Developing professional relationships is rarely an easy task. The simple combination of different personalities, ideals, and concepts often makes for a difficult initial challenge. So, you’ve formed a partnership. Now what? The ideas, the goals, the visions of coworkers and employees still don’t always align. There are skills required to deal with situations like these. So use them.
Don’t impose your own taste on a product or service.
Yes, you may hate the color of that logo. Dislike the slogan they want to use. Or disagree about the product price point they want to place on the product within the market. It’s learning when to bite your tongue that will serve most useful to you in the end. Maintaining your objectivity is a difficult skill to master, but allows you to focus on what really matters: their vision and the company’s eventual success.
Keep your cool.
The contact information was finally e-mailed to you…two days after the deadline. Your coworkers argue over the price that you had clearly settled on two weeks ago. These are frustrating situations, but don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Negativity, stress and conflict are contagious. Remain as calm and confident as possible. Sometimes, we all have to breathe and reboot.
Don’t always provide solutions.
Sometimes it’s not your job to solve everyone’s problems. At times, it’s best to let them tailor their productivity to standards that they develop on their own, rather than having a set of guidelines handed to them. This is simply the process of unique innovation. Allow it to happen.
Sure, it’s easier said than done. It’s those simple things, however, that help the individuals you work with to develop their own unique business identity. As professionals, we have a tendency to cater to our coworkers and employees in whatever capacity available. But there is an exception to every rule, and sometimes, it’s our job to know when to step in – and also when to step back.
