Little Things Matter
I recently emailed a strategic business partner with some very positive feedback about a program I’d done for his client. Rather than evaluate my own performance, I find it more effective to let the client grade my performance.
The original email included a glowing review.
Today I received a response from my business partner. It was brief: “Do you have this person’s email address?”
That was it.
No “nice job.” No “thanks for taking care of my client.” No acknowledgment.
I’m a big boy, and while disappointed, my feelings weren’t hurt. But I made note with my staff: business relationships are built one transaction at a time. Little things, like a lack of acknowledgment, not sending a thank you note, and insensitivity all add up to either make or break the relationship.
We’ve got high technology but it doesn’t replace low people skills. Better to get a reminder of the importance of the little things as a victim of the faux paux than as the perpetrator.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Until I read “The Fred Factor,” I was much like your business partner in my responses to people - very to-the-point with no concern for praise. I didn’t have time for all that “mushy stuff.” My perspective, though, is changing thanks to you and Fred. Already, I see improvement in my people relationships.
We all become too involved in what is, really, less important than how we treat and interact with people: paperwork, deadlines, etc, etc - work overload! People like me who are detail-oriented tend to have a harder time with this than others.
Thank you for helping me refocus on what is most important, humanity.