Growth and Leadership
 

Search
Business Know-How

Labor Law Posters


Compliance and HR

- Labor Law Posters
- Safety Posters
- Employee Handbook
- Employment Forms
- Payroll Software
- Payroll Services
- Restaurant Posters
- HR Training & Tools
 
Legal and Financial
- Incorporate Online
- Merchant Accounts
- Legal & Business Forms
- Business Loans
 
Productivity & News
- Do-It-Yourself Email
- Free Magazines
- Templates &
  Productivity Tools
- Find Jobs, Find
  Employees
 
Small business and home business ideas and advice on marketing, employees, financing, and start-up.
Ask BKH 
Business Ideas
Business Plans
Career 
Franchise Information
Growth & Leadership
Home Business
Human Resources
Internet Business
IRS Resources
Law
Mailing & Shipping
Marketing
Management
Money & Finance
Small Business Blog
Starting a Business
Tips & Hints

Event & Party Planning
Medical Transcription
Secretarial Businesses
Writers & Publishers
Of Thee I Sing
 

Polls
Associations
iPhone Help
More Resources
Online Florist


Welcome
Feedback
Who we are
Site Map
 

 

Add to Google Reader
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe in NewsGator Online

XML

 

 

Positive Relationships Are The Key to Business Success

by Craig Valine

In business it's easy to burn bridges with people.

By "burning bridges" I mean, destroy relationships with your customers, clients, employees, vendors, etc.

It's one of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make. And quite frankly, it's a stupid mistake.

It's so stupid, I'm willing to admit I was the reigning champ of burning bridges with my clients and friends...and it cost me dearly.

There was a time in my life when:

  • I wouldn't return phone calls
  • I wouldn't follow-up with a referral from a client
  • I'd miss an appointment and not call to apologize
  • I wouldn't pay my vendors on time
  • I'd squabble over a few dollars, or
  • I'd act apathetic from a good deed from another

Isn't that stupid?

Of course it is. Unfortunately, I am NOT the only person who does this. Many of my own clients don't even realize how damaging it is to their own business, their reputations, and their credibility.

I am happy to say, however, that I've mended my ways.

The primary reason I got my act together was because a teacher of mine gave me a proverbial 'slap-in-the-face' and said, "your business is about relationships and you are destroying all of them."

I really took that to heart.

I now understand more than ever that it's critical to cultivate, maintain and nurture relationships with the people we do business with - not to burn bridges.

My business (marketing coaching) relies completely on my reputation, credibility, and rapport I build and keep with my clients. If I burn bridges with my clients, I burn a little bit of myself along the way.

Positive relationships are the key to success in business.

What if we've already burned bridges with the people we've done business with in the past? Is it too late to make peace?

Or, how do we prevent burning bridges with the people we're doing business with now?

Below are a few strategies that I use to prevent burning bridges and to nurture positive relationships with my clients:

  • Always treat your customers like dear and valued friends. Do the nice things for them that you'd do for your best friend or a family member. 

  • If your customer has a problem, rectify it as soon as possible. Communicate with them always. Let them know exactly how you intend to handle the problem, and when you'll be in contact with them next.

  • Always try to conduct yourself nobly and professionally in the end, as well as in the beginning of a relationship with your customer.

  • If the business/customer relationship doesn't work out, attempt to salvage whatever good and goodwill are still left in the relationship. Just because it didn't work out with them, doesn't mean they wouldn't refer others to you...as long as you treat them with respect.

  • Despite any differences of opinion, work hard to be honest and positive. Always be noble, respectful and genuine.

The message is simple: People understand that things go wrong. They understand that you forget. They understand that you get busy. They understand that you and your product or service may be imperfect. All they want is to feel like you respect them, you care about them, and that you'll do whatever it takes to help them.

If you've burned bridges in the past, it's not too late to start re-building them now.

Positive relationships are the key to success in business, and it starts with YOU, now.

Copyright 2001 By Craig Valine


Craig Valine is a Marketing Performance Coach Who Helps Independent Consultants, Coaches, and Service Professionals Get More Clients, Make More Money, and Have More Fun In Their Business. To subscribe to his "Marketing YOUniquely" eNewsletter, Go To www.craigvaline.com/subscribe.html 

 

 
 

Required 
Labor Law Posters

Required State, Federal and OSHA Labor Law Posters

Attractive, laminated poster  combines  state, federal and OSHA required labor law notices on one laminated poster. Order Now >>
 

 
Get free marketing, sales, advertising and management ideas delivered to your inbox.
 
Subscribe to the Business Know-How Newsletter
 
Primary Email Address:
 
We respect your
email privacy!
 

Hiring Employees?

Buy Employment Forms
 

 

 

 

 

This Week's New Articles

 Share This Article:

ADD TO GOOGLE
ADD TO DEL.ICIO.US
ADD TO DIGG
ADD TO REDDIT
ADD TO YAHOO MYWEB
 

 

ADD TO STUMBLEUPON
ADD TO TECHNORATI FAVORITES
ADD TO SQUIDOO
ADD TO ASK
 

 

Disclaimer
[Article Submission Guidelines]
[Welcome] [About Us] [Advertise]
[Small Business (home page)] [Marketing] [Direct Mail Ideas] [Human Resources] [Money Management]
[Business Loans] [Franchise] [Start A Business] [Home Business] [Tips & Hints] [Bulletin Board] [Ask Business Know-How] [Blog]
[Legal Know-How] [MLM Know-How] [Career] [Survey] [Feedback] [Free Newsletter]
Privacy Statement

The information compiled on this site is Copyright 1999-2008 by Attard Communications, Inc. and by the individual authors.
Business Know-How is a woman-owned business and a registered trademark of Attard Communications, Inc. Phone: 631-467-8883.

http://www.businessknowhow.com