The jury is out...

This morning’s New York Times featured a story about the increasing difficulty various jurisdictions are having… simply seating a jury. (See “Call to Jury Duty Strikes Fear of Financial Ruin.”)

As the headline implies, the challenge in recruiting jurors has become more complicated—like almost everything—due to the volatile economy. This isn’t just a matter of people feeling like they have more important things to do than sit with their peers to render justice… a constitutional right afforded any defendant.

On the contrary, it is the byproduct of a population whose jobs, incomes and lives are in a state of upset… and whose financial survival might just depend on NOT being called to jury duty. Perhaps their company is expecting layoffs, and the potential juror is competing to keep their job (although jury duty is supposed to be immune from influencing such issues). Perhaps the candidate is working two or three jobs, just to make ends meet.

Implications: Once upon a time (and not so long ago), many of us used to joke that “we had less time than money.” Well, the recession has created an environment where we may have less money… but that doesn’t mean we have more time.

Time stress is not only a challenge if you’re trying to seat a jury for a courtroom. It’s a challenge for anyone in business... because every day, a jury of your peers (customers) will pass judgment on your company, product or service.

What are you doing to demonstrate sensitivity toward customers who have a particularly busy schedule... one made even more intense by the demands of the current economy?

In what ways might you increase the velocity—and reduce the anxiety—of buying and owning your product or service?

Mike Anderson