Strong relationships are key to small business success. However, many business owners make common mistakes that kill their relationships and hurt their businesses. Here are four common business relationship killers and tips for avoiding them:
1. Failing to Communicate Well:
Too many people consider cryptic phrases actual communication. It’s only effective communication, however, if the person you’re speaking to can fully understand what you’re saying, what you’re offering, what you want, and what your goals or expectations are. It is not good enough that you understand the point you are trying to make. If the person you are trying to communicate with doesn’t understand what you’re saying, you’ll face misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and hurt feelings. As a businessperson, it is your responsibility to make sure you are understood. It is not your client’s or business partner’s job to decipher cryptic messages.
2. Failing to Follow Through:
Nothing kills a business relationship faster than proving yourself unreliable. If you make an appointment, show up early so your clients know you’re dependable. Only make promises you are sure you can follow through on, but go the extra mile to exceed your client’s expectations. Provide consistent service, and you will develop loyal business relationships and secure more referrals. If you let your service quality slide or show yourself as unpredictable, your clients will begin to worry and look for other options.
3. Failure to Admit When You’re Wrong:
It’s only natural to want to be right at all times, but this is unrealistic. Even the most skilled, talented individual makes mistakes at some time or another. Trying to cover up mistakes or blowing them off is a good way to kill a business relationship. First, your clients are likely to run the other way if they see problems with your service that you ignore, if you fail to communicate with them when you have to miss a deadline or cancel an appointment, or if you have a can-do-no-wrong attitude. It’s better for your business if you admit when you’ve make a mistake, promise your customer you will resolve it as quickly as possible and then follow through immediately.
4. Treating Others Poorly:
There is something to be said for following the golden rule and treating others the way you want to be treated. Too many people are selective about whom they treat well. They treat their clients well but speak harshly to their employees. They give one client the royal treatment but behave as if another (often the client with less to spend) deserves only the bare minimum of service. Eventually, this type of behavior will catch up to you and hurt your business. Your employees and partners will stop doing their best for you, and the clients you neglect will take their business elsewhere. It’s easier and more beneficial to remember that people want to give their best to (and refer others to) business people who treat them well.
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