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Relationships With Limits

Whether the President of the USA or the CEO of a large corporation, building relationships requires a conversation rather than a policy. Too many policies get in the way of having open and honest conversations from which both parties can learn the perspectives of the other and hopefully find common ground from which to establish a relationship.

Whomever we individually or collectively think we are none of us could possibly know everything needed to understand everyone. Arrogance is the fallacy of fools who believe they have learned and experienced everything life has to teach us. Sometimes, actually a lot of times, our own attitudes are our own worst enemy and until we can learn to have conversations with open minds nothing can be learned or gained. – jay deragon

Jay is good at writing easy-to-read, idealistic posts, and I wouldn’t otherwise comment on this had he not used the US policy of not having a “relationship” with communist Cuba.

Sorry, Jay, there are limits we have to apply to our relationships, in business and politics, especially if we want to live by certain values. A policy is certainly appropriate here.

A company can decide to not do business with certain people/parties. That implies not having a relationship of any kind. For a gentleman’s club, that involves anyone not dressing properly and having an advanced degree (or somesuch). For a lending company, it’s people with bad credit. I could go on.

It’s a business, after all. An exchange of values that has to benefit and create meaning for all involved.

February 22, 2008 | Filed Under CRM 

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2 Responses to “Relationships With Limits”

  1. Jay Deragon on February 22nd, 2008

    While I appreciate your comment and position I would just add that Reagon engaged in a conversation while standing firm on his position. The walls came down

  2. Tomas Kohl on February 23rd, 2008

    Good point.

    I suppose metaphors like this one have limited applicability. Getting away from politics, I’d say not having “policies on relationships” is generally a good idea, but again, it’s too general. The customer is always right unless he is a customer I don’t want, if you know what I mean.

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