“The
toes you step on today may be connected to the ass you need to kiss tomorrow.”
Author
unknown
Good
business manners, like good manners in general, seem to be a thing of the past.
Maybe it is my age speaking; grumpy old man.
A
recent example is my decision to end my job delivering from the pharmacy to
care centers. I’m too busy with other (more profitable) endeavors. I sent a polite
message to the manager giving him reasonable time to find someone else. No
response, thank you, no thank you, go to hell or whatever.
One
of the companies I do property inspections for hasn’t been sending me much work.
I know they are struggling. Recently they “upgraded” their system. Installing
it on my computer will take as much disk space as Google Earth. I made the
decision to drop them and sent them a polite email. Once again, no response.
About
a month ago the management of the delivery company changed the way they pay us
contractors, with no prior discussion.
Sort of a “take it or leave it” situation. Am I the only one that remembers the
Laws of Adhesion from Business 101?
The
stronger party cannot dictate terms and conditions detrimental to the weaker
party. In my case they backed off.
I've always tried to use good business manners. Running late? Make a call. Can’t
make an appointment? Make a call. Now we have cell phones, there really isn't an excuse not to MAKE THE DAMN PHONE CALL. Show some respect for the other party’s
time.
The
best example of the benefits of excellent business manners I know of is my
sister, the Insurance Adjuster. A lifetime of good manners and treating
everyone with respect and consideration has given her a vast network of people
inclined to help her. Who else could get someone to cheerfully open an impound
yard at 2 am on Sunday in a raging Wyoming
Ah
hell, enough of this rant. I'm really becoming an old fart.
6 comments:
One of the best manuals I read as a sales person was Og Mandion's The Greatest Salesman in the World. It should be mandatory reading......
Agree. There was always a copy in my "possibles".
You're absolutely right WSF, the lack of civility and manners these days is appalling. I don't get it, is parenting a lost art. Who raised these people? Wolves?
(From another old fart.)
My offspring have decent manners until someone is rude to them. As to wolves, I think you are being unfair. How about the manners of a starving piranha?
Excellent advice. Along the lines of don't burn any bridges unless you never intend to cross them again.
You burn bridges to keep people from following you.
Post a Comment