Biz Shizzle - It’s the Thoughtful Thought That Counts

Has this ever happened to you:

The dead eyed barista didn’t listen to your request for a dairy substitute and you ended up with milk in your coffee.
The coach (who made a ton of promises for their new program) disappears once you have plunked down the cash and signed up for their program. You barely hear a peep from them and the material seems to arrive in a haphazard fashion.
The dentist who shrugs with a weary face when you asked about the possibility of losing a tooth.
The graphic artist who didn’t bother to communicate for months on end until you finally just drifted away to find someone else who actually gives a shit about you and your business.
The teacher who forgot that they had an appointment with you and then showed up unprepared (you can tell because they seem distracted and the work seems half assed).

I have had every one of those experiences. And you know what? It sucks.

When you are treated in that manner, you feel like you don’t matter. You feel like an afterthought.

This reminds me of a conversation I had years ago with my children when they were teenagers. They’d often forget my birthday and then slap together a note on a piece of Xerox paper at the last minute. This really hurt my feelings because it seemed like there was no effort at all on their part to make me feel special on my day (mind you, if I would have pulled that on them, there would have been hell to pay!).

We had a heart to heart about treating people the way you want to be treated and this resolved the issue nicely. My children learned that being considerate goes a long way towards creating healthy and happy relationships.

That same level of thoughtfulness also applies to business relationships. There is nothing nicer than being treated well by a boss, a client or someone you hire. In fact, harmonious and positive work relationships make work feel more like a pleasure and there is nothing better than loving your work and the people with whom you collaborate.

On the other hand, when you are just going through the motions and doing something without any care, it shows. Apathy and laziness rarely lead to success. They are usually two key components to business failure.

If you want your business to succeed, you’ll need to put your heart into every thing you do and every interaction you have (although we can always make exceptions for jerks). Here are a few ideas for creating a nurturing and caring vibe to all your work relationships (notice that some of the advice for each role is similar):

When dealing with clients:

Listen deeply. Don’t tune them out.
Always show up on time.
Likewise, respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner.
Don’t talk down to your clients. Use respectful language.
Be genuinely happy to see them. Greet them in a positive manner. Make them feel welcome and like you enjoy doing business with them.
Reward loyalty with special deals or little gifts.
Set healthy boundaries.

If you have employees:

Treat employees with respect.
Let them know what you expect right from the get go (Thanks to Erika Lyremark for that sage piece of advice – I am taking this to heart.). This may prevent drama down the road.
On occasion, give your hired help a little present or bonus. Show them you appreciate their work.
Pay on time. Don’t bounce checks or make excuses.
If they are a contractor (ex: web designer), do not haggle with them on their prices. No one likes working with a “deal seeker”. Pony up or find someone who is within your budget.
Compliment them when they do a great job.
If something isn’t working out, have a positive but honest conversation.

If someone hires you:

Be on time.
Communicate promptly. Don’t ignore emails and phone calls.
If you are running an online program, be there. Don’t drop the ball.
Deliver what you promise and when you say you will. Treat deadlines and contracts with the utmost respect.
Don’t do a half assed job. Give it your all. Be proud of your work.
If you don’t understand something, don’t wing it. Open up a dialogue.
Be the best damn employee/coach/tarot reader/therapist/masseuse/teacher/copywriter/graphic artist/web designer/elephant groomer/etc. that you can be.

Lastly, if you stop giving a crap, stop what you are doing. Really, get out of the business. If you continue to operate on zombie mode, trust me, sooner or later the business will quit you (or in some cases, you’ll be fired).

Put thought and heart into your work and you’ll always have work.

“There are no traffic jams when you go the extra mile.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Blessings!

Theresa