.
“With This Ring I Thee Wed”: 10 Ways to Keep a Business Relationship Blissful, Satisfying and Out of Divorce Court!
.
.
Bad marriages end up in frustration, acrimony, indignation and animosity, and in the most extreme cases, hatred and divorce court. Are you confronted with a divorce? Then reach out to Rochester divorce lawyers to guide you through the divorce process. Alternatively, you could click here to get hold of the best divorce lawyers for your service.
.
.
.
Unsuccessful business relationships fare no better. The result can be anger, resentment, cynicism, irritation, malice, quitting, termination and/or a client who chooses not to return to us with future projects.
.
.
As… yet another of my and my lovely wife Rivkah’s wedding anniversaries approaches, I got to thinking recently about what constitutes a good BUSINESS relationship or partnership.
.
What keeps us happy? What keeps our clients and customers happy? What brings satisfaction or dissatisfaction? What evokes feelings of frustration? What are the factors which influence whether a client will be a return-customer or whether at some future time he or she will decide to take their business elsewhere? Will it be a business match “Made in Heaven” with a satisfied client referring and recommending you to others? Or not!
.
As I contemplated these issues more and more deeply, the answer I came up with is that a successful business partnership and the maintaining of good relationships with a client is not that much different than the relationship between a married couple.
.
.
Both need the existence of specific factors in order to assure that the participants will remain smiling, satisfied, and that the relationship will stand the test of time.
.
.
1) Both are based on open lines of communication. In the business world, it is essential. Questions arise. Issues need clarification. We as service providers can’t guess what is on the client’s mind, we must be sure! Talk! Clients: tell us what you really want, and be specific. Communication will ensure relationship survival. Lack of communication or miscommunication can spell the end!
.
2) In both marriage and the business world, expectations must be spelled out clearly. You love hiking, dogs and boating…she hates the outdoors, animals and is scared to death of water! You want a big family…he’s not so fond of children! Maybe you should have talked about this before marriage! In the business world, not knowing exactly what your client expects can be disastrous. Again, clarify! The downside of not knowing exactly what he or she wants from us, whether in a standard workplace or as freelancers, is having to complete the work all over again if we have missed the mark. When issues of time and money arise, spell it out! When important issues having to do with instructions, procedures or agreements come up, ambiguity can never be a good thing!
.
3) Both a marriage and a business partnership are based upon mutual respect. Be aware of the other person’s strengths, weaknesses, limitations, feelings, emotions, pressures, time-constraints, etc. In the end, we are all human-beings. Respect and understanding are 2-way streets!
.
4) Both marriage and business require you to prove you are the one! Dating requires proving that you are the best candidate out there to assume the role of marital partner. You must demonstrate that you have all of the qualities to be a great husband, wife, father, mother and bread-winner. Business is no different. You, as a businessperson, must take all steps necessary to prove that you are the ideal candidate for the position. You must lay on the line your acumen, educational credentials, work-history, talents, past successes, portfolio, recommendations, competitive pricing and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no one out there more qualified and willing to succeed than you!
.
5) Both are based upon proper timing. Are you ready for marriage? Perhaps not yet. You’re young and want to travel, live life, mature, gain stability and traction and get that next degree. Maybe in a few more years. You’ve got your eye on the lovely lady of your dreams? Whoops, she just started seeing someone else! In business, the timing also has to be right. You must learn, polish and perfect your skill-sets. You must attain a level of expertise in your field of endeavor. And the party desiring to hire you must also be ready. Availability, a high level of commitment, the desire to move forward, cooperate and work together toward a common goal and purpose must be present and mutually agreed upon.
.
6) Both a marriage and a good business-relationship can hinge on the small things. Just as a spouse might surprise their partner with an unexpected candle-lit dinner, flowers, or a surprise night out, so too are good business relationships based on the small things. Do a bit extra. Go “the extra mile.” Compliment your boss or client on something which impresses you without coming across as being patronizing. Have a dream-client? Invite him or her out to dinner. Finished a project? Send an email after a week or so to ask if the work needs any fine-tuning or if the client has any additional work for you. Make a list of the birth-dates of past clients and send them e-card greetings. Leave doors open and never burn bridges!
.
7) Both need the “Three Ds” from both parties: DEDICATION, DETERMINATION and DEPENDABILITY. The opposite can be Disillusionment, Dissatisfaction and Divorce!
.
8) Both, as the old saying goes, are like an elevator: “They have their ups and downs.” Both, at times, necessitate reassessment, restructuring, re-evaluation, introspection and thought. Both require the patience and persistence necessary to achieve new heights!
.
9) Both take commitment and hard work! Life is not always easy, neither is marriage, neither is work. Making any of these ventures end in success takes a great deal of hard work. This work, however, can and MUST be seen as an investment in our collective futures!
.
10) Both marriage and business require the use of words and thoughts that don’t always come easy. “I’m sorry!” “I screwed up!” “How can I make this better?” “Was it I who was in the wrong?” “How did/does that look from your perspective?” “How could I do that differently next time?” How can I improve myself? How might I need to change? How can I be a better person? How can I put myself in the other person’s shoes? How do things I do, say and ways that I act affect others? The list is endless!
.
..
.
With a little bit of respect, understanding, and mutual consideration, both business relationships and marriages can result in long-term success, happiness, satisfaction and smiles!
.
___________________________
.
.
Yonatan Maisel is a business blogger and author. He started a business blog one year ago. 90% of his new clients now find their way to him as a direct result of having read one or more posts. Unfortunately for the foreseeable future, Yonatan is not accepting new clients. He is a regular contributor at http://www.bizsugar.com/ and here at www.jobshuk.com.
.
Image Credits: Wedding Rings: Wedding bands.com; Couples: insightempire.com; Handshake: alanprof at flickr.com; Cartoon Couple: photobucket.com; Cycle of Respect: Duzyol.com
. I