Now that the holidays are in full swing, I’ve taken the time to sit down and consider the essence of this time of year. What is it, exactly, that makes us feel all warm and cozy inside (other than that cup of hot chocolate or bowl gumbo)? What’s the glue that holds the fabric of this season together? The answer, I’ve come to find, is actually pretty simple: Relationships! Spending time with the people you love is, without a doubt, the absolute cornerstone of Christmas.
As a business owner, my next questions to ponder were obviously: What are the elements of a strong relationship and how can businesses incorporate them successfully?
First off, relationship building is a tactic that you discover as you get older; It’s also something that develops as your business matures. One day, you will literally look up and realize that, if you have been in a certain industry for a long time (say 15-20 years), the relationships are what matter most. You’ll find that these connections have actually been the key to most of your success. Strong business relationships are essential to the growth of your company. This applies not only to clients, but to valued vendors and committed employees as well.
So, now we know that relationships are important, but how do we go about creating them? What is the secret ingredient to awesome relationships? I would say that open, consistent communication ranks pretty high. Not only is it important to communicate, but the ability to do it honestly and with a lot of decency is crucial to your relationship’s success.
Next in line would have to be your ability and willingness to show gratitude. Whether it be your best friend Tom, your great aunt Sue or Tina from Account Service, everyone enjoys a little appreciation. Trust me, it doesn’t go unnoticed!
At Cane River Pecan Company, we are in the corporate gift business. We strongly believe that a thoughtful and well-timed gift makes a difference in building business relationships. We are not only advocates of corporate gifting, but we practice it as well. There have been many times that we have taken the time to send a gift from our company to another business to show our appreciation. More times than not, a gift hits the mark in the manner of which it was meant – to express our sincere appreciation for a relationship gone well.
Good relationships also depend on loyalty. In business, your word or “promise” is paramount to your company’s success. Do what you say you are going to do – start there. It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with a customer, vendor or employee; they want to know that you are good for your word. It matters in the long run and will play a role in your professional and personal success. Over time, you will begin to notice that trust builds up and becomes the foundation of every business relationship that is constructed.
So, with all things considered, you’re now ready to rock the relationship game in 2017.
Go forth and prosper!