PEOPLE PLEASERS!

Two times in my business life I have seen owners who will destroy the relationship that an employee has built with a customer.  The first was when I was the customer and had a great relationship with my dedicated salesperson.  I also new the owner very well.  Many times the salesperson would try to take care of me by doing the necessary things to maintain my account.  This was not out of the ordinary, but basic like cleanups of various lines and handling defective merchandise.  Needless to say that relationship deteriorated fairly quickly.  I would always tell the salesperson it was difficult to maintain the relationship when the owner was lobbing hand grenades in front of him and blowing up the relationship.

The second time I was the salesperson and the owner would do it to me and I have to tell you it didn’t feel very good that time either.  As the owner or sales manager you have to give full support to your sales staff.  Naturally they need to know where the limits are and what the rules are, but those have to remain consistent.  They can’t be based on how the owner or manager feels that day about the customer or if he’s having a bad day at home.  As the customer you should feel as though your safe in your relationships with suppliers and no one should be hollering, “Incoming!”