When communicating with partners, clients or even co-workers, it’s important that you think about more than just business. We live in a fast-paced world and often forget about other people and what they might have going on. Working with others doesn’t just mean collaborating and finishing projects, it also means caring for their wellbeing and understanding that they are more than just a paycheck. Here are a few things to consider when doing business with others and how you can nurture your relationship.
Checking In
Sometimes we complete projects and move on to the next without giving them a backward glance. But, most relationships are constant with running ads or projects and if you want people to continue working with you or to purchase from you again, you need to check in with them. Asking how something is going does not show weakness. On the contrary, you need to know how they are feeling about something so that if it’s not going well you can find out and make the appropriate changes. Checking in and following up provides you with feedback that could make or break a relationship.
Time Zones
Things might be easier if times were the same across the globe, but alas they are not. Be conscious of other people’s time zones so you don’t wake them up in the middle of the night or get important work to them late after they have gone home for the day. This is especially important when scheduling meetings as you want to be conscious of their workday as well as your own.
Traveling
If someone is traveling to you on business, they may be coming quite a distance. If you are responsible for picking them up and time allows, ensure they get a chance to settle in. Maybe they haven’t eaten or gotten a decent cup of coffee. You should be trying to make them as comfortable as possible. This also goes for your meeting times. Jet lag is real and sometimes adjusting to new time zones can wreak havoc on a person’s sleep. If you can avoid it, try to meet at appropriate times that won’t add more stress and fatigue to your traveling visitor.
Cultures
Cultures vary, not just in other countries but in towns, schools, and even businesses. When meeting new people, traveling to different parts of the world, or pitching an idea to a new company, you should be doing your homework to find out what the culture is. Do your homework and learn as much as you can about the other entity’s culture so that you can respect how they do things and know what might not be appropriate so you can avoid any awkward situations.
Holidays
Culture is most certainly at play for holidays but this subject is a little more specific. I hate to tell you this, but not every country celebrates Thanksgiving. When Christmas time comes around, it’s polite to send a “Happy Holidays” over an email, but it might be wise to think about who you’re sending your salutation to. Before sending your jolly Christmas cards or gift baskets out, ensure the client or colleague celebrates the same holiday and appreciates the gesture.
Nurturing your relationships in the workplace is vital. Check-in with your clients and colleagues, respect time zones and the strain traveling causes on people and respect cultures that may differ from your own. As the old saying goes, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Treating people with respect and kindness can do amazing things for you and the future of your business.
Photo by Muhammadtaha Ibrahim on Unsplash.