Creating a positive experience at the checkout is fundamental then.
So, this morning I pondered the importance of managing the end of everything: projects, journeys, processes, relationships, etc.
I realized that I've often been taught how to begin things properly: from doing thorough analysis before any project to defining a comprehensive agreement before starting any process.
But what about the closing stage?
What about the end?
How comes that there is so much focus on beginning things and so little on the best way to close them?
It's probably due to our obsession with productivity and numbers. Success is often defined in terms of projects won, clients acquired, or done things. Starting is obviously vital to get the numbers.
Yet, it's how we close things that will set us up for success in the long term.
One of the pleasant surprises, when I studied mentoring, was learning the importance of taking care of the closure. Closing a mentoring relationship properly is fundamental for both the mentor and the mentee.
How much attention do you put on "the end"?