Mentor Column

 

Business P's & Q's: Minding Your Manners Can Open Up Doors in the Business World

 

By Kent Thomas

 

Building a network of trusted friends, associates and clients is the foundation of my business and arguably my most valued asset. I have to work hard and consistently to gain and maintain these relationships. I would like to share a few simple factors that have contributed to my success.

 

Show Respect

Most of our mothers taught us about respect. It is an important lesson that applies to business relationships, but far too many people either didn't learn it or have forgotten it. In business, you should always respect:

• People's time. Always arrive on time or slightly early for an appointment. Always have an agenda for a meeting and stick to it. When the purpose of the meeting has been met, excuse everyone. I like this adage that I heard years ago and for which I cannot take credit: "It has to be a damn good meeting to be better than no meeting at all!"

• People's opinions. Raising your voice, yelling or making inflammatory remarks are not only disrespectful, but demonstrate immaturity and undermine the respect, or trust, that you may have previously earned. If you are involved in a discussion, consider other people's feelings. You can be diplomatic and kind and still stick to your convictions. Address conflict as situation-related, rather than person-related. Be mature enough to apologize when you make a mistake or offend someone.

• Confidential information. You must be sufficiently mature and disciplined to honor a promise not to share information that you have received in confidence if you want to retain the trust of your associates.

• Everyone and anyone. Respect and treat all people equally, regardless of their position or ability to help you. I once read that the true measure of a man or woman is how they treat people who can do nothing for them. I am convinced that we are sadly mistaken if we believe that it is more important to show respect to superiors than to peers or subordinates.

 

Show Appreciation

Like respect, showing appreciation has many applications in business. Here are just a few:

• Always thank people for their time in meetings.

• Be liberal with acknowledgment and appreciation to anyone who has helped you, done their job well or has done something that they were not paid or expected to do.

• Giving credit where credit is due is an often ignored, but important part of appreciation. Nothing will destroy a relationship or your personal credibility faster than taking credit for someone else's idea or accomplishment.

 

You have probably noticed that almost everything I've suggested here involves focusing on others rather than yourself. Once you learn that lesson, the suggestions that I've given will be self evident and easy to adopt.

 

Kent Thomas, CPA and founder of CFO Solutions, L.C. (www.utahcfo.com), serves in a variety of leadership positions for companies and charitable organizations and is a frequent speaker on current finance and accounting issues.

 

Launch - Spring 2009

 

 

For the full "digital magazine" version of Spring 2009, visit: www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/growutah/launch_2009spring/