Your Small Gestures Make a Big Impact
July 18, 2009
I used to think being called “nice” was a curse.
“Nice” does not get the ladies, does not get respect from the guys. “Nice” is a pushover, a doormat, every angry person’s chew toy.
But in business I found out that “nice” could be a competitive advantage.
We want to work with nice people. It makes us feel good to be around positive, polite, compassionate folks who care. While many people in business think they need to be sharks, where they will willingly climb over their colleagues carcass to make a sale, being nice actually stands out as special and attractive.
You do not need to do much to be this person.
A simple thank you can make all the difference. Send hand written notes for even better results. Buy gifts. Do not talk about the gestures you do, just do them. See how surprised people are, and how much more likely they are to remember and come back to you.
In many businesses how you make your customers feel is paramount. They will not tell you so, and in fact will have many rational reasons why they work with you, but human relationships have a much stronger impact on vendor choice than people credit.
For any job there are usually a good number of people competing for the same work, all with the ability to do it well.
Who would you rather work with? The competitive, abrasive jerk with the wall full of awards, or the pleasant and polite competent person who quietly gets the job done with a smile?
Send a note today. Tell someone you appreciate them. Even if nothing comes from it, it will make you feel good!
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