Building A Relationship Is A Two-Way Street

A number of months ago a prospective client contacted me. Boy was he desperate for some new visuals for a branded restaurant area. We worked quickly, delivered on the promise and he said he would get back to us within a couple of weeks. He didn’t ring, so I did.

It seemed somewhat ironic, therefore, that he was so indignant when I called: “I will be in touch with you when I have something to tell you!” was the snappy catch comment. A month later his attitude appeared to have softened and he asked for a stage two meeting after I’d rung him! He cancelled. I re-fixed. He cancelled again. I re-fixed. Five cancellations later I began to wonder ‘Am I speaking to the engine driver?’ and ‘How serious is this guy?’. People are incredibly quick at asking for things ‘yesterday’ and, so often, yesterday means ‘in three weeks time’. Learn to manage time more effectively otherwise you lose credibility. Do you have an urgent need or are YOU simply trying to impress YOUR boss? If so, that’s fine but bear in mind that you may damage a third party relationship in your quest to impress a manager above you. Also, it lessens your status because people quickly realise your systematic cancellations are probably because you’re not that senior at all! Someone is pulling your strings. Relationships are two way, create an imbalance and something will topple! I will no longer chase this guy, I have little respect for him and now remember him as the man who always cancels. He ain’t a serious player or a decision maker as far as I’m concerned