The value of genuine working relationships

March 11, 2009 at 12:12 pm (General Biz)

Do you work with freelancers, other companies who provide services to you? What about your own staff? What kind of relationships do you have with them? Are they the kind of people you enjoy working with? As I’ve matured, I’ve learned that working with good people can be the difference between a job and a fantastic work experience.  SEE my Comment for more…

2 Comments

  1. Stephen Bouikidis said,

    March 11, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    I was recently talking with a colleague of mine, Eric Reisman, who climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We had lunch before he left for his trip and I gave him a t-shirt from my company to take to the top. Soon after Eric came back, I got an email from him with a picture of him at the peak, holding my company’s t-shirt. I immediately thought…how cool! What I liked about what Eric had done was he said he would take an extra 8 oz. up to the top of a 19,340 ft. mountain and send along a picture (For more detail on his trip and to see the picture he sent me, go to Eric’s site). By the way, the t-shirt says, “Ask me how I manage.”

    What I appreciated about Eric was that he said he would do something and he carried through. Over the years, my experience with Eric was that he has always been respectful of my clients, he comes through and I trust him. As a bonus, I like him as a person. I look for these qualities in anyone I work with–whether it is an employee, a colleague or a client.

    I’ve had the experience of working with people whom I thought I could trust over the years; including those who fooled me into thinking that they were my friends. In the end, when I looked at those relationships, I saw one thing in common–getting. They ended up getting a lot from their relationship with me and I ended up with not much of anything–and in one case a sabotaged relationship with a client; after I brought them into the picture.

    At the end of the day, people who are giving in a genuine way (not giving to get something) and work with you to do the best job (with their egos left at the door) will end up being the best people you can work with. If they are clients, they will stay with you for the long haul and you’ll be happier at the end of the day. It is important to be giving to the people you work with, and in your life in general, without qualification. It evokes good karma and will bring you a happy and successful business life.

    Reply

  2. Eric H. Reisman said,

    March 11, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Hi Stephen,
    I appreciate your kind words in your blog, thank you. I was happy to fulfill my promise to take Netreach’s t-shirt to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro…and fulfill my own promise to make it back down! Working with those we respect and trust makes it so much easier to conduct business and the experience is that much more productive and yes, enjoyable. The secret is separating the “givers” from the “takers” early on.

    Reply

Post a Comment